April 2009 Lepidoptera Sightings

[xmilehigh]

Hi all,

Spent a pleasant afternoon on Walton Common with Eccles & Denise this afternoon. Good company and quite a few Butterflies as well.

Green Hairstreaks were everywhere & and after a long search we eventually found the Grizzled Skippers, almost where we started the walk. Guess we should have listened to Denise & her book in the 1st place

Grizzled Skipper


Green Hairstreak


Looking forward to meeting some of you on Saturday.

Cheers

[Susie]

A walk around my local area produced 1 peacock, loads of speckled woods (four sparring at once was a sight that had me transfixed) and orange tips, half a dozen large whites (one pair mating), a comma and one (possibly two) painted ladies.

[Ian Pratt]

Seen today at Eaglehead Copse near Brading Isle of Wight.

[Denise]

Hi all,

Spent a pleasant afternoon on Walton Common with Eccles & Denise this afternoon. Good company and quite a few Butterflies as well.

Green Hairstreaks were everywhere & and after a long search we eventually found the Grizzled Skippers, almost where we started the walk. Guess we should have listened to Denise & her book in the 1st place

It was a lovely afternoon. Loads of Green Hairstreak and a few Grizzled Skippers.
One of my efforts.

More on my blog.
Denise

[Ian Pratt]

First small tortoiseshell seen this morning whilst walking the dog in Branstone Sandown Isle of Wight.

[Mikhail]

Took the bus over to Ballard Down, Swanage, today. New species for me this year were: Dingy Skipper (many), Wall (ten or so including an ovipositing female), Brown Argus (a baker's dozen) and Common Blue (one). Also seen were: Large, Small and Green Veined White, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Small Copper (many), Peacock and Speckled Wood (scores). No Green Hairstreak seen. A Grasshopper Warbler was singing from some blackthorn scrub.

Misha

[romansnumber7]

Went out looking for Green Hairstreaks but too elusive for me. Did see scores of Speckled Wood, 2 Holly Blues and large Whites, but only managed to get images of the Specked Wood.
Techy info;
D80
Sigma 150 2.8 + 1.4 conv
ISO 100
1/125
f5.6
Tripod

[Ian Pratt]

Took the bus over to Ballard Down, Swanage, today. New species for me this year were: Dingy Skipper (many), Wall (ten or so including an ovipositing female), Brown Argus (a baker's dozen) and Common Blue (one). Also seen were: Large, Small and Green Veined White, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Small Copper (many), Peacock and Speckled Wood (scores). No Green Hairstreak seen. A Grasshopper Warbler was singing from some blackthorn scrub.

Misha

Sounds like a great day's butterflying- hope the good weather continues.

[Susie]

That's a lovely shot, romansnumber7. Welcome to UK Butterflies.

I had good day too. Plenty of orange tips and a holly blue at the allotment. Large white, small white and orange tips in my garden. Speckled woods, peacocks, brimstones, orange tips, large whites, small whites, and pb frits at Rewell Woods.

[Trev Sawyer]

Due to the hot weather, I went to Devil's Dyke near Newmarket today (known as Devil's Ditch on this site as there's another one near Brighton) in the hope that Dingy Skippers would be starting to hatch there. I did finally spot one just before I left, but was surprised to find a very fresh Brown Argus. Wasn't expecting that just yet





Trev

[Matsukaze]

First Holly Blue and Small Copper of the year today.

[Jack Harrison]

I had to visit Yorkshire on 22 April for a non-butterfly related reason. But I did manage to check out the grounds of the hotel near Tadcaster where we stayed.

Speckled Wood , Small White and Orange Tip in good numbers. Holly Blue two and Brimstone one (good to see Brimstone this far north)

Jack

[Paul Brock]

For those going to Bentley Wood, have a good meeting . I won't mention the beetle found at Pignal Inclosure in the New Forest today as I know some of you guys dislike these 'bugs', but great to see a Pearl-bordered Fritillary at nearby Parkhill Inclosure, absolutely stunning colours. Hope you manage to see them in their full beauty, if not there is always the New Forest....this one was newly hatched, only basked briefly, had about 2 seconds to get a few shots in. Until it rains again, there are few nectar sources, at least at this site.

Paul

[Gruditch]

Wow absolutely pristine PB Paul. About the Beetle, just nod if it was a Stag Beetle, I love them.

First Dingy Skipper of the year for me today.



Gruditch

[geniculata]

nice sighting paul,

might pop over to pignal to have a look myself.
i took a swift walk down to becton bunny after work and although it was late i still found several small copper,1 peacock and a speckled wood.

just say if you get fed up with small copper pics.

gary

[eccles]

Before this season I had no idea that grizzled skipper was present in the Bristol region, but following success at Walton Common on Tuesday, they were found again yesterday at Goblin Combe near Cleeve.

[Neil Hulme]

Hi all,
On Monday 20th I saw my first Sussex Duke of the year on a private site, followed by my first PBF at Rewell Wood later in the afternoon. I've been away in Kent for a couple of days, helping BC staff advise landowners on how best to assist the county's ailing Duke population. Before returning this afternoon, I saw 2 pristine male Dukes at Bonsai Bank - Kent's best known site for this species.
Neil

[FISHiEE]

Aha... they're out then so I'll be over there soon then A very early year it's turning out to be. They're about 10 days ahead of last year! Did you go to the other site too Neil? I have the opportunity to go there in a couple of weeks

Must mean the PBF's and Small PBF's will be out soon sort of near me... and then the Marsh Frits in Dorset too. Oh what fun the new few weeks will bring

[Neil Hulme]

Hi John,
Presume you mean the private site discovered recently in Kent? If so, yes we visited, but DoB not on the wing there yet (PM me if that's NOT what you meant!). Yes, the next few weeks are going to be fun, fun and more fun Get together soon for a day out.
Neil

[FISHiEE]

Hi Niel,

Yes that's the place. Not visited it yet but have permission to photograph and survey on the 16/17 may If they are still about by then lol!

Yes must get together... May is very busy for me then I have 5 weeks of holidays July should be about right for the Purple Emperors though right?

John