www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Hi! Wurzel, I've been to Gait Barrow each year since I saw the White SPBF ab with no luck the Lancs BC say it was caused by the severe Winter we had in 2012, I suppose the same thing happened with your ab ( different weather issues causing this to happen) I did wonder at the time if this could be passed on but was told , they didn't think so but that a cold Winter again might cause this to happen once more, I've been waiting for another bitter cold Winter ever since.
By the way my Nephew's were here over the New Year and decided for me that I should have the Butterfly
in my posts, yes! I've got bossy Nephew's has well has Grandson's Goldie

So if yours was caused by the cold and it got lighter the one at Bentley must have been caused by heat as it was darker. Mind you there is still part of me hoping that it isn't caused by heat shock but is genetic and then there could be more this year!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi! Wurzel, I've looked up what was said about the WSPF and it said, it's caused by Extreme Temp's fluctuation's in the pupa stage, I hope you see your ab again, I wouldn't mind seeing it either let's hope it's a genetic thing, it was great that other's enjoyed it has well. Goldie

Cheers Goldie Fingers crossed

Martin Down 11-09-2016

Somehow or other I managed to get all the usual chores done and dusted and so we had an afternoon free. I tentatively suggested an afternoon trip to Martin Down which was accepted and so off we went. We parked at the Blandford Road side and wandered to the Butts. Thought there might be some odds and sods around so I prepped my camera and started to keep a look out.

Once at the Butts the girls climbed up and we set up camp at the bottom. This was a little microhabitat with the ‘field’ of very thin turf protected by a screen of shrubs on three sides. There were the odd patches of cut turf where the exposed chalk dazzlingly reflecting the autumnal sun which was surprisingly warm. While the snacks went round and the coffee cooled I had a little pootle about noting both a tired Common Blue and Brown Argus. Heading back to see if the coffee was ready I almost stood on a beautifully fresh female Adonis. She fluttered around us the whole time that I had my coffee and then once refreshed she led me off to explore again. In amongst good numbers of Blues (Common, Adonis and Brown Argus) the odd Meadow Brown ‘lumbered’ by, I saw a tried Small Heath but these were quickly joined by an absolutely cracking Painted Lady. It seemed very jumpy at first but eventually calmed down so that I could approach and get some decent shots. So close that once or twice I managed to fill the frame. After that I spent some time just enjoying the various different butterflies and seeing what I could. Just mooching around I picked up another Small Heath, Large and Small Whites and 2 Cloudies. The first settled half way up the side of the Butt but only just long enough for me to climb up and fire off 2 or 3 record shots. The second was really vivid but didn’t stop, it just flew by really strongly and left an impression of pure mustard floating across my retina. After this yellow interlude I settled back own again to the Whites and Blues. Most, if not all, were on the tired looking side and apart from the vivacious Lady and the awesome Cloudy there was a definite feel that the season was drawing to a close… Have a goodun

Wurzel

That's a post to warm the cockles on this bitterly cold weekend . Thanks Wurzel

That certainly is a gorgeous Painted Lady.
I will award it my first mrgreen of the year.

All the best,
Trevor.

Fantastic shots to see at this time of year Wurzel,
It won't be long now before we're venturing fourth again, in the best day we've had so far ( sunny and not too bitter for a walk) I went out into the garden just to check up on things and the Daff's are on their way but best of all snuggled in the side garden was an handful of Snow Drops with others fighting through, Spring isn't far a way. Goldie

Cheers Bugboy Only a few more posts left from 2016 Mind you perhaps by then I might have started 2017
Cheers Trevor I'm honoured
Cheers Goldie Not long to go and after this cold snap it's shaping up nicely

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Southampton University 15-09-2016

As I was going to be welcoming a PGCE student come October I had to attend an Introduction Course at Southampton University. As the weather was still warm and sunny I took my camera along for the walk from the car park. I was glad that I did as the walk there was through parkland with large, old Oaks and Bramble bushes. It was a bit of a way to the lecture hall so I only stopped twice briefly –both times for a Specklie. The first was up high and seemed slightly tired and worn whereas the second was down low in the grass and looked resplendent. During the course of the day various Whites fluttered by outside so I was looking forward to the return journey when I’d have a bit more time. Apart from a single fly-by White it seemed that all the butterflies had been replaced by Dragonflies which were making the most of the afternoon sun and the various perches from which to sally forth. More unfortunate still I found out that I was having a Placement 1 student so I there would be no need to make a return visit around May/June time. A pity as the parkland seemed good for a range for Browns and Blues and with all those Oaks around there would surely be Purple Hairstreaks a plenty. Oh well…

Have a goodun

Wurzel

February 2017

I thought I'd get a post done early for once
This could be the month when it all starts...that is unless the Arctic Blast hits next week...
Have a goodun

Wurzel

I think a February Orange Tip might be stretching optimism a bit.
But I share your desire for a few Butterfly sightings this month.

