www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

I bent the rules slightly today. I drove to my favourite butterfly spot - more in the interests of my own sanity rather than just seeing butterflies I had already seen very near to home. Orange Tip, GV White, Speckled Wood and Peacock.

The Speckled Wood was very active (I was less so - my ‘exercising’ being just wandering around) but when resting, the Specklie was usually wings-closed and aligned with the sun. Strange as it wasn’t all that hot at around 15C. At home, the first of my home-bred Orange Tips emerged and then flew off strongly. The pupae had been kept in the fridge until 1 April so the timing to allow them to develop was pretty much spot on - to coincide with the wild individuals.

Jack

Jack Harrison wrote: ↑Tue May 05, 2020 4:47 pmI bent the rules slightly today....

Surely not, Jack!



Well done with your Orange Tips, I know you put some effort into caring for them.

Seems strange they are being liberated when ours are on the wane.

My 'bending' of the rules doesn’t quite match that of the respected (?) professor.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52553229

Jack

As Jack's orange tips were flying free, ours were taking their first, larval steps.

This is the same egg yesterday morning and yesterday evening (from two very different angles, because of the position of the sun):





In the second picture, the fully formed larva is visible inside, with his head at the pointy end.

This morning, he still hadn't plucked up the courage, but he must have heard us eating and got hungry, as straight after lunch he was out, taking his first meal:



I didn't want to disturb him, hence the poor quality picture.

By the time Minnie and I got back from our afternoon walk he had finished what he wanted of the egg and taken his place at the tip of a developing garlic mustard fruit:





All the white-letter hairstreak caterpillars I was following have graduated to 4th (final) instar and deserted the lower leaves of the trees. I couldn't find any last night.

Guy

Great stuff, Guy. Worthy of a book....maybe one like Pete's

Probably the first UK pairing of Glanvilles this year, at Hutchinsons Bank, they have been out there since 1st May,, and IOW 2nd May, numbers are building slowly with 13+ Glannies seen today, still plenty of larvae, some fully grown ones marching across paths. Grizzingy Skippers in good numbers too. Small Blues starting to emerge, but the 1000s will be a week or so away.
It should have been our first Butterfly Walks [Saturday] and for Butterfly Conservation [Wed] at least we will get our Daily exercise instead when we check the site on those days.

My wife and I escaped to Shapwick NNR yesterday , all within the rules let me add.
It was a strange feeling of having landed in some foreign land after spending so much time acting the life of a recluse.
The Neolithic Sweet track one of our favourite walks, was deserted,
 No disappointments, nature was on form.
Even though I had no great expectations I had great success with the Dragons never experienced them so docile the air was cool so I guess they were happy to pose.

Newly emerged Brimstone, a worn  Holly blue, and Speckled wood, plus Small whites.

Four spot Chaser.
Hairy Dragonfly.
And
Scarce Chaser.

Nice to see something new on my restricted walk this lunchtime

On my exercise walk today ,I returned to the (fairly )local Grizzle site , plenty on the wing ,and was also pleased to find
three Green Hairstreak as well ,which I thought I wouldn,t be seeing this season ,I,ve not seen them in this section of the woodland before ,so very happy !
Also found a single Large White ,only the second I,ve seen this season ……………...they seem very thin on the ground this year.
On my way back to the car I almost trod on this large Sloworm ,sunning himself on the path .
Regards Allan.W.
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Those Green Hairstreaks are reward for posting even more of those stunning taras, Allan!

Today at Hutchinsons Bank an egglaying female Glanville, not the one seen pairing yesterday, and lots of Grizzled and Dingy Skippers.

I bought an emperor moth lure a couple of years ago, and not had any luck with it, until today:
Excuse the poor quality photo - it was full of energy and didn't settle, but I was so pleased to see it. I live in suburban London near the Essex border, so quite a treat to have one in the garden (I understand they have been seen not too far away in the more open areas of Epping Forest, so that may be where it came from).

MrSp0ck wrote: ↑Thu May 07, 2020 8:57 pmToday at Hutchinsons Bank an egglaying female Glanville...

Is this species always on the wing this early at that site, MrSp0ck? I'd always read that Glanville Fritillary is normally a late May species, although these last 5 years or so have somewhat thrown that text book out of the window!

In Wurzel’s “favourite Small Copper photograph” back in January, I posted a photograph of the first mating pair i had observed in my garden and speculated that it boded well for 2020. Delighted to find these two in the garden today.

Enjoying seeing several holly blues in my garden, especially this one on blue ceanothus.

Near my house saw several wall browns hill topping. The underside is particularly impressive, resting predictably on a wall!

Wolfson wrote: ↑Fri May 08, 2020 9:09 pm Delighted to find these two in the garden today.

Great shots, Wolfson. That's a pretty impressive caeroleopunctata.

All the usual suspects on the wing(in my area of Kent). Good numbers of both Common Blues an Brown Argus are starting to build. Just one female Common Blue seen. A couple of Small Coppers, an 2 Small Heaths also seen.
Some highlights, cheers Paul. None of these images have been cropped.

Dingy Skipper. Grizzled Skipper. Green Hairstreak.

Home bred Orange Tips now emerging thick and fast. Pupae were taken out of the fridge on 1st April and with hiindsight that was a little late - but who at beginning of April coluld have predicted the superb weather? Wild ones have been flying for about ten days.Canon SX 50 HS bridge camera.

Jack

Maybe not that late Jack. I remember back in 2016 when we stayed in Fort William for a few days in early June, as a base to look for Chequered Skippers, there were plenty of fresh Orange-tips in Glen Nevis and on the way up to Loch Arkaig. That was a very warm spring up that way too.

Cheers,

Neil.