www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

PAINTED LADIES: As others have observed, a few blue scales are quite common in the black spots and full blue pupils are occasional. I well remember my first example like this, from when I was a child, because I over-enthusiastically identified it as an American painted lady (until I went inside and looked at the books). Since then I have noticed it often, because this is a very common species, but in only a minority of individuals. This one was in Spain last year:



Perhaps we need the form represented on the species pages ...

Guy

Willrow wrote:

David M wrote: maybe Chalkhills are being afflicted by disease, though I don't really understand how it can seemingly affect populations in just one county.

Mystery indeed David, I'd always considered Dorset a rather good county for Chalkhill Blue I'll take a bit more notice in future of postings about the species in Dorset, we may perhaps get a better indication of their current status if our Dorset members could give us some feedback before the end of their flight season.

MikeOxon wrote:I hope it was a Chunky Kit Kat - good dose of chocolate with those!

No such luck Mike, only two fingers for me

Best Wishes,
Bill

Great shots Bill, I'm glad you had a successful visit! I can't really comment on any recent trends in Chalkhill Blue numbers in the county as this summer I've been spending virtually all of my spare time away from the chalk downs on the Dorset heaths, and I missed their entire flight period last year. However, I've never seen high numbers of the species at Fontmell Down and I think I remember reading/hearing somehwere that the management of the site for Adonis Blue and Silver-spotted Skipper may not be particularly favourable for Chalkhills - does this hold for sites elsewhere in the country? Clubmen's Down and Compton Down, just to the North of Fontmell, seem to be much better for Chalkhills, and Small Blues are also present here while they're absent, or very scarce at Fontmell. Sadly the butterfly seems to be faring very badly on the Purbecks. There are still good numbers at Bindon Hill in the West, and very small numbers at Ballard Down in the East, but they appear to have been lost from the entire length of the Purbeck chalk ridge stretching between these two sites. Some can still be seen at Durlston, and although I haven't visited at the right time of year to see them I get the impression that they are doing alright on Portland. There is a fairly strong, isolated colony at Badbury Rings too and numbers always seem to be pretty good there (it's generally the place that I go if I want to see them). I hadn't heard about a disease affecting the butterfly, but that may well explain why it appears to be suffering in some parts of the county.

On the subject of blue-spotted Painted Ladies, here's one that I saw during the invasion in 2009.

Despite the huge numbers that were present this was the only individual of this form that I noted that year. The cockayne database appears to have these as ab. ocellata, but looking at other images the extent of the blue seems to vary quite a bit so a 'one size fits all' name probably isn't particularly suitable in this case!

I've only just noticed that the blue spots are fairly unusual.

Must admit, as soon as I saw this butterfly I thought it was unusually dark for a Painted Lady. Normally they're a pale peach colour but this one was of a noticeably darker shading, though I put that down at the time to it being fairly freshly emerged.

Today I was hoping to try for Brown Hairstreak, however, the phone went at 6.20am this morning calling me to work!! However, Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away and I managed to visit 2 places, one near Burgess Hill and the other being the Downs Link path North of Henfield. With a breeze blowing and thick clouds occasionally cooling things down the 1st site drew a blank, however, at the 2nd site a superb female put in a short appearance and allowed a couple of quick shots. Just a shame I couldn't have had another go today as its unlikely I will get back for several days.

Here's an unusual butterfly observation. Whilst getting one of my old cars MoT-ed on Monday, in the late afternoon heat I observed two butterflies slowly enter the test facility and fly up and settle inside high up within the roof structure. A Peacock and a Small Tortoiseshell settling down for the night I guess.

This is the Industrial unit :~



I've used this friendly test facility for about twenty years and whilst killing time for the test, always have a look around the small industrial estate. On one occasion a fully fledged Lesser Black-Backed Gull waddled into the test area and had a good look round... ...Like it owned the place.. It's parents not far away nesting on the high roof tops. There are many pairs nesting in and around Gloucester, well removed from the sea. Sea Gulls? Land Gulls more like. The fledgling Gull was noticeably larger than its parents. I have seen them wandering about the pavements in the City centre in the past.

Amazing the wildlife you can see if you keep your eyes open even in the most unlikely places. Picking my cousin up from her visit to Glos. Roayl Hospital, I sat outside and watched the young Peregrine Falcons 'playing' with the Lesser Black-Backed Gulls who tried repeatedly to harass the young Peregines who skillfully avoided their half-hearted attacks.

