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Sunday 8th May 2011

Had a brief walk round near one of my good local spots in St Mellons, (between Cardiff and Newport). Good to see that some Common Blues and Small Coppers were out. Also nice to report that the Lackey Moth Caterpillars that were inhabiting a communal web (about a fortnight ago) are now looking much more like Lackey Moth Caterpillars and a probably nearly fully grown.

The big surprise of the morning was seeing a Dingy Skipper – I’ve never seen one before on my local patch. As far as I know it’s not down on the grid as a spot for Dingy Skippers – the nearest recognized spot would be Merthyr Mawr Warren, some way down the road near Porthcawl. I know on the Millenium Atlas the Dingy is also down somewhere near Barry (near Cardiff). Note to self – contact Richard Smith at Butterfly conservation tonight. In fact, I was mighty glad I got a photograph as I’d probably doubt I’d seen the butterfly without the proof.

Later on I paid a quick trip to Alun Valley which now has Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillaries on the wing. The small reserve (particularly looked after for High-Brown Frits) is currently carpeted by Bluebells. There were about 5 SPB’s as soon as I walked in the reserve. Unfortunately the weather conditions kept changing so I soon went home as the clouds came over. Nice afternoon though!

Michael

p.s. only just joined photobucket in an attempt to get better images on. After playing about I now think I've got a size that won't offend the screen. Brainache



Lackey Moth Caterpillar, nearly fully grown



Common Blue, Underwing, on Bird's foot trefoil



Common Blue (female) upperwings



Small Copper



Dingy Skipper - never seen before on my local patch.



Small-Pearl Bordered Fritillary in the Alun Valley (Ewenny)



Bluebells in the Alun Valley (Ewenny)



Small-Pearl Bordered Fritillary at the Alun Valley spot. On Bluebells..



SPBF underwings. Cloudy weather overhead. Must get a tripod for my shots, etc etc etc

So much for the promised rain this weekend... We barely had any and that little which did fall evaporated within a very short time. A few new butterflies have started hatching on one of my local sites in Cambs though. The Grizzled Skippers which started a few weeks ago, have now been joined by Common Blues and Brown Argus and plants are somehow managing to find enough water to keep themselves ticking over. As had been said elsewhere, we really do need a bit more of a deluge here if the foodplants are to keep any future larvae supplied with leaves
Trev

Michaeljf wrote:Sunday 8th May 2011

Had a brief walk round near one of my good local spots in St Mellons, (between Cardiff and Newport). Good to see that some Common Blues and Small Coppers were out. Also nice to report that the Lackey Moth Caterpillars that were inhabiting a communal web (about a fortnight ago) are now looking much more like Lackey Moth Caterpillars and a probably nearly fully grown.

Some great photos - very impressive.
Ian

Ian Pratt wrote:

Michaeljf wrote:Sunday 8th May 2011 Had a brief walk round near one of my good local spots in St Mellons

Some great photos - very impressive.
Ian

Thanks Ian. It certainly beats working, anyway

Not such good weather overall today on the IOW although still a good number of orange tips around and small whites too. A few speckled woods and peacocks. Weather is more promising for the next couple of days- hope to see the Glanvilles again!

Ian, spurred on by your info. I decided to head south today. I set off from Wetherby at 04.30am in pouring rain preying the forecast would be correct. I couldn't decide between Dorset or Gloucestershire. I decided to go to Prestbury for Small Blue and then Strawberry Banks for Marsh Frit., and then Sand Point for the Glanvilles.

Call it fate, but I missed the turning for the M42, so just kept on going! Sat on the ferry to Yarmouth, Isle of Wight looking at the grey skies above, I was thinking big mistake. Anyhow arriving at Ventnor, I'd scored with a couple of nectering GF's after a couple of minutes, plus a nice Orange Tip.

I then connected with a few Small Blue at Durlston C.P. before rounding the day off with Marsh Frit. at Hod Hill.

The underside of the GF is just fantastic!

Lady Glanville's will was contested on the basis that an interest in butterflies might indicate someone not sound in mind. I've just done a there and back day trip from Wetherby to Ventnor to see her butterfly - best tear my will up!

Very happy indeed.

Some dedication and energy shown there Lawts.

Jack

David M wrote:Michael, assuming we get reasonable weather I will be up at Aberbargoed next weekend to reacquaint myself with the Marsh Fritillaries there.
You likely to be doing likewise?

