Goldie M

Neil Freeman · Post by **Neil Freeman** » Fri May 20, 2016 7:34 pm

Hi Goldie,

I see DoB have been sighted at Gait Barrows a few days ago along with PBF. I am heading north in a couple of weeks and will be stopping for a couple of nights in the area so have been keeping an eye on the Lancashire BC sightings page. Hoping to have time, weather permitting, to have a look around Gait Barrows as well as Warton Crag and Arnside Knott.

Cheers,

Neil

Wurzel · Post by **Wurzel** » Fri May 20, 2016 9:28 pm

You're notching up the species count Goldie

My first Greenstreak of the year is always a relief

Good luck with the Pearls and Dukes!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Goldie M · Post by **Goldie M** » Sat May 21, 2016 12:26 pm

Hi! Neil, wouldn't you know it I was up there on the 17th and never saw a thing

I hope you enjoy your trip North, in three weeks I'm going South to Sussex, I don't know what I'm expecting to see but hope fully I'll see some thing, If their not finished by then a Wood White would be good and a Grizzled Skipper, I expect they'll have gone by then.
You should be in time to see (if your going then) the Small Pearl BF so hope you have more luck at finding them then I've had up to now,

Goldie

Thanks Wurzel, I got the Green Hair Streaks at GB but nothing else, now Neil tells me the Duke and the Pearls are out at GB after me going up there on Tuesday

looks like another journey is on the cards

Goldie

Goldie M · Post by **Goldie M** » Mon May 23, 2016 9:11 am

Yesterday the Sun was shining so we decided a quick visit to Gait Barrow was a good Idea having been told by Neil that the Dukes were out and the PBF had been seen.
When we got to where the Dukes usually are we saw the Cordons all a round the enclosure, this is very good for their protection but not too good for photography unless you've got the heavy type of lens that I saw there being used. It also helps if the Butterfly moves to the front so you can get a shot

this was not the case yesterday, the Butterfly stayed well out in the Briers so shots had to be taken in-between Ferns, grass, etc

At least I saw it and managed some kind of shot even if far a way

Whilst I was shuffling with other people to get a shot of the Duke what should come on the scene but the PBF, it whizzed about like a small Plane, diving over the Duke and landing first one side and then the other of the cordon, never, in-between

I did manage some shots but being as it's a couple of years since I've seen one, I'm hoping it's a PBF but I'm not sure

Also seen was another Green Hair Streak, and a Speckled Yellow Moth, after going to GB twice before and seeing nothing it was great to finally see the Duke and the PBF. Goldie

Pauline · Post by **Pauline** » Mon May 23, 2016 12:48 pm

You're probably used to seeing the white variety Goldie

That was a cracking photo actually that won't be forgotten in a hurry. Seriously, really pleased that you got to see the butterflies you were after even tho' I understand your frustration about the (necessary) barriers. Well done

Goldie M · Post by **Goldie M** » Mon May 23, 2016 2:53 pm

Many thanks Pauline,glad you liked the White

I was at Hall-Lee-Brook today hoping to get a shot of a Holly Blue, I saw it but it was even further a way than the Duke, needless to say I didn't get one.

I'll keep trying though

Goldie

Pauline · Post by **Pauline** » Mon May 23, 2016 3:05 pm

Just to be clear Goldie, for any 'newbies' that might be reading your diary, I wasn't referring to the smashing Small Whites you have posted recently but that amazing white PBF which you posted on page 8 of your diary and which has had over 1000 views! Not only is it a stunning butterfly but it has to be one of the best photos you have taken

That has to be the highlight of your diary?

MikeOxon · Post by **MikeOxon** » Mon May 23, 2016 4:56 pm

I'll second that, Pauline. Gosh, it was 53 pages ago and seems just like yesterday - a very memorable series of photos, Goldie

Mike

millerd · Post by **millerd** » Mon May 23, 2016 5:27 pm

I shan't forget that photo in a hurry, either, Goldie! A real find that was.

Congratulations on seeing the Duke and the PBF yesterday - you've been waiting awhile for that.

Dave

Goldie M · Post by **Goldie M** » Mon May 23, 2016 6:34 pm

Pauline, that was the high light of my Butterfly adventures so far

I still get the pictures up on my computer and just stare at them

I feel sorry for the man who pointed it out to me has I have the pictures and all he had was his Binoculars, if I knew where he was I'd send him a photo.

