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Thursday 14th to Tuesday 19th April – Bosham roundup.

I mentioned in a previous report that we had twice visited RSPB Pagham Harbour. The first time was on the morning of Good Friday and we chose there because we wanted somewhere that we had not been to before and where there were good paths for Jane. After a 20 minute drive from our B&B, we arrived at 09.30am, our plan being to have a couple of hours here before it got busier later.
We stuck our heads into the visitor centre and having perused a map of the reserve we set off around a circular route which would take us past a selection of habitat including hedgerows, pools, mud channels and salt marsh. During our wander around we saw various birds including Shelduck, Shoveller, Teal, Lapwing, Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Buzzard and Kestrel as well as a multitude of the usual hedgerow birds. Most of these were either too distant or too mobile for photos but I did get some good views through binoculars.
Butterflies seen were singles of Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock plus a couple of whites patrolling the hedgerows which were too far away to confirm their I.D.

When we left a couple of hours later there was a steady stream of cars pulling into the car park so we definitely picked the best time to go.

We returned on the morning of Bank Holiday Monday morning for a similar visit. Another walk around the circular route produced similar results but this time we did not see a Small Tortoiseshell or Peacock. We did however spot a couple of Speckled Wood and another couple of whites.
One of the whites flew toward us and settled on a nearby shrub above us where it showed itself to be a female Large White, my first Large White this year. It was fairly high up and I only had time for a distant record shot before she was off again.
On Sunday (17th April), we went around to Sarah’s for Sunday Lunch and in the afternoon whilst the others all chilled out in the garden I popped out for an hour.
The day before, whilst talking to Mark at Butser Hill we had discussed, amongst many other things, the re-introduction of PBF at Stansted Forest. I mentioned that this was just around the corner from Sarah’s house and wondered if it would be worth a look as I would be close by. Mark reckoned it might be worth a look, but that it would be unlikely and that they probably need another week or so to be flying there.
Being so close, I couldn’t resist having a look and so I drove around to Rowlands Castle and parked up. Mark had told me that the PBF tend to move around the forest following the clearance work but had given me a location at the Rowlands Castle end where he had seen them last year. I checked out this spot without success but did see quite a few Orange-tips, Brimstones and Peacocks, all very active in the warm afternoon sun.
As a postscript to this, Mark has since tweeted that he saw his first PBF of the year yesterday (Sunday 24th) so his prediction for another week was bang on.

Last September, when we previously stayed at the same B&B, the owners had allowed me to set up my portable moth trap in their garden. When we arrived this time, they asked I had brought it again and said I was free to set it up whenever I liked. As it happened, the run of good weather with clear blue skies also meant that there was a run of clear and chilly nights and not only that, but there was also a big bright full moon over the period that we were down there. This meant that I only bothered setting the trap up on the one night, that of Saturday 16th, on which I had the expectedly low number of 6 moths of 5 species. These did however include 2 species that I don’t see at home.

The Nut-tree Tussock (2) is a common enough species down south but it’s distribution only just edges into the very south of Warwickshire.
The Scorched Carpet (1) is found further around Warwickshire but is localised and appears to show up more often in the southern half of the county.
The other moths were Common Quaker (1), Hebrew Character (1) and Knot Grass (1).

Speaking of moths, I also spotted a few nests of Brown-tail Moth caterpillars on brambles by one of the paths between Bosham and Bosham Quay. I know that the hairs of these caterpillars can be irritating to some people, especially anyone who is especially sensitive to them, but these were on a side path and well away from the main path. I walked past these on a few different days and noted that every time, the separate nests had changed position as the caterpillars moved around onto fresh feeding spots.
On the Friday (15th) afternoon we had gone around to babysit into the evening while Sarah and her husband Dan went to a Regimental function. Whilst there we went for a walk with the kids to their local woods (Hollybank Woods) which were only a 10 minute walk from the house. Chloe loves running about here and climbing on trees also I couldn’t help but notice that it might be worth checking for Silver-washed Fritillary and White Admiral, maybe even Purple Emperor if we are down this way in the summer.
Anyway, after a cracking few days down south we headed back on Tuesday morning, leaving Emsworth under cloudy skies and a cooler breeze. On the way back we drove through a couple of showers of rain and back home in the evening we copped for a proper downpour. Welcome back to the midlands.

Bye for now and stay safe.

Neil.

Saturday 23rd April.

