Re: Neil Freeman
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 7:20 pm
Hi David, she certainly was a lovely individual...reminded me a bit of some of the females that I saw on the Great Orme last year.
Cornwall - May 30th to June 3rd part 5.
Round up of the rest.
Shortly after our arrival late on the afternoon on the Tuesday (30th May), after settling into our B&B, I popped just down the road to Poldhu Cove to stretch my legs and have a quick look around. It was cloudy and fairly breezy but a short walk along the coast path here turned up a few Common Blues and Small Heaths plus a flypast from a single Red Admiral which was my first sighting of the latter species this year.
I also saw a couple of Painted Ladies along the path here, identified as two different individuals by the amounts of wear and damage they had suffered.
During the rest of the week Painted Ladies appeared regularly, usually flying in at high speed off the sea. Most of the ones that I managed to get close to were looking worn and faded to some degree which made me think that they had travelled some distance to get here rather than recently emerging just over the channel. The most seen at one location was at Upton Towns where a dozen or more where flying around some large clumps of red valerian on the dunes.
Later that afternoon we stopped off for a coffee and ice-cream at the roadside café at Hells Mouth where we saw at least half a dozen fly in off the sea whilst we were sitting at a table outside.
Red Admirals were seen at a number of places particularly between Kynance Cove and Lizard Point and on the valerian at Upton Towans. For the most part these appeared to be in better condition than the Painted Ladies, maybe they had not travelled so far or had emerged locally.
Common Blues were the most widespread resident species, appearing at every location visited apart from the Marsh Fritillary site. These varied from really tired and tatty examples to some that looked to be in nice condition.
The walk from Mullion Cove to Predannack Cliffs produced a few Wall Browns, mostly tired and faded looking, but one female stood out as not only being in good condition but in having particularly large forewing eye-spots.
A couple of late first brood Small Coppers were also seen still hanging in there on the coast path between Kynance Cove and Lizard Point and also at Upton Towans.
Other species seen included Large and Small Whites and Speckled Woods that all popped up in ones and twos at most places plus a couple of fresh Large Skippers in the areas of long grass at Upton Towans.
Also at Upton Towans a couple of Hummingbird Hawk Moths were zipping about on the valerian and a Cream-spot Tiger Moth confused me for a bit before it settled down in the grass and I realised what it was.
During my short walk at Poldhu Cove on the afternoon of the Tuesday, I had spotted an Adder lying in the grass close to the path. I reckon the cloudy conditions had made it a bit sluggish and I was right on top of it before I saw it but it soon disappeared into the grass when it realised I was there.
And finally, on the Friday afternoon at Lizard Point there were a couple of Grey Seals swimming about just off the rocks.
We left our B&B after breakfast on the Saturday morning under grey clouds and drizzle for the long drive back to the midlands.
All in all, a great few days spent in a beautiful part of the country.
Bye for now,
Neil.
Cornwall - May 30th to June 3rd part 5.
Round up of the rest.
Shortly after our arrival late on the afternoon on the Tuesday (30th May), after settling into our B&B, I popped just down the road to Poldhu Cove to stretch my legs and have a quick look around. It was cloudy and fairly breezy but a short walk along the coast path here turned up a few Common Blues and Small Heaths plus a flypast from a single Red Admiral which was my first sighting of the latter species this year.
I also saw a couple of Painted Ladies along the path here, identified as two different individuals by the amounts of wear and damage they had suffered.
During the rest of the week Painted Ladies appeared regularly, usually flying in at high speed off the sea. Most of the ones that I managed to get close to were looking worn and faded to some degree which made me think that they had travelled some distance to get here rather than recently emerging just over the channel. The most seen at one location was at Upton Towns where a dozen or more where flying around some large clumps of red valerian on the dunes.
Later that afternoon we stopped off for a coffee and ice-cream at the roadside café at Hells Mouth where we saw at least half a dozen fly in off the sea whilst we were sitting at a table outside.
Red Admirals were seen at a number of places particularly between Kynance Cove and Lizard Point and on the valerian at Upton Towans. For the most part these appeared to be in better condition than the Painted Ladies, maybe they had not travelled so far or had emerged locally.
Common Blues were the most widespread resident species, appearing at every location visited apart from the Marsh Fritillary site. These varied from really tired and tatty examples to some that looked to be in nice condition.
The walk from Mullion Cove to Predannack Cliffs produced a few Wall Browns, mostly tired and faded looking, but one female stood out as not only being in good condition but in having particularly large forewing eye-spots.
A couple of late first brood Small Coppers were also seen still hanging in there on the coast path between Kynance Cove and Lizard Point and also at Upton Towans.
Other species seen included Large and Small Whites and Speckled Woods that all popped up in ones and twos at most places plus a couple of fresh Large Skippers in the areas of long grass at Upton Towans.
Also at Upton Towans a couple of Hummingbird Hawk Moths were zipping about on the valerian and a Cream-spot Tiger Moth confused me for a bit before it settled down in the grass and I realised what it was.
During my short walk at Poldhu Cove on the afternoon of the Tuesday, I had spotted an Adder lying in the grass close to the path. I reckon the cloudy conditions had made it a bit sluggish and I was right on top of it before I saw it but it soon disappeared into the grass when it realised I was there.
And finally, on the Friday afternoon at Lizard Point there were a couple of Grey Seals swimming about just off the rocks.
We left our B&B after breakfast on the Saturday morning under grey clouds and drizzle for the long drive back to the midlands.
All in all, a great few days spent in a beautiful part of the country.
Bye for now,
Neil.