WoW! a thousand people you say have looked at them, that's fantastic

I bet you can guess what the photo is on my Computer desk top

Thank you Mike, gosh 53 pages since I posted, I still hope to see some thing like it again, that beautiful Butterfly that was posted the other day was awesome . I have a confession to make to you Mike after all your help I still forgot when I was at GB to change to a larger depth of field when taking the shots of the Duke, I think this could have made a difference to the shots I took of it, I'm still learning it seems, by mistakes

Thank you Dave, I think it's everybody's wish to find some thing different, I'm still looking

When I saw the Pearl's at GB I remembered the White SPBF I saw there and the date 4th of June( I t was the day before my Husbands Birthday and boy did we celebrate both day's

Goldie

Goldie M · Post by **Goldie M** » Tue May 24, 2016 6:10 pm

Today I added three firsts for 2016

We went to Southport and in the Dunes I found ( to my surprise) Small Heath, Common Blue and a rather damaged looking Wall.
The Small Heath looked very fresh also the CB, there was lots of SH out but I only counted a few CB so I suppose they're just emerging. I only saw the Wall twice I knew it was the same one with the damage to it's wing and the paleness of it's colour, I hoped I'd see more but none appeared, there was no Small Copper either
which was disappointing but at least I got some shots of the other Butterflies.

Goldie

Wurzel · Post by **Wurzel** » Wed May 25, 2016 8:53 pm

You're back in the butterflies which is great to see Goldie

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Goldie M · Post by **Goldie M** » Thu May 26, 2016 6:55 pm

It was fantastic Wurzel to actually go for two days and actually see what I hoped to see.

Goldie

Goldie M · Post by **Goldie M** » Mon May 30, 2016 7:43 pm

Another lovely day today so we went to Gait Barrow, No Dukes, which was disappointing but I managed some more Fritillaries and my first Dingy Skipper of the year.
I also saw a Speckled Yellow Moth and couldn't leave GB without looking at the Slipper Orchids which were at their best. Goldie

Goldie M · Post by **Goldie M** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 9:04 am

I've just discovered that one of the photos I took on the 22nd of May was not a Pearl Bordered Fritillary but a SPBF,

having discovered that it seems I may have taken shots of both again on the 30th May,

well, at least I've bagged both.

Goldie

MikeOxon · Post by **MikeOxon** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 12:09 pm

Good to see the Lady's Slipper Orchids doing well at GB. I'm hoping to visit GB myself later this month for the Dark Red Helleborines.

Mike

Goldie M · Post by **Goldie M** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 2:14 pm

Hi! Mike, hope you see the NBArgus then and may be the High Brown Fritillaries and many other's

I'm going to Meathop at the end of June to see if I can get better photos of the Large Heath, they were a bit too active for me last time.

Goldie

Wurzel · Post by **Wurzel** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 9:42 pm

Great going on the two sets of Pearls Goldie

, the Pearl hasn't made it any easier for you by being in such good nick!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Goldie M · Post by **Goldie M** » Thu Jun 02, 2016 9:07 am

Thanks Wurzel, the Small Pearl's were later this year, you got the odd one that may have been a bit sooner but most were quite late, on the other hand, the SPBF were on time

I think the weather being very good up here these last few days have helped them.

Goldie

Goldie M · Post by **Goldie M** » Mon Jun 06, 2016 8:27 pm

After a rather active weekend ( it was my Husbands Birth day) we went to Brockholes on Sunday, it was a lovely day of hot Sunshine so we wanted to make the most of the lovely walks around the Nature Reserve.

We walked along the board walk of the floating Restaurant looking into the water and we'd never seen so many Damsel Flies altogether in one place it was fantastic, the water seemed alive with them and much bigger Darter's.

Has I walked away from the Lake this flying orange caught my eye it was a Large Skipper much to my surprise

Then my Granddaughter gave me a shout to look at a red Butterfly she said, then I was really amazed to see a Painted Lady, I also saw Common Blues mating at one point there was a three some

That was yesterday, this morning early 9-15 we were out in the Garden and we found anther Painted Lady on the Boules Mauve, I think the weather up here has encouraged them to come North

Goldie