Page 85 of 220
Re: Neil Freeman
Posted: Wed May 04, 2016 7:28 pm
by Neil Freeman
May 4th - Spring is sprung at last
Today it finally felt like spring was here...or at least it looked like it was from what I could see out of the window at work. Driving home at 4.00pm there was not a cloud in the sky and the temperature on the car display was reading 18 degrees and so on arriving home I dived straight out into the garden with a mug of coffee and my camera to hand, just in case.
I didn't have to wait long for a Green-veined White to show up...
![Coverdale 05.05.16007 resize.JPG (539.5 KiB) Viewed 878 times Green-veined White - Coverdale 04.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_37f592a1916cf0bfa4227b22cf6151ca)
- Green-veined White - Coverdale 04.05.2016
Closely followed by not just one but two male Speckled Woods that were squabbling and spiraling around one of the usual corners. I could have laid money on that being the corner that I would eventually see my first Specklie in the garden this year and sure enough it was, 26 days later than last year, 23 days later than 2014, but actually 3 days earlier than 2013, all seen in the same corner.
![Coverdale 05.05.16013 resize.JPG (566.39 KiB) Viewed 878 times Speckled Wood - Coverdale 04.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_61cd023381202ad2787474ae5da58cd6)
- Speckled Wood - Coverdale 04.05.2016
![Coverdale 05.05.16017 resize.JPG (576.95 KiB) Viewed 878 times Speckled Wood - Coverdale 04.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_419f6237071fdb428a4959a1db19c63e)
- Speckled Wood - Coverdale 04.05.2016
During the next hour or so I also had my first Holly Blue that passed through without stopping, as did a Comma, plus a Peacock that settled for a while to soak up the sun before continuing on its way.
![Coverdale 05.05.16027 resize.JPG (931.44 KiB) Viewed 878 times Peacock - Coverdale 04.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_cbd104048614d9c3efdb4076ba25a6f0)
- Peacock - Coverdale 04.05.2016
That brings my tally so far this year up to 8 species, all of which I have seen examples of in the garden. Still no Orange-tip but with the weather over the next few days it won't be long now and as far as I am concerned, with the Specklies back in the garden, all is now right with the world
Bye for now,
Neil
Re: Neil Freeman
Posted: Wed May 04, 2016 7:49 pm
by bugboy
At last, I've been wondering where your Specklies are. I think I've only just got into double figures on all my travels, a very poor start to the year for them. Hoping things pick up now the weathers nice
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Re: Neil Freeman
Posted: Wed May 04, 2016 9:23 pm
by millerd
Good to see your Specklies are back, Neil. I was getting a bit worried.
Dave
Re: Neil Freeman
Posted: Wed May 04, 2016 9:34 pm
by David M
Thank God for that, Neil.
Specklies in your garden are the very definition of spring!
Re: Neil Freeman
Posted: Fri May 06, 2016 7:33 pm
by Neil Freeman
Thanks for your comments guys
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
I wasn't worried yet about the Specklies but if they had not turned up by this weekend then I would have been.
Friday 6th May - That's more like it!
My Orange-tip drought ended yesterday with a couple of males in the garden when I got in from work
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
, at least 2 in view at the same time although they were actively patrolling and didn't stick around.
Leaving work today at lunchtime I saw another male OT as I was driving home.
After picking up Jane from home we went round to see my mom and as I often do I went for a quick look around the park by her house as they sat chatting. During a quick half hour here I saw a couple of unidentified whites flying past and at least two Speckled Woods. There was also a nice display of Bluebells along a short path through a small wooded part.
![Langley Hall 06.05.16 003 resize.JPG (951.73 KiB) Viewed 826 times Bluebells - Langley Hall Park 06.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_c77b4217871178d64079aecb67407b2d)
- Bluebells - Langley Hall Park 06.05.2016
![Langley Hall 06.05.16 013 resize.JPG (817.72 KiB) Viewed 826 times Speckled Wood - Langley Hall Park 06.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_057556246dc6bfc1dc8385291ae44058)
- Speckled Wood - Langley Hall Park 06.05.2016
Back home later in the afternoon there was some high level thin cloud which made it feel very warm as I pottered about in the garden. In truth this pottering about also consisted of long periods of just sitting there listening to the birds sing and watching whatever came along.
