www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Interesting that Minnie goes for grasshoppers but not butterflies. Do you have a special command for when she gets close to the latter, Guy?

Thanks Wurzel. Now I know you've seen Queens yourself I don't feel guilty about posting shots of them!

The most important command for a 'butterfly hound' is 'stay!' Minnie always stops stock still when I say that. In her mind, though, it probably doesn't mean 'stay' but 'watch out - something interesting's happening'. I say it when I see a chamois or chevreuil as well as butterflies. Not quite sure why she doesn't eat butterflies - but she does, unfortunately, take the odd grasshopper. The grasshopper knows nothing about it. Jump - snatch - gobble - gone.

Saw a couple of small tortoiseshells on my local, lunchtime walk today, getting a proof shot of one on a steep bank, before it zoomed off:



So - two species flying so far this year.

I also discovered from a local that there's a wolf in town. Minnie would be one mouthful for a wolf, so I must be careful.

Guy

My experience with dogs when out photographing has not been good, so well done Minnie!
I lived in Canada for two years (Calgary) just an hour from the Rockies, I was out one morning with my Dog who was a Labrador Cross Alsatian, near a wild life park, when suddenly these two beautiful Wolves appeared in the distance, they were White all over, my dog was very alert but didn't bark just looked at them, they quickly disappeared , I was told afterwards they wouldn't attack unless hungry, I wouldn't like to have put that to the test So keep hold of Minnie if you see a Wolf . It's an experience I won't forget in a hurry, I wasn't frightened at the time, just amazed at the beauty of the Wolves, it was only later it hit me how close we'd been to danger.
I brought my dog home with me and he was very old like Nick's dog when he died, your shots of the Mountains reminds me of the Rockies and the adventures we had there. Goldie

Padfield wrote: I also discovered from a local that there's a wolf in town. Minnie would be one mouthful for a wolf, so I must be careful.

Is that a solitary wolf, Guy, or is it more likely that there are a few of them? Either way, it's a worry. I know they've been reported in the Italian Alps but I didn't know they'd ventured into Switzerland.

Is that a solitary wolf, Guy, or is it more likely that there are a few of them?

Need I need to worry about our cats and the solitary vole that was seen in our garden recently?

Jack

What a wonderful experience, Goldie - to see two white wolves. I don't think you'll forget that soon!

This one is probably solitary, David, and therefore probably passing through - but I haven't got much information on it yet. The only time I saw a wolf for certain was back in 2006, and that one was passing through. There had been several recorded, probably moving from Italy along the Rhône Valley and then north in the direction of Bern. The one I saw was near the local déchetterie - so perhaps scavenging there before moving on. I think it's wonderful news that wolves are coming back. The farmers are not so sure, and every so often there are stories of farmers taking the law into their own hands and shooting a wolf. We've always had lynxes here - in fact, my region has one of the highest lynx populations in Switzerland and not so long ago we even exported them to the Jura, where they were much scarcer. But it's very rare to see a lynx. I've never seen one - only the carcasses of their kills.

Your voles should probably worry Jack! I have great sympathy for voles. Everything seems to eat them, from snakes and stoats to buzzards - not to mention dogs and cats. Even my previous dog, Asha, a border collie, once caught a vole; but by a miracle I was able to intervene and watched the vole run off, shaken but apparently unharmed. This photo is from back in 2004:



Minnie has taken one vole too, much to my displeasure. Jack Russells are much more efficient and instinctive hunters than border collies and the vole didn't stand a chance. For better or for worse, Minnie also controls the mouse population in my house - much more effectively than my aged, adopted cat used to. Again, it is humane and instant. Just before Christmas I saw her strike like a cobra - one squeak and the mouse was dead in the same fraction of a second - absolutely no chance of intervention there. I guess they've got to die somehow and that way's better than old age, disease or starvation. I'm pleased to say I still hear the pitter-patter of tiny feet at night!

Guy

When I was in Canada Neil, the wild animals, like Coyotes even Bear's used to go to the local Dumps, it was a place to keep clear of, I expect that's where the Wolves were heading because it was the middle of Winter there then, So if there's any dumps near you I'd keep a way. Goldie

You don't have to feel guilty about the Queens Guy...it's just all the other species now!
When I was in Poland we saw a Lynx in the Bialoweicz (not sure of the spelling ) forest and we thought we saw a Wolf at the Great Snipe site, only to realise it was an Alsatian that a local farmer would let out, our guide was suitably embarrassed after the extremely excited outburst of "Wooolllffff!"

Have a goodun

Wurzel

No wolves or lynxes today, but in a short lunchtime walk we found another small tortoiseshell enjoying the sun not far from our house.



This is the third successive day I have seen tortoiseshells. And yesterday, in the woods, I saw a red admiral too, bringing the year total (of adults) to 3 species:



I checked on Gautama yesterday, who has still managed to escape the tits. Only another couple of months and he can start feeding again ...



