www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Some lovely shots in your recent posts Trevor, I especially like the female Green-veined White

Cheers,

Neil.

Some more great Orange Tips, Trevor - it'll be a real shame when they've disappeared for the year. That's a nice Small Heath too, coinciding with my first sighting of the species on the same day (though Bugboy spotted them first!). Given the weather, it seems quite early.

Cheers,

Dave

Many thanks, Wurzel, Neil & Dave.
Believe it or not I am sure the constant cool/cold air has helped photography enormously.
Had the air been milder the Orange Tip in particular would not have paused so often.

Stay safe and well,
Trevor.

Two new species for this year today.

I thought it was about time to search for the Pearl Bordered Fritillary this morning.
I nearly abandoned plans for today, as it was bitter cold early on, but by 10.00 the
Sun was winning over the cold, so off I set.
In all, over a two hour period I found three PBF. This included a high speed chase
with two individuals. Some cloud cover later in the morning allowed some more
relaxed moments with a perched Pearl.
The other season first was a solitary Grizzled Skipper, which unfortunately adopted
a moth like pose, but it was still quite chilly.

Stay well all,
Trevor.

Good to see those Pearls are out braving the weather, Trevor. I think you had a sunnier day down there than we did up here, though. Lovely shots too.

Cheers,

Dave

Gurt lush shots Trevor I'm glad they're out over your way as that means with reasonable weather (remember that? ) they should be out at Bentley in a day or two

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Cheers Dave & Wurzel.

One upside to the continuing cold weather, is the number of 'placid ' butterflies to be found.

The PBF may already be out at Bentley, Wurzel. Sightings started in Devon and have gradually
worked East. So as they are now out in Sussex..........

Stay well,
Trevor.

Lovely photos Trevor -

It may not be the spectacle of peak flight season, but there’s something special about spending some time with the first few out of any species -

Great stuff -

Today's quarry was the Grizzled and Dingy Skipper.
With the latter I failed, but it did not take too long to locate a fresh Grizzled Skipper.

Stay well all,
Trevor.

Lovely photos Trevor. Nice to read and see photos of PBF. I have never (knowingly) seen one of those in my life. I am trying to change that in 2021 and went out on a trip last weekend hoping to see one - and failed (probably a little too early).

I have never (knowingly) seen a SPBF either.

Being only my second season, I am a little nervous of a time when PBF and SPBF are out at the same time - though I have studied how to tell the difference. It is different when one is actually out in the field isn't it ! Ideally I would like to be out when only PBF are flying to give me an easier baptism with these 2 species. However, beggars can't be choosers.

That last Grizzled Skipper photo is a gem.

Cracking Grizzlie Trevor Interesting what you said about the Pearls - the last few years the first ones have come out a few days after those at Rewell Wood- we seem to be in our own climate in Salisbury Hopefully I might be able to have a look for them on Sunday, fingers crossed!

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

trevor wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:33 am...One upside to the continuing cold weather, is the number of 'placid ' butterflies to be found.

Definitely, Trevor. It's been much easier than normal approaching butterflies and photographing them this year, and I'm sure this is the primary factor.

That beautiful, mint-fresh Grizzled Skipper certainly looks as though it was very accommodating in the cool conditions.

Calling in at Kithurst meadow on the way to Chichester this morning, the car was
showing just 7c. So my choice was give up or wait for a rise in temperature.
I chose to wait, and was soon joined by Max Anderson, who later spotted a
Dingy Skipper, a species I had hoped to see.
As time went on about three or four Dingies were found, and given the less
than ideal conditions, I went on my way quite satisfied with some dingy shots
I failed to get yesterday. Good to meet Max again.

Trevor.

I had a shock when I went along to the old railway ( or Cuckoo Trail ), it's proper title.
Some trees were cut down during the winter period, but the trees below were cut on
Friday 30th April, in the middle of the bird nesting season.
The reason for tree felling can't only be because of Ash dieback as other species have
been felled as well. Worryingly some prime butterfly habitat has also been destroyed.

'Safety concerns ' would probably be the official line for the destruction, but at the same
time the government are encouraging us to plant more trees! What's going on!.

Unhappy,
Trevor.

Nice Dingy Skipper photos Trevor. Tough to go with a favourite but I would go with the first of the two.

Interesting that you should raise the subject of tree felling. I am only in my second season and I know absolutely nothing about woodland management. In one of my two transects there is a path that is a corridor between woods. I called it 'Speckled Wood Alley' because of the numbers there. Over the winter, a large number of trees have been felled in and around 'Speckled Wood Alley'. So far this season I have seen no Speckled Wood butterflies there at all. It might be slightly too early for them as everything seems 2-3 weeks later than last year here. They might appear soon. However, I am beginning to fear the tree felling might have something to do with their absence.

Good work with the Dingies Trevor There seems to be a lot of this 'management' at the moment, a lot of tidying up - seems people like the wildlife to be a lot less wild Plus they always seem to to do it at odd times - I mean felling trees in the middle of the bird breeding season? Oh well hopefully it'll mean more light so more flowering plants and so more butterflies in the long run

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Early sunshine, but with a strengthening breeze, dictated that I needed to visit a sheltered site.
The old railway was the answer. Slowly touring the main path I saw about six very fresh
Speckled Woods, then a basking Small White.
Best of all, I was watching a Holly Blue flying low down, but as they look as though they are about to land,
they then swoop up to the tree tops, but this one came back down, landed and opened up!, twice!.
This was my butterfly of the day, although not pristine it was my first fully open male HB for several years.
The icing on the cake was an unexpected male Orange Tip, which took cover as a cloud came over,
landing as usual on Cow Parsley and was soon off when the sun returned.

Not a bad morning, given less than ideal weather.

Trevor.

A Holly Blue of any description is something to write home about this year(unless you're in South Wales!)

Some cracking photos again recently Trevor

Great Holly Blue shot, I have seen more than last year around my patch so far this season but not one has stopped for me to get a photo.

Cheers,

Neil.

Thanks Paul & Neil,
The Holly Blue is usually very skilled at avoiding the camera around here too.
If they do settle it's high up or just out of reach for a shot.
Never mind it's all the sweeter when one settles just right, as they seem to near Heathrow!.

Stay well both,
Trevor.