Among these 'whatevers' was a female Brimstone that fluttered about around my alder buckthorns and stopping occasionally to lay eggs
![Coverdale 06.05.16 002 resize.JPG (530.56 KiB) Viewed 826 times Female Brimstone - Coverdale 06.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_81c2ee77ca803ff54e2b1e091fd21d82)
- Female Brimstone - Coverdale 06.05.2016
A couple of Green-veined whites passed through along with a Large White that paused briefly on my Lilac which is just coming into flower,
![Coverdale 06.05.16 033 resize.JPG (513.08 KiB) Viewed 826 times Large White - Coverdale 06.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_bfb3e4b45a2250d87f1223e4c0e8a48d)
- Large White - Coverdale 06.05.2016
A couple of male Speckled Woods were attempting to chase off anything which came close to their patches, One of which was already looking like he had lost a couple of scraps,
![Coverdale 06.05.16 024 resize.JPG (528.55 KiB) Viewed 826 times Speckled Wood - Coverdale 06.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_ed0a73f0649d42db82472ff81188230d)
- Speckled Wood - Coverdale 06.05.2016
![Coverdale 06.05.16 037 resize.JPG (595.23 KiB) Viewed 826 times Speckled Wood - Coverdale 06.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_ed8318e4fc1b823fdbdd432da98b813a)
- Speckled Wood - Coverdale 06.05.2016
Having tried unsuccessfully due to our heavy clay soil to grow Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve' in my garden a couple of years ago, I thought that I would give it a go in a container this year. This currently small plant proved its worth today by tempting both a male and a female Orange-tip to pause in their travels, albeit briefly.
![Coverdale 06.05.16 014 resize.JPG (501.93 KiB) Viewed 826 times Orange-tip - Coverdale 06.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_4bd96b9eb7e6bfff0d658cffb6866507)
- Orange-tip - Coverdale 06.05.2016
![Coverdale 06.05.16 006 resize.JPG (496.9 KiB) Viewed 826 times Orange-tip female- Coverdale 06.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_a8d0b8133f0ac7b621dfd04f597a0584)
- Orange-tip female- Coverdale 06.05.2016
Later in the afternoon I was watching a male Orange-tip chase a female up the garden when they both sort of crash landed on a shrub in the side border. At first I was expecting to see the typical rejection pose from the female but it soon became apparent that she was more receptive and after a bit of 'jostling' from the male they mated.
![Coverdale 06.05.16 038 resize.JPG (502.13 KiB) Viewed 826 times Orange-tip pair - Coverdale 06.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_617b151f246682f37301d8e43b61b01d)
- Orange-tip pair - Coverdale 06.05.2016
![Coverdale 06.05.16 049 resize.JPG (509.81 KiB) Viewed 826 times Orange-tip pair - Coverdale 06.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_96817d94c1e75f541149039252c28f83)
- Orange-tip pair - Coverdale 06.05.2016
![Coverdale 06.05.16 065 resize.JPG (541.28 KiB) Viewed 826 times Orange-tip pair - Coverdale 06.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_7da86b006e17460b0777604be1bb97c0)
- Orange-tip pair - Coverdale 06.05.2016
I kept my eye on them for a while hoping to see where they went when they separated but sods law being what it is, I nipped in for a moment and when I came back out they had gone.
That brings me up to 10 species, all of which I have seen examples of in my garden and in fact that is what I would normally expect to see around my immediate patch at this time of year.
Bye for now,
Neil.