Although I had seen my first Speckled Wood on 10th April at my local spot at Wagon Lane, I had still not seen one in my garden before heading down south on the 14th.
On our return to the midlands on the 19th, the weather had another turn for the worse and the following few days were rather cool and cloudy with a chilly east wind.

Things improved on Saturday 23rd and some nice sunny spells made it feel quite pleasant even if it was still a bit nippy when the sun went in.
I spent the afternoon pottering about in the garden and was chuffed to see a couple of male Speckled Wood had taken up territories in their usual corners. It is quite possible that their first appearance in my garden this year was whilst we were away, but whenever the exact date was this year, anytime within the past week or so would be within the usual average time of appearance here.
I also spotted a female come wandering through and her slightly faded appearance added weight to the fact that they have been out for a few days here.
Also seen during the afternoon were a couple of Holly Blues and Orange-tips, or the same ones coming around again on their circuits, that just passed through without stopping.

Bye for now and stay safe,

Neil.

Lovely, velvety looking Specklies there Neil You did well with the Large White - one hasn't stopped for me yet this year Love the look of the Perplexed Owl...sorry Nut-tree Tussock

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Cheers Wurzel. I've had a couple of Large whites stop in my garden since, this cloudier and cooler weather helping to slow them down a bit.
'Perplexed Owl' your imagination is at it again

Sunday 24th April.

A better day than Saturday, that is longer sunny spells and less wind which made for an altogether warmer day.

A few days back I had picked up a lurgy from somewhere, covid tests were negative but whatever it was had knocked me off my feet for a couple of days. By today (Sunday) I was pretty much over it but still feeling a bit run down and not fancying going out anywhere I just pottered about in the garden. In truth, much of that pottering about consisted of just sitting in a garden chair with my camera at the ready and looking out for whatever turned up.

During the afternoon I saw at least three different male Speckled Wood chasing each other and everything else around the garden and one female, a different one than yesterday.

A couple of male Orange-tips were making the rounds and I watched one of them try it on with a female who gave him the classic rejection pose until he eventually gave up.
Both Small and Green-veined Whites passed through but the only one that stopped for a photo was a Small White.

At least two males and one female Holly Blue were present and a few times I watched all three disappear next door with the males chasing after the female. On one occasion however, the female came into the garden and managed to escape the notice of both the male Holly blues and the male Speckled Woods that kept chasing everything off. I watched as she settled on a berberis darwinii, an evergreen shrub that is covered with a profusion of small orange flowers every spring and proceeded to feed. Although the flowers on this shrub are attractive to bees, I have only ever seen two types of butterfly feed on it, female Holly Blue and female Speckled Wood.
The female then proceeded down to the bottom of the garden where a self-seeded Holly bush is growing in my hedge. To start with she just fluttered around it but when a cloud covered the sun she settled, initially with closed wings. I kept watch for when the sun came out hoping to catch her open her wings and was rewarded with a few opportunities as she opened up and changed positions a couple of times before flying off again.
A little later I watched a male approach the berberis and flutter about where the female had been settled earlier, perhaps attracted by a lingering trace of pheromone or something. He then settled himself and briefly opened his wings before he was off again.
I don’t often get the chance for open wing Holly Blue photos so was really chuffed to get shots of both male and female in one afternoon in my garden.

Bye for now and stay safe,

Neil.

It would seem pointless looking elsewhere for butterflies when you have
a selection like that visiting your garden Neil .
Superb shots, especially the Holly Blues.

Hope you are fully over the bug,
Trevor.

Thanks Trevor, feeling much better now.

trevor wrote: ↑Wed Apr 27, 2022 8:51 am It would seem pointless looking elsewhere for butterflies when you have
a selection like that visiting your garden Neil .

Indeed, one of the reasons I don't feel the urge to get to my local spots much at this time of year, I would only see the same species.


Monday 25th April.

In the morning I had to take Jane to the Drs for a routine check-up and then back home after lunch I spent the afternoon pottering about the house and garden. It was cooler than Sunday had been with more cloud about and a bit more of a breeze but still enough sunny spells to bring a few butterflies out.
Most of the garden activity today was around a Lilac that has flowered nicely this year although one of the male Speckled Woods thinks this spot belongs to him and tries to chase everything else away from it.
Species seen included Speckled Wood, Orange-tip, Holly Blue, Large, Small and Green veined Whites and a Peacock that lingered around for most of the afternoon.
This was the closest I got to an Orange-tip all afternoon.

