www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

NickB wrote:

Sussex Kipper wrote:Hi Phil (PhiliB),
Just noticed that you nailed a Black Hairstreak too (pretty sure I know which leaf it's on! ). Another epic shot. Glad that Nick's stay-away memory card didn't take the shine off the experience .
BWs, Neil

No sugar-spray or similar beverage was used in the production of that picture!
Hence they didn't stay-down - and Phil was quick! (I got back with my other camera and was about to press the shutter when it decided to move-off. That happened twice!!!!!)
But you may be sure that those tactics may be used on subsequent outings

Thanks Neil, this particular BH was actually a little way away from the No.1 spot. We had seen 5 or 6 flying high up at that location but they never looked like coming down. Nick had wandered off down the hill while I lingered in vain hope. I then heard the distant sound of a grown man weeping, the rest of the story has already been told.
Early signs are that we are not going to be in for the dire BH year that was predicted by many. Good numbers have been seen at Brampton Wood as well.

There was a great deal of publicity about Black Hairstreak having declined by 98% in 2012. I took that with a pinch of salt and the recent reports suggest numbers more-or-less normal in 2013.

The point I am making is that statistics such as that might well be taken at face value. Subsequently, it will be realised that it was a far less meaningful statistic. A headline-grabbing 98% decline should always come with a qualifier otherwise when a real decline of a species happens, there will be the inevitable tendency to say: “Just another statistic to be ignored”. There lies the danger.

I remember remarking before about the paranoia over the apparent Small Tortoiseshell decline following the Sturmia bella parasite arrival. I made the point that ST numbers have always fluctuated since I started butterflying in 1945! ST numbers don’t seem to be causing too many concerns in 2013. The next ST crash will doubtless occur within the next few when parasites (of whatever species) get the upper hand, but the butterfly will bounce back again.

Jack

Jack Harrison wrote:There was a great deal of publicity about Black Hairstreak having declined by 98% in 2012. I took that with a pinch of salt and the recent reports suggest numbers more-or-less normal in 2013.

The point I am making is that statistics such as that might well be taken at face value. Subsequently, it will be realised that it was a far less meaningful statistic. A headline-grabbing 98% decline should always come with a qualifier otherwise when a real decline of a species happens, there will be the inevitable tendency to say: “Just another statistic to be ignored”. There lies the danger.

I remember remarking before about the paranoia over the apparent Small Tortoiseshell decline following the Sturmia bella parasite arrival. I made the point that ST numbers have always fluctuated since I started butterflying in 1945! ST numbers don’t seem to be causing too many concerns in 2013. The next ST crash will doubtless occur within the next few when parasites (of whatever species) get the upper hand, but the butterfly will bounce back again.

Jack

I couldn't agree more Jack.
I was working when Rosalyn texted me that she'd just read a report that Black Hairstreak numbers were down 98% in 2012. I think my reply was "Who on earth came up with that ridiculous statement and on what information was it based?".
As you know, I do the UKBMS transect for Monks Wood and last year not a single BH was recorded, but that didn't mean that I didn't see any, just not within the transect corridor at the time of the transect.

I think the issue with Black Hairstreaks last year wasn't the fact that they weren't around, but rather that the weather throughout June was so appalling that hardly anyone got to see them.

Anyway, 15 different species seen at Crymlyn Burrows in Swansea between 10am and 12.15pm today.

Dark Green Fritillaries were ubiquitous in the dune area in the lee of the light woodland:



It was two to a stem more often than not:



Small Skippers and Ringlets out here too:



Totals seen:

Meadow Brown 80-100
Dark Green Fritillary 60-80
Small Heath 40-60
Common Blue 30-40
Small Blue 10-15
Large Skipper 10-15
Ringlet 3
Green Veined White 2
Small Tortoiseshell 1
Small Skipper 1
Small White 1
Small Copper 1
Large White 1
Brown Argus 1
Speckled Wood 1

The bizarre sight of presumed overwintering Brimstone and Small Tortoiseshell on the wing in the final weekend of June - the (male) Brimstone wasn't close enough to get a good look at, but still patrolling the hedges with considerable vigour, but the Tortoiseshell was as battered as could be expected given the date - it had lost so many scales it almost looked like an aberrant. It was flying well enough though, and must have a chance of meeting its descendants in the near future (I haven't seen ST larvae recently but came across Comma larvae earlier in the week, some of which must have been close to pupation).

Pleasing numbers of Speckled Wood on the wing here in the last couple of weeks, including today - around here they just seem to be having an exceptionally late year. Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Large Skipper just beginning to emerge.

