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Here is a picture of the small secure population of Glanvilles that I have to Baby Sit through the winter, before they go back onsite. They are starting to eat now.

I managed to get my first butterfly of the year today with a Comma on Hutchinsons Bank, not many years have a Comma as the first record.

Still no signs of Torts, Brimstones or Peacocks.

Just spotted this photo Martin. Looks like there's going to be a good population of Glanvilles at HB this season - a visit there is certainly on the cards

HI Martin,
Hope to see your Glanvilles this year. If most of those in your image make it, we will
be spoilt for choice, and save a trip to the Isle of Wight!.

Regards,
Trevor.

Today a male Brimstone at Hutchinsons Bank, and 30 Man Orchid Plants on the di-used Golf Course.

At Hutchinsons Bank today, 8 Brimstone, 5 Small Torts, 3 Comma and 2 Peacocks. One of the Peacock flew out of a fox hole, so might have been hibernating in it.

That's quite some total Martin - I have only seen 1 Brimstone so far. A few years ago, I, too, saw a Peacock come out of a burrow so your assumption could well be correct..

That's a pretty impressive haul for this time of year.Had the hibernating Peacock found an unused Foxhole - or did it find an unused annexe?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I checked the Glanville caterpillars at HB today, they were active and happily eating a wider range of leaves despite having lots of plantain to choose from.
We seem to be discovering things every day, Pauline has had a few discoveries as well this spring.

I had Glanvilles eating Purple Toadflax last summer.

That's good news Martin, 'let's hope this little colony of Glanvilles thrives for the future.

Trevor.

That's an interesting observation Martin. With all the effort you are putting in I am sure there will be a splendid display at HB this season ... and you need to remind me when the exotic butterflies will be on display.

Checked the HB Glanville caterpillars today, quite visible when you know where to look, but the 2 webs i know of are really hard to find. They have lots of plantain in this area.
another 3-4 weeks and the adults will be flying about again.

I walked the 2 Transects i have to do this week, not many butterflies but the first of the Whites, 2 Small Whites, and probably the same Grizzled Skipper as Bugboys, as it was in the same location.

A good day at Hutchinsons Bank, first Speckled Wood, Orange-Tips of the year, and plenty of Brimstones, Peacocks. I thought i was going to get a pair of Brimstones, as they were courting at my feet, but both went high up in a thermal, and split up as they came back down some distance away.
Along the Cutting I found my first [wild] Glanville caterpillars, sunning themselves on the centre of the path, 11 in all, these had overwintered along the cutting and are only 2-3 days behind the others. They were some distance 60m from where known webs were last summer. I found 1 larva where these known webs were so they may have moved away this spring. Any returned overwintered larvae have been put well away from the cutting [500m] so we can monitor any wild larvae. It looks like it will be a good year here this spring.
One my way back at the end of the cutting in one of the scrapes the 2nd Grizzled of the year.

The Glannies are coming on well then Mr Spock Would the adults be expected to be emerging in about a month from now - I'm trying to remember on what dates I've seen Glannies flying previously?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Wurzel wrote:Would the adults be expected to be emerging in about a month from now - I'm trying to remember on what dates I've seen Glannies flying previously?
Wurzel

They take about 21 days as a pupa, and last year appeared on 14th May, although they were not spotted until 17th, They seem to be inline with that again this year, the weather seems to be warming up after 4th May, so would expect a date from 11th, and with the numbers of fully grown larvae around will be a good year.

i have been looking for a couple of weeks along the cutting and even looking every day, only saw the larvae on the 21st, other visitors also walked past/over them the last couple of days. So there are probably lots of others we have missed.

Brill - cheers for the info - I'll pencil those dates into my diary

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Despite the Cold weather today, i checked the HB cutting for more Wild Glanvilles, I found another 7 to start with at the bottom of the slopes, and on the flat side of the track [the flints mark where the first larvae were found], I was pleased with this, another was found near to where last summers webs were too. I had a look in the Scrape, and suddenly the total was 29, above this scrape it got to 42, 40 in and around the scrape pictured below, these must all be from a missed web and pairing last summer. I would expect there to be many more larvae that were sheltering today.
All of todays larvae were fully grown, so would be wandering off to pupate sometime this week.

At last some butterflies today, 2 Small Torts and 2 Peacock along the Cutting at Hutchinsons Bank, it was sheltered so quite warm when the sun was out. The cutting Glanville Larvae count was up to 70, with some showing signs of wanderlust, by rapidly running over the ground and up the scrape.

Hopefully when it warms up next week we will see some Grizzingy Skippers and Green Hairstreak.

Sounds like I'll soon have to book my Tram ticket !.