Re: Neil Freeman
Posted: Fri May 06, 2016 7:48 pm
by bugboy
Re: Neil Freeman
Posted: Fri May 06, 2016 9:35 pm
by David M
Great images of the mating Orange Tips, Neil. I spent time tracking a female earlier this week but she rebuffed all approaches by males so clearly she had already coupled.
Re: Neil Freeman
Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 10:38 am
by Goldie M
Fantastic shots Neil, you must have a fantastic garden to attract all those lovely Butterflies without the Bowles Mauve
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
good luck with it Goldie
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Re: Neil Freeman
Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 5:53 pm
by Neil Freeman
Cheers Bugboy...better not tell you that I photographed a mating pair of Orange-tips in my garden a couple of years ago as well then
Hi David, I have seen a few male OTs trying it on with females over the past couple of days and, like yours, most have resulted in the rejection pose.
Thanks Goldie, My garden was described a couple years ago as creatively untidy which I think is a fair description
Saturday 7th May
With my daughter expecting our second grandchild any day now, in fact she is now a couple of days overdue, I am under strict instructions from my wife not to venture to far form home in case I am needed for taxi duties. Nevertheless, with no sign of any impending birth today I nipped out this afternoon for an hour or so at my local spot at Bickenhill. By the time I arrived the nice sunny first half of the day had given over to a heavy overcast but it was still warm and felt quite muggy and I soon saw a number of Orange-tips patrolling the hedgerows. In fact these continued to be active in the cloudy conditions, no doubt due to the warm air temperature, which meant I only managed a few record type shots. I reckon I saw about half a dozen or so, possibly 3 or 4 each of males and females but cannot be certain due to the way they were constantly flying all around the site.
![Bickenhill 07.05.16 015 resize.JPG (495.05 KiB) Viewed 732 times Orange-tip - Bickenhill 07.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_8c48acb5b735acdc86e5ed67fd1deead)
- Orange-tip - Bickenhill 07.05.2016
There were also a few Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells around, mostly looking a bit tired and worn now, and at least one Green-veined White although I am fairly certain that the other 'whites' seen were female OTs
![Bickenhill 07.05.16 033 resize.JPG (649.62 KiB) Viewed 732 times Small Tortoiseshell - Bickenhill 07.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_615f5376c163f6b79ff278c9066f968e)
- Small Tortoiseshell - Bickenhill 07.05.2016
![Bickenhill 07.05.16 046 resize.JPG (648.24 KiB) Viewed 732 times Peacock - Bickenhill 07.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_eac1f1922dfac8640bbacfa16d00ac8e)
- Peacock - Bickenhill 07.05.2016
I also spotted a Ruby Tiger Moth in a spiders web and gently touched it with a grass stem upon which it wriggled a bit and then took off, seemingly no worse for its experience. Hopefully it had not yet been bitten.
![Bickenhill 07.05.16 009 resize.JPG (509.17 KiB) Viewed 732 times Ruby Tiger Moth in spiders web.](./files/thumb_10101_b9b43edb37aec60f84d98965c3ae7418)
- Ruby Tiger Moth in spiders web.
By about 15.30 the clouds were getting darker and with a few spots of rain in the air I started back towards the car, making it just in time before it started thundering and raining properly.
Bye for now,
Neil.
Re: Neil Freeman
Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 6:14 pm
by Butterflysaurus rex
It was the same over here today Neil, the warmth made it very difficult to get close enough to anything for a photo. What could be better though, warm weather, some butterflies and best of all you'll soon be holding your new grandchild.
All The best
James
Re: Neil Freeman
Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 6:46 pm
by Maximus
Nice photos of the mating Orange-tips, Neil, and it's always nice to get the pre-mating shots too.
Re: Neil Freeman
Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 8:59 pm
by Wurzel
Lovely shot of the OT Neil
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
I hope everything goes well for your daughter
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Neil Freeman
Posted: Mon May 09, 2016 6:05 pm
by Neil Freeman
Thanks for all the comments guys
Sunday 8th May,
Another day spent lurking around the house just in case we got a call from our daughter and with the glorious sun most of it was spent out in the garden. The Specklies were the first butterflies up and about with a couple of males soon occupying their sunny spots.
