www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Right folks I have been targeting expanses of buddlejas here in Northants including my own village but especially Northampton. One post industrial site in Northampton has Buddleja davidii in full flower right across the site. Sadly no luck today but quite a few peaacocks and nice to see a Holly blue only my second sighting of this species for me this year.
If I do come across the yellow legged tort here in Northants I will of course let you lot know. I am going to keep trying. I just need a bit of luck on my side.

Brian Laney, Northants.

Another sighting of a Yellow-Legged Tort today according to the Cambs and Essex BC sightings page (from Barton near Cambridge), so keep your eyes peeled.
See: http://www.cambs-essex-butterflies.org.uk/sightings.php
NB: I would trust Louise's identification 100%.

Nice onshore North-Easterly winds in East Anglia could potentially help to encourage a few more arrivals too

Trev

And another in Essex at Walton-on-the-Naze on Monday 21st, 10am. No photograph but the description is very good. Came in off the sea and settled briefly to nectar for 15 seconds before heading inland.

Rob

A sighting from the 17th near Colchester with good photos has just been added http://www.cambs-essex-butterflies.org.uk/sightings.php

Photos also at http://www.cambs-essex-butterflies.org.uk/photos_2014.php

Essex Bertie wrote:And another in Essex at Walton-on-the-Naze on Monday 21st, 10am. No photograph but the description is very good. Came in off the sea and settled briefly to nectar for 15 seconds before heading inland.

Rob

A Thanet local had a similar experience at Margate. Except for the settling bit. Hence no photos. He was as gutted as I was after my Cliffe experience on the Friday.

I fear - bar the lucky few - we shall indeed have to await emergence next spring for a crack at these.

James

I have just been alerted to the post within this topic of a Purple Emperor being seen in Norfolk. I appreciate that there has been an unfortunate release of butterflies in the county.

Some points to answer - our first sightings were made by Andrew Middleton in central Hertfordshire in 1999 followed by more sites every year since .... going southwards, northwards and eastwards.......... we have now got as far two woodland locations in Suffolk (one c20km from the Norfolk/Suffolk border). For those that might like to know more about this, our 2013 Suffolk report was published in the Suffolk Argus, the newsletter of the Suffolk Branch of BC a few weeks ago. Every now and then we do try to count the number of assembly areas we have found but we are getting close to losing count. These numbers have in recent years been added to by other enthusiasts, in particularly Laurence Drummond. We rarely see one grounded as this is not our method of searching, we look for assembly areas. We rarely take photos...........

Please never underestimate the power of this species to remain undetected in woodland even when it is the most visited woodland in the county! An example being Northaw Great Wood in Hertfordshire where we found an assembly area in 2004 which continues to be our best site in the county and still occupied yesterday. The only previous report had been in the 1960s and thrown in the bin. This could be one of the most walked woods in the area, countless dog owners and subsequent muck, a car park, a toilet block, a warden's cottage and as far as I can remember only two reports of groundings since we found the assembly area, one this year by our branch chairman! The assembly area is just by the car park and entrance to the wood! A similar situation occurred in north Essex (well away from any releases) where again Purple Emperor were found in a well used wood frequented by many dogs (to the extent the paths were putrid). In 2012, Andrew found a new assembly area in north Enfield, only a matter of miles from his house, countless visitors, historic records up to a 100 years old in the area and searched by us on many occasions over the last 10 years before finding the exact spot!

The east of England doesn't have the numbers generated at Fermyn or say in Sussex, the butterfly is very discrete and at very low population levels and we suspect always been present in all counties although we feel that their is a general increase in detectable numbers in recent years (following the Silver-washed trend). And the power of the internet, digital cameras and social media is immense and this is also helping fill in many gaps in between our own sightings - hence the report from Norfolk, another one from Suffolk and all the Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell reports - this wouldn't have happened in 1999 when Andrew has his first sighting. It was letters, an occasional phone call if you knew who to ring and a camera that used film!
We will be producing a report shortly for the 2014 season
Liz

Yesterday two N xanthomelas were found hibernating in a cellar maintained for bats, together with Peacocks (Aglais io). So it might be good to keep in mind that they might be overwintering at places where A io is found as well, so people who count them in cellars etc should be aware of it.

Another one was found inside a house. So at least some of them hibernate at the same places a A io and A urticae, which makes it possible they are found in winter. And we know now for sure they went into hibernation in NL, I guess the same applies to the UK.

Just had a report of an alleged Scarce Tortoiseshell by a 'reliable observer' at Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex 'about 2 weeks ago'. No further details. Timing seems a bit problematic as i assumed they would be in hibernation by now - does anyone have any comment?

regards
Rob

Butterfly Conservations' Facebook Page reports a sighting of a Scarce Tortoiseshell disturbed from hibernation at Hempnall, Norfolk on 11 September. https://www.facebook.com/savebutterflie ... =1&theater

Hi Rob,
Like other hibernators, I'm sure they will occasionally stir and go walkabout for a while, before finding another suitable spot to lay-up. I don't think the timing should register any doubt in itself.
BWs, Neil

Thanks Monet & Neil. I was making another assumption that it was a new arrival off the North Sea, but as you suggest, no reason why it wasn't hibernating in this location.

cheers
Rob