Prees Heath,

Does anyone have any reports of sighting of SSB's yet,

cheers John.

john starkey wrote:Re: June 2013

by john starkey » Sat Jun 29, 2013 4:54 pm

Prees Heath,

Does anyone have any reports of sighting of SSB's yet,

cheers John.

Hi John,

I may get to go this week, will let you know.

Debbie

I have just returned from a wonderful holiday in Norfolk. How lovely it was to see the Swallowtail butterfly for the first time.

Is the little butterfly the Brown Argus? Many Thanks.

Debbie

Delayed report of visit to Collard Hill on 26th June

Following the long car journey down from Sheffield, I arrived at 12.30. The sun was due out an hour later, but as I arrived at the main site on the hill, a pair of butterflyers were already taking pictures of one Large Blue. It was very active, and at no point could any of us get close enough to get decent views. The cloud cleared at exactly the time predicted by the forecasters, and it soon became scorching. I'd hoped that the sun would bring out more Large Blues, but sadly, despite spending a good 2 hours searching the whole hill with around 5 other butterflyers, we only counted two Large Blue in total.

It's a beautiful location though, and I was rewarded with my first Marbled White and Large Skippers of the season.

I'm now on a weeks holiday in the Shropshire Hills. First walk today was up Pole Hill from Church Stretton, coming back down the beautiful Carding Mill Valley.

the morning was cold and windy, so the only butterfly seen was a lone Small Tortoishell. The afternoon was hot though, and in the sheltered valley, there were a good number of Butterflies. Most common was the Small Copper, with around 10 in a small area. These were my first of the year, and probably the most I've ever seen in one spot. Also present were Small Heath and Green Veined White. But the highlight was a single Wall.

It got me wondering, are the Wall having a good year this year? I'd only ever seen two in total in all my 6 years of serious butterflying 2007-2012. This year I've seen 4 at three different sites. Are other UK Butterflyer's noticing greater numbers of Wall this year too?

Reports of the demise of the BH are certainly premature; numbers seen are pretty much what one would expect from this species, given the arboreal nature of BH. Similar numbers today as on Wednesday, with only one giving any chance of a shot - an egg-laying female taking a breather between sorties. ( And I DID remember my CF card this time ) Also a few Large Skipper, many Speckies and one each of Ringlet and Meadow Brown.

You people in the south make me a little jealous. I had in fact planned a butterfly trip to England, but my injured knee (ligaments) has ruled out the holiday and I am now in the NHS queue to see a consultant. Of course the moment I cancelled the holiday, my knee improved considerably. But the respite is only temporary and doubtless history will repeat itself and I will again struggle to walk at some point. The knee requires a permanent fix (new bionic one?)

My butterflying at the moment is to an extent limited to watching three caterpillars, two Orange Tips from mainland eggs (Orange Tip has a precarious foothold on Mull so I wouldn't take any from here) and a Green-veined White which unnoticed by me, was on the Cuckoo Flower with one of the Orange Tips. I too have followed the practice of giving them names but as I don’t know the gender, they have been called Les (Leslie or Lesley), Sam (Samuel or Samantha) and Viv (Vivian or Vivienne).

Jack

Debbie wrote:

john starkey wrote:Re: June 2013

by john starkey » Sat Jun 29, 2013 4:54 pm

Prees Heath,

Does anyone have any reports of sighting of SSB's yet,

cheers John.

Hi John,

I may get to go this week, will let you know.

Debbie

Thank you very much Debbie,very kind of you

John.

Debbie,

Lovely shot of the Swallowtail.

Yes your other photos are Brown Argus.

Regards Kev

kevling wrote:Debbie,

Lovely shot of the Swallowtail.

Yes your other photos are Brown Argus.

Regards Kev

Thank you, Debbie

Over twenty Black Hairstreaks at Bernwood today. Nearly all were at the tops of the sloe bushes. After hours of searching and nearly giving up, a close encounter of the very best kind. A female low down, resting before and after ovi-positing.

Nice shots, nomad. What time of day did you see her descend?

Well done both NickB and Nomad - some excellent shots and, in particular, those of ovipositing females. Definitely need to get these into the species-specific gallery!

Cheers,

- Pete

Cheers Pete! Nomad and I had very similar experiences; nice one Nomad, I know how tough it can be
She came down at about 2:30pm; about the same time that PhilB has seen them egg-laying before....but that may not be relevant......

David M wrote:Nice shots, nomad. What time of day did you see her descend?

Saw my first Black Hairstreaks at 9.am. Usually well above head height. None were taking nectar from the privet bushes coming into flower. The female came down at 1.30pm, after over four hour of searching for a decent shot. I was just about to leave the site.