![Coverdale 08.05.16 b003 resize.JPG (663.2 KiB) Viewed 678 times Speckled Wood - Coverdale 08.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_b885e753257493c336d3b9592ae3fa5e)
- Speckled Wood - Coverdale 08.05.2016
![Coverdale 08.05.16 b012 resize.JPG (656.37 KiB) Viewed 678 times Speckled Wood - Coverdale 08.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_385260baa22f5949313fe85e29cb62fa)
- Speckled Wood - Coverdale 08.05.2016
These were soon joined by a succession of Large, Small and Green-veined Whites, Orange-tips and Holly Blues that kept passing through, all of which were very active in the rapidly warming conditions and were not settling.
At one point in the early afternoon I spotted a raggedy looking female Brimstone fluttering around my alder buckthorn and she soon attracted the attentions of a passing male who proceeded to try it on for a few minutes,
![Coverdale 08.05.16 b017 resize.JPG (989.72 KiB) Viewed 678 times Brimstones - Coverdale 08.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_8cdc017c9ba4e757519e6be6802a9748)
- Brimstones - Coverdale 08.05.2016
![Coverdale 08.05.16 b019 resize.JPG (815.26 KiB) Viewed 678 times Brimstones - Coverdale 08.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_5d250c10d51ce76e4e25e94eb3df444b)
- Brimstones - Coverdale 08.05.2016
![Coverdale 08.05.16 b027 resize.JPG (604.01 KiB) Viewed 678 times Brimstones - Coverdale 08.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_06a12a04f7fa850ec06354cc42cd0b0e)
- Brimstones - Coverdale 08.05.2016
![Coverdale 08.05.16 b030 resize.JPG (484.81 KiB) Viewed 678 times Brimstones - Coverdale 08.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_cecd79126243968ad4bacb1fe8ee7362)
- Brimstones - Coverdale 08.05.2016
![Coverdale 08.05.16 b031 resize.JPG (532.99 KiB) Viewed 678 times Brimstones - Coverdale 08.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_a2603148273518f96fc72fa19d22da9d)
- Brimstones - Coverdale 08.05.2016
Eventually he took the hint and carried on with his wanderings leaving the female to carry on investigating the buckthorn and stopping occasionally to deposit an egg.
![Coverdale 08.05.16 b043 resize.JPG (534.31 KiB) Viewed 678 times Female Brimstone - Coverdale 08.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_7078215443a44664bb3b77fe04868dd8)
- Female Brimstone - Coverdale 08.05.2016
That is the third Brimstone I have seen laying on the buckthorn this year but most of the eggs have been laid in positions that are hard to get to so keeping an eye on them will be difficult.
Bye for now,
Neil
Re: Neil Freeman
Posted: Mon May 09, 2016 6:37 pm
by kevling
Neil, I enjoyed the sequence of Brimstone photos. Your fast shutter speed done you proud on the first one especially. I wish Brimstones rested with their wings open like that!
Regards Kev
Re: Neil Freeman
Posted: Mon May 09, 2016 7:17 pm
by David M
Nice motion images, Neil, but what was he doing trying to court a female in THAT condition (possibly the most ragged I've ever seen of this species)? The chances of her being a virgin were lower than minuscule!
I always feel a bit sorry for male Brimstones at this time of year. They keep patrolling away with no reward at all likely. The other adult over-winterers seem to perish around this time but our lemon-coloured friends somehow eke out another few weeks of life with their only apparent purpose being to brighten our lives.
Re: Neil Freeman
Posted: Tue May 10, 2016 9:08 am
by Goldie M
Great action photo's Neil, it's great watching the Brimstones in flight. Goldie
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Re: Neil Freeman
Posted: Tue May 10, 2016 7:44 pm
by Neil Freeman
Thanks Kev, I couldn't tell you what the shutter speed was, not really being a photographer as such the only setting I fiddle with is exposure compensation and let the camera (Panasonic FZ200) do the rest
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
.
