www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Is it possible they could have arrived last year (during the very hot prolonged summer) and just emerged?

Cheers

Paul

Nice idea and very possible. In which case, there should be more over the next few days. The weather is very much on the mend and early part of the week, if not longer, should be very pleasant.

That egg-laying report - what was it supposed to be laying on? Blackthorn, Hawthorn?

Jack

It was on a small hawthorn in the middle of the clearing. There were some guys present who got plenty of video and stills of it.

I'm still going with a release, but I would love one of your theorys to be right. In its own subtle way its a very handsome butterfly.

Gruditch

Black-veined whites are extremely gregarious butterflies which frequently gather in clusters. I've seen up to a dozen clamouring around a single large flower head and similar numbers taking minerals together. Thus, if freak weather conditions brought one it would not surprise me at all to find others caught up in the same event. I have no idea how likely a release is - perhaps it is the more probable explanation. But I don't think the presence of two individuals counts significantly against natural arrival.

Guy

Any news from today ? Tomorrow's the first chance I've had to get over to Stockbridge.

Still present this morning (until 11.30 at least) per Birdnet pagers.

Cheers

Paul

Thanks Paul, I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Still very much in evidence this afternoon at 19.00 hrs and egg laying, still downloading the images at the moment, will post some later if they are worth showing !

Is it still in the same small clearing 10m or so from the car park gate ?

Sure is managed to get her backlit

Lovely photos Mike!

I couldn't work today so I shot down there at 10am, arriving at 11:15, taking photos by 11:17 I have to say, she is a very obliging butterfly, not very skittish at all.

By the way, the place is absolutely heaving with Chalk-hill Blues, and a lot of Brimstones as well. Also got small copper, Silver-washed Fritilleries and Brown Argus, but no Silver-spotted Skipper









Martin.

BTW...does anyone know when the LAST sighting was?

Reappeared alongside the track that borders the clearing to the left (much to my relief !) at 13.40, after it had disappeared for about an hour and a half.

I don't think I've ever seen so many Chalkhill Blues. Also 2 worn Dark Green Fritillaries on the open downland.

Best of luck to all who go.

Deepest Hants is where she's at;
An unaccustomed habitat.
Stockbridge Down the honoured site,
Goodness me! A black-veined white!

Oh those wings, so Art Nouveau,
Pearly white they fairly glow;
Beauty's something they can't lack,
Those veins and margins wrought in black

Overnight she's now a star
With lepidopterists from afar,
Come to peer and come to fuss;
Do you think she's yet fed up with us?

Long hereabouts since you did roam,
We'd love again this be your home;
But have you flown or were you freed,
Nature's work, or just man's deed?

Bryan

What makes us specially elated
Is that you popped up ready-mated!
You keep laying on our patch
And we'll keep praying that they hatch.

Guy

I think it's time Pete sharpened his pencil and had a stab!

Bryan

And I think it's time we all quit while we're ahead!

Martin.

I think your right, especially as she's gone

Gruditch