Old Wolf wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2020 7:10 pm
Hello Neil, lovely images you have posted. The Commas and Small Torts really pop on the Blackthorn. Makes me excited for whats to come, if only we can get out to it.
Thanks Old Wolf, I have a feeling that things will be a bit limited for many of us soon. In my case I would need to drive to see some of the later spring species which is not on the cards at the moment. It remains to be seen how long this will be the case.
Wurzel wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2020 10:49 pm
Another cracking array Neil
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Although it's not great I'm coming round to this 'daily exercise' lark
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Mind you it would be good to think that in a few weeks it won't be necessary
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Cheers Wurzel. Yes, here's hoping that in a few weeks things will look a bit better.
ernie f wrote: ↑Fri Mar 27, 2020 9:18 am
Neil, thanks for sharing your moth pics. I have for some years now been considering getting a moth trap and never did due to cost. But your pics are making me think about it again more seriously. If I cannot get my usual Butterfly fixes by venturing out - I can perhaps better turn my attention to encouraging moths in! Thank you for reminding me about this possibility.
Thanks Ernie, glad to have given you some food for thought. The moths certainly add an extra level of interest to the garden.
I am not sure if you use Facebook at all, I use it for a few groups and don't bother much with the drivel that makes up the main feed. The link to the group below may be of interest as it is mainly for home made traps.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothtraps.uk/
I myself have a twin actinic tube Robinson trap that was a birthday present a few years back but I appreciate that these are relatively expensive. I know some people who use Skinner or Heath traps to good effect. The local habitat is more important than the type of trap used.
Thursday 26th March.
We woke up to the frostiest morning so far this week but with clear blue skies and a gentle breeze it did not take long for the sun to start warming things up although it still felt quite cold in the shade up until mid morning.
With the forecast for the weekend looking like the weather is going to turn cloudy and colder again, I decided to make the most of my lunchtime exercise walk today and return once again to the spot by my local park. Although a few dog walkers can usually be found in the park itself, the area of rough ground to the side is usually quiet and it is easy to keep well away from the odd one or two people passing through.
I checked out the usual favoured spots, including the large stand of blackthorn, some of which is beginning to go over now. There were a few more butterflies about today than there had been on my last visit on Tuesday and I reckon on a conservative count of approximately a dozen Small Tortoiseshells and half a dozen or so each of Commas and Peacocks. As well as visiting the blackthorn blossom, some males of all three species had established territories along the hedgerow and I recognised some of the same individuals that I had seen here previously, as well as new examples of Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock in particular.
![Wagon Lane 26.03.2020 004 resize.JPG (510.67 KiB) Viewed 1300 times Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020](./files/thumb_10101_0648851c528fff092ee2c90d78b538e0)
- Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020
![Wagon Lane 26.03.2020 007 resize.JPG (519.69 KiB) Viewed 1300 times Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020](./files/thumb_10101_3e0425c5172b9cafeea1b0d37abc14e4)
- Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020
![Wagon Lane 26.03.2020 010 resize.JPG (501.61 KiB) Viewed 1300 times Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020](./files/thumb_10101_235128daf12ecbf79e9e23a8f76df5d4)
- Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020
![Wagon Lane 26.03.2020 088 resize.JPG (516.33 KiB) Viewed 1300 times Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020](./files/thumb_10101_56c1cdf36853526cf8e772e2606b953e)
- Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020
![Wagon Lane 26.03.2020 067 resize.JPG (494.24 KiB) Viewed 1300 times Comma - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020](./files/thumb_10101_89339e7d0ddb2c7dcd96852b7afb7a21)
- Comma - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020
![Wagon Lane 26.03.2020 070 resize.JPG (514.37 KiB) Viewed 1300 times Comma - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020](./files/thumb_10101_7652b83d74dde786c017a7f28f021e5e)
- Comma - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020
![Wagon Lane 26.03.2020 035 resize.JPG (541.63 KiB) Viewed 1300 times Peacock - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020](./files/thumb_10101_165c2c64259aad6ab2cdc23206e36eb0)
- Peacock - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020
![Wagon Lane 26.03.2020 041 resize.JPG (548.44 KiB) Viewed 1300 times Peacock - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020](./files/thumb_10101_95ee5c2165d0ec0194c76fe27fc7aad8)
- Peacock - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020
![Wagon Lane 26.03.2020 047 resize.JPG (537.51 KiB) Viewed 1300 times Peacock - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020](./files/thumb_10101_164ebbfb4073546a5140ea0c39928b2c)
- Peacock - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020
![Wagon Lane 26.03.2020 060 resize.JPG (548.37 KiB) Viewed 1300 times Peacock - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020](./files/thumb_10101_060a075260617389b432957d540f47f0)
- Peacock - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020
![Wagon Lane 26.03.2020 074 resize.JPG (569.03 KiB) Viewed 1300 times Peacock - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020](./files/thumb_10101_fe536b8a70dcd89e5ce0fd9278e26bc8)
- Peacock - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020
Numerous instances of two or three of these three species mixing it up together were observed spiralling high up into the blue skies before separating and returning to their favourite spots.
A couple of times I watched males chasing after females but only once managed to see a pair of Small Tortoiseshells land close enough so that I could sneak up and grab a photo, although not without annoying blades of grass in the way.
![Wagon Lane 26.03.2020 025 resize.JPG (698.2 KiB) Viewed 1300 times Small Tortoiseshell pair - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020](./files/thumb_10101_e4f6502108f7a21ed425b6bbccfdd7f7)
- Small Tortoiseshell pair - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020
I also watched a Small Tortoiseshell chase a Peacock into the blackthorn and attempt what looked like courtship behaviour which the Peacock seemed to just ignore.
![Wagon Lane 26.03.2020 163 resize.JPG (531.19 KiB) Viewed 1300 times Small Tortoiseshell & Peacock - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020](./files/thumb_10101_c8a72193001f598c3080fe0abf5e06e3)
- Small Tortoiseshell & Peacock - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020
Having seen other spring species being reported from around the Midlands over the past few days, I was keeping a look out and was pleased to spot a white butterfly come fluttering along the hedge line. It settled and proved itself to be a female Small White, my first of the year. It was soon off again but returned a litter later and settled for a bit longer this time.
![Wagon Lane 26.03.2020 120 resize.JPG (584.13 KiB) Viewed 1300 times Small White - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020](./files/thumb_10101_afcce72e04885dda8776ab013825d08f)
- Small White - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020
Even better, a little further along, a male Orange-tip flew past, just a couple feet away. I watched it fly on, figuring that it would keep going in the warm sun but then saw it drop down into the grass. I carefully approached and just managed to get a couple of shots before it was off again. Not the best photos in the world but who cares, the first Orange-tip of the year is always a bit special.
![Wagon Lane 26.03.2020 031 resize.JPG (487.25 KiB) Viewed 1300 times Orange-tip - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020](./files/thumb_10101_febdf4c8afc063c4e1dfb65c95d5364d)
- Orange-tip - Wagon Lane 26.03.2020
Another fairly short but cracking session at this spot which has proved to be a godsend over this past week with it being just five minutes walk from my house.
Still no Speckled Woods or Holly Blues here yet and with the weather turning cloudy and much colder over the weekend I guess I may have to wait a bit longer for these.
Bye for now.
Neil.