It’s been a while since my last diary entry due to circumstances beyond my control. Hopefully things are now ‘on the up’, so, roll on Spring 2023.
Thanks, Wurzel, I was very pleased to get the backlit Cloudie shot
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Also having Swallowtails and their early stages in our garden has been simply amazing.
Thanks, David, that Large White really did stand out, which made me determined to get a photo. It was also a nice thought that the Clouded Yellow may have developed in our garden.
Cheers, Dave, for your kind comments
HI Matsukaze, sorry for the late reply. If it is not too much trouble I would be very interested in the distribution maps/ details for both Glanville and Marsh Fritillary in Manche/ Normandy.
I agree with you that Glanville Frit probably becomes a ‘wider countryside’ butterfly further south, we saw them in the Brenne in late July several years ago and we have read of several people with small colonies in their gardens too, further south.
8th September
While we were working in our polytunnel today I noticed a Wall Brown flying around inside. Cathy coaxed the butterfly onto her finger and we both admired a pristine female before she was released outside. A short while later it was the turn of a male but this time I had my camera so was able to get a shot before he was released. Also another male was seen, but he was happy to nectar on some verbena growing in the tunnel.
Later another male was seen on the house wall.
We didn't realise at the time but this marked the begining of a large emergence of Walls in our garden.
9th September.
Male Wall on verbena.
We saw Walls every day including two mating pairs.
10th September
![P1410817Resize.JPG (1.17 MiB) Viewed 1413 times Fresh male on squash.](./files/thumb_11970_0b70596c8df1789b0f9efe7eb5c4f011)
- Fresh male on squash.
![P1410825Resize.JPG (1.42 MiB) Viewed 1413 times Male on wet grass.](./files/thumb_11970_9f30b65aaab8a76a863948c080c3b2f3)
- Male on wet grass.
First photo of a late brood female.
![P1410898.jpgBResize.JPG (1.05 MiB) Viewed 1413 times Female on verbena.](./files/thumb_11970_ba6d4f0d2447a0283626b45bee989758)
- Female on verbena.
![P1410893Resize.JPG (1.24 MiB) Viewed 1413 times Female on choisia.](./files/thumb_11970_a253480834a24af154a9381191575506)
- Female on choisia.
12th September
And then another female.
![P1420158.jpgAResize.JPG (1.05 MiB) Viewed 1413 times Think this female was resting up after egg laying.](./files/thumb_11970_d8269b8e70cafe0b948814c33b4fc166)
- Think this female was resting up after egg laying.
30th September
![P1420662.jpgAResize.JPG (1.06 MiB) Viewed 1413 times Male on verbena.](./files/thumb_11970_930e7357e0bb5f0e4caea2512e0d7ab5)
- Male on verbena.
1st October
![P1420681Resize.JPG (1.05 MiB) Viewed 1413 times Female on verbena.](./files/thumb_11970_ea324da8046b19d4b4fcf3f8adcd1934)
- Female on verbena.
7th October
I spotted a beautifully marked female wall today and as she was wrapped up nectaring on verbena I managed several shots.
I believe this female falls into the category of
ab mediolugens.
8th October
![P1420755Resize.JPG (1.12 MiB) Viewed 1413 times Female Comma and Male Wall Brown.](./files/thumb_11970_6d68b56aa18088f87daa2a8e8cbd36bb)
- Female Comma and Male Wall Brown.
![P1420777Resize.JPG (849.42 KiB) Viewed 1413 times Worn male, last Wall seen in 2022.](./files/thumb_11970_8c0bda20652dca1d2bea59b9ef3ef7de)
- Worn male, last Wall seen in 2022.
These are just a few of those we saw and there were plenty seen and not photographed. Best year for Walls here so far.