Peregrines have nested on the massive main tower building of the Hospital complex for some years now. In nearby Cheltenham, there is a pair who annually nest on a high Church tower.

Peacock roosting and hibernating places. As a small boy I frequently visited relatives who lived in a large house on the Aerodrome at Brockworth ~ the site of the old Gloster Aircraft Factory. There was a concrete pill box on the Aerodrome and I squeezed into it one day and looking up at one corner of the ceiling, saw many hibernating Peacocks. Hundreds of them. The ceiling was black with them all huddled together. The thick concrete structure maintained a steady cool temperature ideal for successful hibernation. I have sometimes seen Peacocks alight on Cotswold stone walls and crawl into the gaps between the stones to settle down. Rabbit holes too I've seen entered. One Peacock spent the winter inside the spare tyre leaned up against the side of my garage. Small Tortoiseshells entering the roof structure squeezing through the smallest of tight gaps too. Gaps so small it's amazing they can squeeze through but, they do.

Pleased to report good numbers of Peacocks and a few Small Tortoiseshells in and through the garden during most of this month. Long time since I've seen so many of these superb and thankfully again quite common beautiful butterflies.

By the way, my old car passed its test with one advisory ... slightly binding front brake caliper. I shall enjoy sorting that out ..

Keep 'em peeled.

Cotswold Cockney wrote:By the way, my old car passed its test with one advisory ...

Good luck with the brake caliper. You may find the following flowchart (which I found on the web at http://www.backwoodshome.com/forum/vb/s ... p?p=314463) to be helpful.
Mike

Just about to drive off to work this morning when I looked up at the Buddleia in my front garden to see my first Painted Lady of 2012: Wonderful! I sure am glad I planted that bush!

Also joining the Lady were three Red Admirals and two Small Tortoiseshells. No Peacocks tho for about a week or so.

But a chum of mine in King's Lynn emailed to say he's seen more Peacocks there this last week than ever before.

Yes - in Essex yesterday, a Painted Lady - lepidoptera, not the other kind - as well as RA, ST and Comma. Small, GV and Large White.
Locally today: Peacock, RA, Small White, GV White, Speckled Wood (lots), BA, Small Copper and Holly Blue...

Wurzel wrote:I've just checked some of my Painted Lady shots and they don't have blue centres to the black hind wings spots either so like Millerd I think it is unusual. Has NickB got confused with the two blue marks on the very margin where the hind wings meet as all my shots do have those?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I hold my hand up!
I have to agree that they are not common.
I have observed them before though, so not surprised to see them...
N

dorsetguy wrote: I hadn't heard about a disease affecting the butterfly, but that may well explain why it appears to be suffering in some parts of the county.

i heard somewhere (don't know where, sorry) that there was a host-specific parasite that affects the Chalkhill Blue. And that this was found at southerly sites but it hadn't got as far north as sites like Devil's Dyke, Cambridgeshire, which is one reason why it does extremely well there.
Apologies now if I'm spreading rumours!
Rob

Hoggers wrote:But a chum of mine in King's Lynn emailed to say he's seen more Peacocks there this last week than ever before.

That's been my experience too.

I went for a potter around Orlestone Forest where Brimstones were out and about in numbers: This may be a silly observation but I know how friendly you all are out there so I'll risk it, but are the Spring Brimstones less approachable than those in August? I couldn't get near them in March but today had no trouble ( or maybe my SAS-Style butterfly stalking skills have improved? )

There were Red Admirals: Also Meadow Browns, a Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Small Whites and a Small Tortoiseshell.

White Admirals and Marbled Whites were noticeable by their absence, sad to say, but everything has its Season.

Highly enjoyable day spent at West Williamston reserve, near Pembroke. The weather was sunny and dry and temperatures peaked about 18c. More importantly, winds were light, meaning the chances of seeing Brown Hairstreaks on this site were good.

I saw a very satisfactory range of species between 10.30 and 2pm today. Certainly the most common was Small Tortoiseshell. They were particularly attracted to the sea asters and dandelion-type flowers on the shoreline. Peacocks were fairly conspicuous too, along with the three species of White and Speckled Wood.

Other species popped up in small/single numbers, most notably Painted Lady, Holly Blue, Silver Washed Fritillary AND one female Brown Hairstreak.



I spent a good 20 minutes following this butterfly around as she weaved her way from one shrub to the next, occasionally alighting to bask.