Best of luck,
Trevor.

Cheers Trevor I was just chuffed to be getting a post that was due out for February out in January - posting in good time - not a habit I'm known for

The Devenish 18-09-2016

This was probably the last outing that I would make this year and hope to see a butterfly. True a few years back we had a cracking October with highs of 25 degrees and a year or so before that I was seeing Red Admirals all the way through November; but this year there was a definite feel that this was the end. So on another family afternoon I took my camera and we all set out to see what we would see.

It was quiet through the bottom paddock and on through the Orchid Meadow. The girls took great delight running through the kissing gate and up the first part of the hill. After they’d posed for a few more photos I sent them on to run to the top and followed them up with my wife at a more sedate pace. While they got their breath back and the coffee cooled I made my way back down. The large Bramble bush on the left hand side as you come up the hill is a regular little hotspot during the main part of the season and I was hoping for a Red Admiral or maybe a Comma and sure enough there was the later – a little far back but with a bit of cropping I got a record shot. After I’d re-joined the group we all wandered across the side of the down and then made out way once at the far side to the top before working our way back roughly where we’d started. We found a patch of bare chalk to sit on and take in the view and enjoy the final rays of summer. Then it was time to head back home at an even more sedate pace. Up until now I’d only seen the one Comma but all the family chipped in a found me a couple butterflies – two tried looking blues both of which were tried and so they proved quite tricky to identify. The male looked good for a worn Adonis but a nagging part said ‘Common’ as I couldn’t make out any chequers on the wing margins as the wing margins were gone! We were back by the large Bramble bush by now and I asked the girls to see if they could find me anymore blues while I checked it out. Now there wasn’t just one Comma but a pair. I’d been confused at first because there appeared to be a large orange blob on the bush but it was both of the Commas really close together. They didn’t seem to like being this close and so they drifted apart and then one flew. The girls had found me another ‘blue’ only it was brown and a whole host of eggs of some unknown species covering some grass stems. I came back to the blue/brown and managed a few shots but I’m still not sure what to identify it as? After this was made our way homewards for an early tea as the girls had exhausted themselves running up and down the vertiginous Down. It seems my girls are sprinters not marathon runners! Mind you they had kept some energy in reserve and so little L showed off her gate traversing skills, hurdling them almost!
Have a goodun

Wurze

Some lovely autumnal Comma's

My first impression of the male blue ( before I read the accompanying text) was that its a Common Blue, the underside doesn't look quite right for Adonis to me? The 'Brown' Blue is a Brown Angus, no doubt in my mind on that one

Cheers Buggy They were in such a state it was difficult to know which way to go.

End of Year Tally 2016

Having finally caught up with my posts from last year I can now take a look back at 2016. It won’t be too long now until the new season starts but in the meantime while I await the seasons start I’m casting my mind back…
Jan mild, too mild? February cold, March all over the place and too cold never really got going. April dismal – too cool, too blowy and at the end of the month hail and frosts! A really dismal start and having to really take chances to get out and see any form of butterfly!!
Luckily things started to change in May – but only after the Bank Holiday of course…and even then it didn’t get that much better. Despite being warmer and drier than the terrible year of 2012 there just didn’t seem to be the butterflies . To cap it all there was no Indian Summer and for me it was all over by the end of September with only the little oddment. So for me 2016 was probably an even harder year than 2015. At times it was really hard work and something that seemed to continue from 2015 was that instead of seeing good numbers on trips for particular target species you were lucky if you saw a handful.

The Skippers
1 Small Skipper, 28-06-2016 Larkhill

What a way to start the tally off…A week later than last year and very few in number. Thinking back over the year I feel more and more depressed about how few of this species I saw. True I found them all in the usual spots but only in single figures whereas last year they were buzzing around like cluster flies at Larkhill and The Devenish. I didn’t get to Five Rivers so perhaps they did oaky there but elsewhere they were well down.
2 Essex Skipper, 05-07-2016 Larkhill

Like the Small this species was also a week later than last year. Perhaps they’re reverting to a more usual phrenology? They did keep to the usual pattern of emerging about a week after the Small however. They did seem down number wise although again I didn’t get to Five Rivers which locally is a bit of a stronghold, but elsewhere they were ridiculously thin on the ground. In fact I think I saw them on 3 or 4 occasions and in single figures.
3 Lulworth Skipper, 05-06-2016 Lulworth Cove