Tuesday 26th April.

A day very like the previous one, only this time we popped into Solihull in the morning to do some shopping after which I spent another afternoon doing light jobs around the house and garden.

Once the morning cloud had broken up a bit and a few sunny spells appeared in the afternoon, the same selection of butterflies were seen.
The same Peacock, identified as such by the 'face' in the hind wing eyespots, was back again visiting the Lilac,
This time I managed to get a couple of shots of a male Large White before the male Speckled Wood noticed him and chased him off.
Apart from a brief glimpse of a passing male early in the afternoon, there was a curious lack of Orange-tips today. Maybe not quite warm enough for them as it did feel a touch cooler in general.

Bye for now and stay safe,

Neil.

Nice selection again, Neil. Good to see your Speckled Woods are up to their usual standard.

Hi Neil,
Lovely picture of your granddaughter in Hollybank Woods and yes Purple Emperor, WA and SWF are present. Indeed a PE was photographed on a wheelie bin in North Emsworth a few years ago - they do seem to be attracted to bins in urban areas!
I normally see Emperors most years just over the Emsworth Common Road in Southleigh Forest where there is an assembly point I can give you the details if you want? There is also another area worth looking at by the brick kiln ponds near Stansted Tea rooms - worth a visit too for cream teas!
Kind Regards
Mark

Thanks David. After a fairly weak end to their season here last year, they appear to be off to a good start this year.

Some great info there Mark, many thanks. I'm not sure when we will be down there again, nothing planned yet although our daughters husband has now been deployed to Poland as part of the NATO presence there and she has said to my wife that this means that she could put us up at her house for a few days while he is away. No doubt I will get told in due course what is happening


Friday 29th April.

After a couple of days of dull cloudy and quite cool weather here, Friday (29th) started off much the same but as the day went on the clouds started to break up giving some more pleasant sunny spells during the afternoon.
A few butterflies started to appear in the garden as it warmed up but overall activity was lower than earlier in the week.

A couple of male speckled Woods were in their usual corners and at least one female came through and spent a bit of time on the Lilac.
A single male Green-veined White was the only white that I saw today.
Most of the activity was provided by at least two male Holly Blues that seemed more interested in chasing each other about rather than the single fresh looking female that was also hanging around.

Saturday 30th April.

A reverse of the previous day in that, after a cold night and a bit of a frosty start, we had clear blue sunny skies up until mid-afternoon, thereafter the clouds gradually built up until they formed a solid grey overcast again.

Butterfly activity in the garden was much the same again with the usual species putting in appearances from when it warmed up sufficiently around mid-morning until it became too cloudy in the afternoon.
Both Green-veined and Small Whites were seen along with one brief visit from a single male Orange-tip that flew in and out without stopping.
One addition today was a female Comma that passed through and investigated some nettles but I didn’t see her actually lay any eggs.
Sunday (1st May) was a dull cloudy day with spells of light rain and drizzle and as I write this on Monday morning we are sitting under a thick grey overcast again with lots of cloud in the forecast for the next few days.

Bye for now and stay safe,

Neil.

Those females, Holly Blue and Green Veined White, Neil, are resplendent.

Well done with the Comma too. Haven't seen a UK one for a month or so now.

Fantastic garden reports Neil - it must be brilliant to be able to step out with your camera and a cuppa By the way is Coverdale the name of your house or the garden, if it is the garden is the front one called Aldritch or Page

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks David. Another nice female coming up

Cheers Wurzel. At this time of year, with no premium species around my patch, the garden is as good a place as any. Coverdale is the name of my road, I simply use it as a file name to organise my photos.

Wednesday 4th May.

This week has so far been a gloomy one with a blanket grey overcast lasting from Monday through until late yesterday (Wednesday 4th May). Although dull, Monday and Tuesday were both dry but yesterday saw a succession of showers through the day, some of which were quite heavy which at least finally gave the garden a much needed soaking.

It looked as if we were going to have three full days without a single break in the clouds but around 4.00pm yesterday we finally had a brief glimpse of the sun. Looking out of the kitchen window I noticed a bit of movement down the garden which resolved itself into a Holly Blue fluttering around the side hedge. I noticed it settle and grabbing my camera I went out to find a nice fresh looking female sitting there warming up in the sun.
I did wonder if she was one of the females that I had photographed in the garden last week but a comparison of markings shows her to be a different individual to any of those.
Once she had warmed up she was off on her way and with the short lived spell of sunshine soon at an end and another shower of rain starting, that was it for the day.