The Painted Lady must have found its nirvana - it was still in the same spot when I left just before 2pm as it had been when I first spotted it at about 10.45.



Totals seen were:

1. Small Tortoiseshell 30-40
2. Speckled Wood 10-15
3. Hedge Brown 8-12
4. Peacock 8-12
5. Large White 8-12
6. Green Veined White 5-10
7. Small White 5-10
8. Silver Washed Fritillary 4
9. Comma 3
10. Red Admiral 2
11. Holly Blue 1
12. Brown Hairstreak 1
13. Painted Lady 1

Hoggers wrote: but are the Spring Brimstones less approachable than those in August? I couldn't get near them in March but today had no trouble ( or maybe my SAS-Style butterfly stalking skills have improved? )

Brimstones are always far less approachable in spring as the males are in constant search of females which is why they rarely settle for long.

In late summer though, both sexes are taking on as much fuel for winter hibernation as they can, so they will be nectaring like there's no tomorrow and are more tolerant of close approaches.

Lovely picture, by the way.

Cheers David, I learn a great deal on this site thanks to people like you! ( I kind of knew that my butterfly stalking hadn't improved - I like to blame my hip replacement but I think it's really just inherent clumsiness! )

My first visit to Noar Hill today was a little disappointing Not high numbers or many species, though I suppose the season is winding down. No Brown Hairstreaks, although somebody else did see a female whilst I was there. I was obviously not in the right place at the right time.

Species seen:
Meadow Brown 30+
Gatekeeper 10+
Speckled Wood 6
Holly Blue 1
Red Admiral 1
Small Tortoiseshell 1

We are being encouraged to avoid increasing our carbon footprint by not travelling thousands of miles to see exotic wildlife but instead to stay local to our homes.
With this in mind I counted how many butterfly species I had seen in my garden or within 200 metres from it in the fields across the road from my house over the past few years. I was surprised by the number: 24. I am sure others can beat that but I was very pleasantly surprised as 24 is probably 50% of the butterfly species that can bee seen on the Isle of Wight in any one year! I have just checked the Hants and IOW annual butterfly report 2011 and the number of species seen last year was 38 on the Isle of WIght!
The species were large white, small white, green-veined white, marbled white, common blue, holly blue, brown argus,large skipper, small skipper, Essex skipper, small tortoiseshell, red admiral, painted lady, peacock, wall brown, meadow brown, gatekeeper, small copper, clouded yellow, brimstone, orange tip, comma, small heath and speckled wood.
Ian

On the 23rd, while in search of orthoptera in the Christchurch area, I noticed some larvae on nettle that I at first assumed must be second generation Small Tortoiseshell. That in itself would have been noteworthy, as I haven't seen any for several years. But I was even more surprised when it turned out that they were Peacock caterpillars, not even nearly full-grown. It is surely inconceivable that they could be second generation in this year of all years, so this is a most extraordinarily late record for the species. Normally I would expect the adults to have gone into hibernation by now. In the attached photo you can see two larvae in the lower left that have the anterior ends hanging limply from the foodplant. This is a common symptom of a viral infection, so I fear the whole brood may perish.

M.

jackz432r wrote:My first visit to Noar Hill today was a little disappointing Not high numbers or many species, though I suppose the season is winding down. No Brown Hairstreaks, although somebody else did see a female whilst I was there. I was obviously not in the right place at the right time.

I was at Noar Hill the previous day, and only saw Meadow Browns. I wasn't in full butterfly mode as I was with my extended family, but I kept an eye out for BH, without having much clue where to look. I did see something small and bronzish fly past in the breeze, but suspect it was a vapourer moth or something. Our visit was cut short by a huge thundery downpour that soaked us to the skin

Apologies for delayed post:-

Venturing out into the field for butterflies have been curtailed for me over the last couple of weeks due to family circumstances and a rush to get ready for a pre-booked one weeks country cottage holiday in Sibton nr.Yoxford; Suffolk. A brief Friday (17th) morning's visit to Denbies was my only foray. At first only Meadow Browns were noticed because they were the only butterflies able to take to the wing under the cool and drizzly conditions. However after 15 minutes or so I spotted this Silver-spotted Skipper which was not in a good situation to take refuge from the rain . As the weather warmed up the Chalkhills became more prevalent, with males and lots of females in various conditions. No Adonis Blue seen .

Later in the day the weather had warmed up nicely and I was able to see Fresh Red Admiral and Peacock as well as Holly Blue at my Brother-in-Laws .