millerd

[Goldie M]

You've got every thing there I've not seen yet Lovely!! Goldie

[Neil Freeman]

Not only a great selection of Holly Blue photos from your local patch Dave but I don't think I have ever seen so many poses with wings spread that far open before. Great stuff

Cheers,

Neil.

[essexbuzzard]

Like everyone else, I’m amazed by the numbers of Holly Blues you consistently get down there. You clearly have a bit of a hot spot on your patch. I’m only the other side of London from you, yet I have only seen two so far. One behind my home, and one in Regents Park!

[bugboy]

Fabulous series of the Holly Blues! Like Art Frames, this is a species that I rarely see more than a couple of times a year. But what a stunner!

Given that numbers of Holly Blue can fluctuate so wildly from year to year, I'd be interested to know if those kind of numbers are normal at your patch, or does this look like being one of the good years?

It's not for nothing that he's known as the 'Holly Blue Whisperer' in these parts. Like EssexBuzzard I only live the other side of London but never see numbers like Dave. My gut feeling is the heat island effect of being so close to Heathrow Airport has a lot to do with it. So far this year I've seen 3, all at work in central London.

[David M]

You've done remarkably well to get such great images of skittish species like the Whites and Holly Blues, Dave. Even though the weather has been cool, these butterflies remain hyperactive in my part of the world.

I'm pleased to say that, like you, I'm seeing lots of Holly Blues again. This is two years on the run so enjoy them as the inevitable crash will likely follow soon.

[Andrew555]

Some beautiful open wing views Dave, Blue Heaven indeed. The Speckled's are very nice as well.

[millerd]

Thank you Wurzel - more GVW coming up. One secret is to go out early before the sun has properly energised them all.

Thank you, Art. The GH patch at Denbies is a good one, and as for my local Holly Blues... 20+ is not unusual at peak times.

Thanks to you all as well, Callum, Janet, Goldie, Neil, Essex, Buggy, David and Andrew. These numbers of Holly Blues really are not unusual in the spring, and the summer brood can be equally good. It just seems to be a favourable location. I have yet to experience a poor season for them, but I imagine at some point their parasite will gain the upper hand. Certainly the regular third brood in October/November has no adverse effect on numbers either.

After nearly a week of cold, cloud and rain, either at home or up in Yorkshire (especially yesterday!) the day dawned blue today (1st May). It was pretty chilly to start with, but I set out round my local patch just after 9 and was soon seeing butterflies. Early on, most were keen on nectaring or just basking to warm up, and the GVW were particularly obliging.

Most whites turned out to be this species, but there were one or two Small ones and a few Large Whites too.

The Orange Tips were also very amenable to start with, and in the end, good numbers were seen.

This included a single female.

I saw the first Brimstones for a while, one of each sex, plus a Peacock, three Speckled Woods and four Commas.

However, most numerous again were the Holly Blues, with over 20 seen in various spots all along the walk. Today, the many patrolling and perching males included a few females. It also appears the weather has battered a few of them, but there were still some fresh ones.

Dave

[Wurzel]

Unfortunately some of us are in work whilst the butterflies are warming up Dave More great shots especially that really smoky first Green-veined White, lush

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[essexbuzzard]

I can only echo what Wurzel says. I was off yesterday, when it was wet and freezing cold. I’m off again tomorrow and, guess what? It’s going to rain again. Maybe someone upstairs doesn’t like me...

[trevor]

Well done Dave, 7ou're two ahead of me.
As yet no female Holly Blues, or Orange Tip females, still searching !.

Trevor.

[Goldie M]

Fantastic Holly Blues Dave They're late coming out here has are the Speckies, may be next week if the forecast for then is right. Goldie

[millerd]

Oops, sorry Wurzel and Essex for unconsciously rubbing in the retirement thing... . I've lost count of the days in the past when lovely sunny mornings have given way to cloud by lunchtime and I had to give up the idea of seeing anything much. Being out there before nine now is such a bonus. Still, it doesn't help on days like today with heavy rain all day so far. Never mind, it all gets better tomorrow and the next ten days or so seem really promising. 25 degrees forecast here on Bank Holiday Monday... unlikely as it may seem.

The HB females on my patch are particularly behind the males this year, Trevor - I would hope there are quite a few left to emerge. And OT females have been very thin on the ground too. A couple of years ago I'd seen three before seeing a male.

Thank you again, Goldie. Next week, you should be seeing lots more Holly Blues and Specklies - and who knows what else?

Dave

[David M]

Love those Holly Blues again, Dave. You seem to live in a prime spot for them. I'm also interested to know you're still seeing Commas. They disappeared from my neck of the woods nearly a fortnight ago yet Peacocks have been increasing in numbers!

Who can ever get into the logic behind butterflies' lives?

[millerd]

Cheers, David. I hadn't actually seen a Comma for a while, so they were very welcome. Last year the last of the hibernators overlapped with the first of the new hutchinsoni individuals in June so the old guard should be around for a little while yet. I think it takes a while for all to come out of hibernation. Definitely a prime spot for those Holly Blues - judging by numbers, you seem to have a hotspot near you too!

Wednesday 2nd May: The sun didn't properly appear until after four, and even then there were interruptions for heavy showers. I only got as far as the nearest part of my local patch, pretty well within sight of home, but the sunshine had sparked several white butterflies into life, including a couple of Orange Tips. Nectaring, basking and roosting seemed to be on the agenda, and consequently there was some good posing and accessible subjects.

A couple of Holly Blues had also sprung into action, and one was found nectaring on the inevitable dandelion.

I also saw a couple of Speckled Woods, but that was it - five species only. I wasn't out for long though and didn't venture far. However, the stars of the day were the Orange Tips.

Dave

[Katrina]

Beautiful orange-tip photos.

[trevor]

Yes, superb Orange Tip images, Dave.
The second soaking this week did not clear here quite so early.
But on Tuesday morning with a temperature of 8 to 12c, the Orange Tips
were warm enough to fly, but not warm enough to patrol non-stop.
This provided, by OT standards, some easy basking shots.

Hope to find something interesting today !,
Trevor.

[Wurzel]

No worries Dave My time will come...eventually I can only echo what others have said - those are fabulous Orange-tips shots Your first Small White is cracking as well

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Andrew555]

Great shots all round Dave, but fantastic open wing GVW's.
I'm still in awe of your local patch.

Cheers

[millerd]

Many thanks, all. The conditions were perfect for approaching basking Orange Tips - constant hot sunshine is really not for them, so a late afternoon burst after a generally cloudy day worked beautifully. I see there is more hot sun in the forecast for the weekend, with 25 - 27 degrees expected round here again on Sunday/Monday...

Dave

[Pauline]

A lovely selection of Holly Blue images there Dave. I don't think I've ever seen more than about a dozen in one outing and that was at Shipton Bellinger a few years back now. You've captured the colours and sheen perfectly.