Small Tortoiseshells do seem to cope better under cooler conditions than other species don't they
Neil. Since I wrote that about Green Hairstreaks I've suddenly seen reports of them everywhere
Thanks
Trevor, like females of most species they do like to keep a low profile. Looks like things livened up for you since you commented, as they did for me
Good things come to those who wait, as they say
Goldie, I'm sure you're only weeks away from the good times
It's always difficult comparing single years with each other
David, there's far to many variables to draw any long lasting conclusions but it's interesting to see how things are fairing on a casual basis.
You're right
Wurzel, I even saw two Orange-tips on my transect at work yesterday, my yearly total for them at work rarely tops half a dozen!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
April 2021
On the
19th I had another half day at work so it was my usual stop off on Tottenham Marshes for the afternoon, hopefully I’d find more than at Wanstead the day before. Well things couldn’t have been more different, within 10 minutes I was already into double figures, mostly various Whites, who under a clear blue sky had no intention of stopping. A few Brimstone were also in the mix and a couple of Small Tortoiseshell were about and thoughtfully posed for me whilst the Whites fluttered back and forth.
My first regular hotspot had the expected half dozen or so Peacock stationed along the path, ready to take on all comers, and in the relative heat were either busy beating up rivals high in the air or sitting close winged waiting to beat up a passing rival, so photos were slim pickings. It’s always fun watching them chase anything and everything. On more than one occasion I became annexed by a third whilst watching two swoop skyward. The Whites and Brimstones here were joined by at least one Orange-tip but the one butterfly that garnered most of my attention was this fresh Specklie.
I moved on, planning on coming back a little later when things had cooled down a tad and I might get the chance of finding something settled. I found a second specklie flitting around at the edge of a main path but this time he was forced to play second fiddle when I noticed an Orange-tip float down onto a dandelion. Fully expecting it to be an all to brief pit stop I took pictures with every step but remarkably he stayed put until I was right over him. At this point a random bloke stepped out from a nearby hedge, presumably caught short, but I had my priorities set so ignoring any awkwardness that may be hanging in the air I carried on with some much-needed OT closeups.
A few more Tortoiseshells and plenty more Whites kept me company for the next hour or so.
My next photographic opportunity came from another Orange-tip who, after being harassed by a passing white, decided to stop of for refuelling.
Very few of the passing Whites had come close enough to ID but my gut was telling me they were mostly Small’s. As the afternoon progressed though, a few started to settle, every one confirming my suspicions.
Oddly I had yet to see any Comma, that was until I returned to the first hotspot where Comma’s had now joined the Peacocks, providing each other with more than enough to chase after. There was however still enough sitting around to point my camera at,
Including a hattrick making Orange-tip.
A few attempted long-range in-flight shots managed to confirm at least one Green-veined White was present and a couple of Large White popped by to join the Pierid party too, although they didn't settle anywhere close like some more Small Whites did.
- Spot the Large White
There was also another Speckled Wood who appeared whilst I was concentrating on a Comma.
All in all a much-improved day with an estimated total of 66 individuals split over 9 species, over half of which were Pierids
.
Still haven't seen a Specklie either - it's really tricky judging it right at the moment weather wise 
. I reckon we'll have a prolonged emergence with quite a few spring species.
)
.