Just the one butterfly seen but one that certainly lifted the spirits on what has been a gloomy few days of weather here.

As I write this on Thursday morning, things look to be brightening up with an improvement forecast for the weekend.

Bye for now and stay safe,

Neil.

"Coverdale is the name of my road, I simply use it as a file name to organise my photos."Opps there I go looking for patterns where there aren't any That Holly Blue is a bit of a stunner

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Wurzel wrote: ↑Fri May 06, 2022 6:35 pm "Coverdale is the name of my road, I simply use it as a file name to organise my photos."Opps there I go looking for patterns where there aren't any...

Cheers Wurzel. If there was a pattern I think I would have gone for 'Gillan' for the front garden


Thursday 5th May.

After a dull start, Thursday morning did indeed eventually brighten up enough to encourage a few butterflies out in the garden. A couple of Holly Blue males were once again chasing each other about and a female Speckled Wood came fluttering around the areas of long grass around the edges of the garden.
A couple of Green-veined whites and a single male Orange-tip also passed through without stopping.

The afternoon was spent taking Jane to see her Mom in Stratford Hospital where she was transferred to for recuperation from Warwick Hospital a couple of weeks ago. As at Warwick, there is a limit of one visitor for one hour and so whilst Jane went in to see her Mom I had a walk down to the River where I spotted a couple of wandering Holly Blues.

By the time we left Stratford it had clouded over again so nothing else seen.

Friday 6th May.

A morning visit to my Mom and with it being a nice sunny morning I had a wander down to the park by her house.
My usual circuit here produced a minimum of nine Speckled Wood, all males in varying condition with some quite worn now and some looking fresh. They certainly seem to be off to a good start here.
A couple of Small Whites and a single Holly Blue were also seen.
The bluebells along the path through the small wooded area here are now looking their best. I suspect that these are mostly hybrids rather than pure native bluebells but even so they provide a nice little show here.
Back home in the afternoon I spotted a Holly Blue and a Speckled Wood in the garden before it once more clouded over and became quite dull.
Some heavy rain forecast here for tonight before it looks to be improving again over the weekend and into next week.

Bye for now and stay safe,

Neil.

"If there was a pattern I think I would have gone for 'Gillan' for the front garden "

Cracking Specklies

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Enjoying all of the photos and the rock star gags. Please keep both going.

Thanks for the comments Wurzel and Otep

Saturday 7th May.

After Friday nights rain, it slowly brightened up here on Saturday morning and once it had warmed up enough the usual butterflies were seen. These included a couple each of of Holly Blues and Green-veined Whites and a single female Orange-tip, none of which settled for photos.

A male Speckled Wood took up a perching spot on my patch of Spanish Bluebells from where he would chase off anything that came into his field of vision.
In the afternoon we went to the Warwickshire BC Spring meeting which was the first actual physical meeting for two years due to Covid, although there have been a couple meetings via Zoom during that period. It was good to catch up with various people and talk about various things to do with butterflies, plus some good presentations and some very nice cakes

Bye for now and stay safe,

Neil.

That is a really lovely photo Neil. It would look really good hanging on a wall on a canvas.

Thanks Otep, glad you like it

Sunday 8th May.

Another day mostly spent catching up on jobs around the house and garden during which the usual butterflies were once again seen in the garden.
At least two different female Holly Blues were noted along with one or two males.
Just the one male Speckled Wood on station today and as is often the case he was that busy chasing everything else that he failed two notice the two females that came wandering through.
At least one each of Small and Green-veined White passed through without stopping but a Large White was tempted by the Lilac to stop for a top up.
A female Brimstone also came through and spent a bit of time around my Alder Buckthorns and looked to be laying some eggs although most of this activity was within the shrubs and partially obscured from view.
Between bouts of fluttering around the alder buckthorns she would visit the Lilac for a quick refuel.
I must try to get out and see if any other species i.e. Small Copper, Brown Argus or Small Heath have appeared around Solihull yet, that is if I can find the time between everything else that keeps lining up for me to do. I thought that once I retired I would have more time to go looking for butterflies but ‘stuff to do’ just seems to grow to fill the extra time.

Bye for now and stay safe,

Neil.

Cracking set of shots Neil - that second female Specklie is really well marked - what a stunner she is

Have a goodun

Wurzel