Much, much earlier this year – but that was only because I left it so late last year. So late in fact that I had to take a visit to Durlston ‘the’ late site. This year I was lucky enough to make the most of one of the few sunny days in June and make a visit to Lulworth. My usual hotspot came up tumps but most of the individuals that I saw were showing signs of wear – with worn, ragged margins and brown spots/lines on their wings a little like the golden paint was flaking off. I reckon they were also down numbers wise as a wander round the hotspot didn’t produce the crowds of buzzing skippers that I’d encountered previously.
One thing I did differently this year was making my way round to the other side of the Cove, with Bindon Hill at the top of the cliffs. Here I also found Lulworths and they were taking minerals/salts form the clay slips.
4 Silver Spotted Skipper, 29-07-2016 Broughton Down

Only a couple of days later this year for me from the same cracking site that I discovered last year – Broughton Down. Because it’s a smaller site it’s much easier to find your quarry and they seemed to be in as good a state numbers wise as in 2015. This is a tentative estimation however as I was only able to make the one visit this year but they were buzzing around all over the place. The highlight for me had to be finding a mating pair for the first time ever.
5 Large Skipper, 29-05-2016 Marshie Site

This species seemed to buck the trend in one respect but unfortunately followed suit in the all important one…
So earlier this year, interestingly it was from my Marshie site which is further West than where I encountered them first last year at The Devenish. This seems to support the theory of the local Branch leader who has stated in the past that certain species (Marsh Frits, Greenstreaks etc.) seem to emerge in the west first and then there are progressive emergences over the coming days until finally things start appearing much further east over at my Duke site.
Unfortunately the trend that the Large Skipper followed was that there were noticeably fewer about. This dearth wasn’t just restricted to the odd site but across the board with some sites quiet due to the absence of the usual hoardes of Large Skippers.
6 Dingy Skipper, 30-04-2016 Duke Site

Very slightly earlier than last year and also down in numbers. Perhaps the cold snap that was the feature of March/April stalled them after the relatively mild start to the year? What was disappointing was that they were absent from Larkhill this year – I didn’t see a single one – further evidence towards my original estimation.
One thing I did find odd this year was that the Dingy beat the Grizzle to the punch. Normally my first Grizzlie means a Dingy will be about a week behind. But this year while wandering round my Duke site at the appropriate time a small Skipper-esque butterfly landed near me. “Oh my first Grizzlie” I thought. Only it wasn’t, it was a Dingy.
7 Grizzled Skipper, 30-04-2016 Duke Site

As ingle day later than last year and beaten by the Dingy...by 7-8 minutes! It may have missed out in the battle for first emergence but the Grizzlie did better in the numbers game – comparatively speaking. I didn’t see them at Bentley and there were fewer around but the fared much better than the Dingy and much, much, much better than the golden Skippers.
One thing I will take away and look for next year is the variation in the amount of white on the wings as some this year were very hirsute, definitely properly Grizzled.
Have a goodun

Wurzel

Forgot to mention that I saw my first butterfly - Red Admiral at work the other day 07-02-2017...great to be off the mark

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Goldie M wrote:Hi! Wurzel, I've been to Gait Barrow each year since I saw the White SPBF ab with no luck the Lancs BC say it was caused by the severe Winter we had in 2012

I would suggest that the ab. is genetic, rather than environmental, given the extreme appearance. Environmental factors would seem to lead to more subtle changes in dark / light. The good news is that, if it is genetic, then that population may see the ab. reoccur at any time

Cheers,

- Pete

Amazing collection of skippers Wurzel. I really must try to have a holiday in southern England some time!

Cheers Pete There have been slightly melanistic forms before, nothing as extreme as this but the genes do seem to be present in the population, I'll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled this year!
Cheers Nick You'll notice that there is one British Skipper missing form my haul Still you've got to keep something to try for at a later date
I am lucky down here in that it is possible to see Dingy, Large, Essex, Small and Lulworth (I think Grizzlie might be possible as well?) all on the same day if some species are late and others are early.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

On two butterflies for the year - just seen my second Red Admiral flying over the roundabout. Better check out Five Rivers this afternoon!
Have a goodun

Wurzel

Two Red Admirals is a bit flash, if I may say so.
However, I had a distant flypast of either a Red Admiral or Peacock, just after lunch today.

Kick off can't be long now,
Trevor.