Hi David, I suppose the fact that she was female was enough, I have known some blokes like that...better not go into any more, could get into trouble
Cheers Goldie, I love watching them dancing around each other like that
Monday 9th May/b]
Well, after a weekend of lurking around in case of a phone call from my daughter it was back to work on Monday and wouldn't you know it, she goes into labour and later that afternoon produced a bonny little girl
The strange thing is that she was just over a week late and my Dad passed away exactly three years ago and May 9th would have been his 80th birthday. It was almost as if she was hanging on especially to be born on that date...spooky
With the weather at the weekend bringing the butterflies out in the garden and the nights staying relatively warm I decided to make the most of it before the weather turns again and run the moth trap each night. This produced some more new species for the garden including Angle Shades, Chocolate-tip, Waved Umber, Knot Grass, Red-green Carpet, Flame Carpet. Least Black Arches and Brimstone Moth.
I released the catch the following dusk in the front garden and it appears that I did not catch any of the previous nights moths again.
![Coverdale 07.05.16 014 resize.JPG (799.09 KiB) Viewed 646 times Angle Shades - Coverdale 07.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_e4a7a84450bb233081766f6825bb026f)
- Angle Shades - Coverdale 07.05.2016
![Coverdale 8.05.16 003.JPG (646.74 KiB) Viewed 646 times Chocolate-tip - Coverdale 08.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_15f745c490235e16c17f43545b290ea3)
- Chocolate-tip - Coverdale 08.05.2016
![Coverdale 09.05.16 100 resize.JPG (971.23 KiB) Viewed 646 times Waved Umber - Coverdale 09.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_d386808769a934c552262ee432cb3790)
- Waved Umber - Coverdale 09.05.2016
![Coverdale 09.05.16 075 resize.JPG (780.32 KiB) Viewed 646 times Least Black Arches - Coverdale 09.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_c119561d5126872454155e68a9f60ef5)
- Least Black Arches - Coverdale 09.05.2016
![Coverdale 09.05.16 060 resize.JPG (801.05 KiB) Viewed 646 times Red-green Carpet - Coverdale 09.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_29ec311f9b0b3b705d54535e6b048a85)
- Red-green Carpet - Coverdale 09.05.2016
![Coverdale 09.05.16 046 resize.JPG (781.57 KiB) Viewed 646 times Flame Carpet - Coverdale 09.05.2016](./files/thumb_10101_e285619286f54511965f2640e27a4cf3)
- Flame Carpet - Coverdale 09.05.2016
![Coverdale 09.05.16 107 resize.JPG (714.47 KiB) Viewed 646 times Knot Grass - Coverdale 09.05.2015](./files/thumb_10101_98861dd44d5bed1b3b466c5a06a5ff0f)
- Knot Grass - Coverdale 09.05.2015
After the glorious sun at the weekend it has returned to typical British weather today (Tuesday), in other words it has been raining all day and is still lashing down as I write this.
Bye for now,
Neil
Re: Neil Freeman
Posted: Tue May 10, 2016 8:28 pm
by millerd
Congratulations on the arrival of your granddaughter, Neil!
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
May's a good month - all my three boys were born in May.
Dave
Re: Neil Freeman
Posted: Tue May 10, 2016 9:16 pm
by Wurzel
Great Moffs, great OTs and congratulations on the birth of your granddaughter
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
- any names yet? Possibly Vanessa, Camilla or Rubi
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Neil Freeman
Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 3:23 pm
by Goldie M
Congratulations Neil, isn't it just great being Grand Parents when you can hand them back at the end of the day and spoil them rotten in-between
When my Grand Daughter was born I received the phone call at 9am to say my daughter was on her way to Hospital and could we go and look after my two Grand Sons, problem was I'd been at the Home where my Mother had died at 4am that morning, Boy ! we were all spooked out! That's one Birthday I won't for get in a hurry
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Goldie
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)