Guy

Guy. Three species so far this year!

Why don't you change your user name to: THE ANNOYING ANGLO-SWISS?

PS. With you new nationality, how are the Yodelling lessons coming on?

Jack

Make that four now, Jack! In fact, I saw four species today, which is treble figures if you count in binary.

When I arrived at my Rhône Valley site this morning it was about -4°C and quite a stiff breeze was blowing, so I didn't hold out as much hope for a January clouded yellow as I had when I left home. Nevertheless, as soon as I got to the steep slopes a small tortoiseshell crossed my path, and before long I saw my first Queen of Spain. Soon I was watching little clusters of Queens chasing small tortoiseshells off their favourite sunspots - the Queens looking tiny by comparison. As last week, the sun then disappeared and it felt bitterly cold, but I continued through the vineyards and kept seeing Queens and tortoiseshells. By 13h00 the sun was breaking through again and altogether, between 10h40 and 13h30, when I headed back for the train, I saw double figures of both (counting in denary). Just before I left the site a single, male clouded yellow appeared. At the same moment, a pleasant couple with an eager dog came by and I had to engage in a little distracting banter, but I did manage to get proof shots of the clouded yellow all the same. Finally, as we ran back across the valley to the station, two red admirals crossed the road, about ten minutes apart. Not a bad day for late January.


(small tortoiseshell)


(small tortoiseshell)


(Bulbocodium already in flower ...)


(... and attracting small tortoiseshells)


(the first Queen of the day)


(another)


(I suspect this one had been nipped at by a lizard)


(underside view of a Queen)


(ripe black olives growing in the vineyards)


(A very good choir singing outdoors at La Fête de Saint Ours in Branson)


(the midday weather)


(clouded yellow)



(could have been a good shot if I hadn't been so closely zoomed in on him before he flew)

Guy

Padfield wrote:(could have been a good shot if I hadn't been so closely zoomed in on him before he flew)

Easily dealt with - though it's still rather motion-blurred

Mike

ps when I add a photo and 'Place inline' it always comes out smaller - how do you post yours?

Nicely done, Mike! I'm very impressed.

Remind me not to trust your photographic record in future.

Guy

I'm constantly amazed how you find butterflies in such cold conditions, Guy, even allowing for the fact that you know all too well the local micro-climates.

What was the maximum air temperature on your rounds today?

I like your scenery shots, Guy. I was expecting to see more snow .
Your previous year lists (on your personal site) do not record more than 3 species during January, so with 4 species, this January appears exceptional (good or bad news ?).
In the South of France I am up to 5 species for January, but the only one we have in common is the Red Admiral.

Nice piece of art work, Mike, I can't even see the join !

Cheers, Chris

The maximum was probably about 8°C, David. The wind prevented any real hotspots building up. And yes - four species for January does make it exceptional, Chris. It's the right four, though. None of them have anything to lose and the Queens in particular have a lot to gain.

Mixed cloud and sun since the weekend, with enough warmth at lunchtime today for butterflies to fly but this soon giving way to gloom. In the gloom, I looked for white admiral hibernacula, finding quite a lot. Most are well sealed and it is impossible to see the caterpillar within but some allow a glimpse. This one allowed more than a glimpse:



That caterpillar is barely 3mm long and although it looks vulnerable is in fact very safe. High winds could blow without it or its cradle separating from the twig.

Yesterday I checked up on Gautama. This picture was taken without flash:



I think those are flower buds, but there is a leaf bud behind him, not visible in this picture.

Not only are primroses and cowslips pushing up everywhere, but the Hepatica are coming into flower too:



Guy

Guy, I love the shot of the Queen and has I said before great scenery shots. Goldie

Thanks for the temperature information, Guy. I had originally imagined that the day barely got above freezing, but 8c is more than enough even in this country if one can find sheltered, south-facing locations.

Thank you, Goldie.

I don't think 8°C is anything like warm enough for a butterfly to fly, David, but it is warm enough for it to walk to somewhere in the sun, open its wings and absorb radiant heat. It's amazing how much heat they can get to the thoracic muscles when the ambient temperature is still low.

Not much radiant heat around in the last few days, and I've not had much time either. In spare moments at school, when I haven't had enough time to do anything useful, I've dabbed at my hecate underside and have posted a 'plate' on my website. I'm never quite sure exactly which bit I was working on the last time, and will probably find some part to complete when I examine it in detail, but here it is at the moment:



The beauty of this iPad painting thing is that there is absolutely no mess and you can do it anywhere. It'sincredibly therapeutic.

Guy

In the woods, Gautama's sallow - like most of the sallows - is already bursting with catkins:



His branch, almost uniquely, still shows no fuzz but it cannot be long now. The purplish buds are flower buds. The green bud behind him is a leaf bud. This will extend and reach towards him while still tightly furled. When it reaches him and loosens, he will start guzzling - if he survives that long, of course ...



Oh - and it was raining again today.

Guy