Hi David,
yes - we may still be too early for the Wales Marsh Fritillaries, who can tell? As long as the weather is half-decent. Send me a PM - maybe Friday - depending on when you're thinking of going. Oh, and nice picture of the Gower Bay / edge of Port Talbot I think we arrived at Ewenny on Sunday just when the first shower hit at 13:00. We stayed until about 3:30 - the best sun was between about 2:30-3:20pm.
Michael

Trev Sawyer wrote:So much for the promised rain this weekend... We barely had any and that little which did fall evaporated within a very short time. A few new butterflies have started hatching on one of my local sites in Cambs though. The Grizzled Skippers which started a few weeks ago, have now been joined by Common Blues and Brown Argus and plants are somehow managing to find enough water to keep themselves ticking over. As had been said elsewhere, we really do need a bit more of a deluge here if the foodplants are to keep any future larvae supplied with leaves
Trev

Some great shots, Trev, particularly as I know just how hard you have to work simply to find flowers and butterflies anywhere in Cambs...
N

Marsh Fritillaries are out at Aberbargoed but as you would expect so early the numbers are low.

Paul

Out and about on my own patch in the Vale of Belvoir yesterday (Sunday, 8th May). The heavy overnight rain followed by the morning sun seemed to have at last brought some of the wildflowers into bloom - and some of the local species out to play.

I saw my first Common Blue and Brown Argus of the year at Asfordby Hill... loads of fresh specimens of both accompanied by the more weather-worn Dingy Skippers and the odd Brimstone.

Then on to the nearby Holwell Reserves where the same species were present plus a few Small Coppers. An unusual 'white-spotted' Brown Argus was pootling in the former ironstone quarry area at Holwell - as illustrated below, alongside the more usual 'black-spotted' variety. An aberration or just an individual within the normal bounds of variation? cheers, celery

After Dave's interesting post above regarding the damaged adonis blues at Denbies being abberant I just had to go back and have another look today. It was very windy again, which wasn't helpful, but that didn't stop me spending the best part of the day there until my memory card was full (of blurry wind shaken images! ) and camera battery flat. Many of the butterflies are getting quite tatty and there are an awful lot which appeared to be misformed and/or abberant.

Seen today at Denbies: adonis blue, common blue, brown argus, dingy skipper, grizzled skipper, small heath, green hairstreak, comma, and my first large skippers of the year.

Two new species for me in my garden, a Green Hairstreak and a Brown Argus.

It is a Brown Argus ?

Wind made it difficult in Cambridge too - a lot of wind-blur on many of mine, Susie (we don't have to display them, do we? ) but spent a nice 3 hours trying anyway...
Nosed round a local NR and first found some Green Hairstreaks I didn't know were there ..and saw lots of Brown Argus... and OT's ... ...with a few Brimmies, GVW, Speckies, Common Blue and a beautiful vivid orange Comma (that I didn't manage to get a good picture of )
Highlight was a large, rather yellow-looking White ( ) that appeared across the other side of the clearing and passed right by me on the breeze. It was a Clouded Yellow - first of the year here for me . Needless to say it was in "migratory-mode" - didn't stop and, though briefly blocked by some large trees, it easily negotiated the barrier and carried on...
N

JohnR wrote:Two new species for me in my garden, a Green Hairstreak and a Brown Argus.

It is a Brown Argus ?

Brown Argus.jpg

Sure is, John! Nice to see them in a garden, especially yours!
N

Nick had a Clouded Yellow in migratory mode.

It's a good year for immigrants and their offspirng. Painted Lady through the garden yesterday clearly in migratory mode and another Red Admiral enjoying some of the moisture from the local car wash.

Perhaps in this drought year, car washes will be hotspots!

Jack

I decided to go to Wheelers Bay last evening after a late work meeting and arived at 19.00. The sun had gone behind the cliffs so all I was expecting were some roosting GFs. I walked about 800 yards witrhout seeing anything and then returned where I had come from. I saw one on top of valerian and once I got my eye in there were a dozen or more on the valerian rising up the chalk cliff face.
I attach some photos.

David M wrote:

JohnR wrote:Two new species for me in my garden, a Green Hairstreak..

A Green Hairstreak in your GARDEN??

That's mightily impressive!

It is! Though I notice Susie is saving her "Top-trump" garden Brown Hairstreak for later....

NickB wrote:

David M wrote:

JohnR wrote:Two new species for me in my garden, a Green Hairstreak..

A Green Hairstreak in your GARDEN??

That's mightily impressive!

It is! Though I notice Susie is saving her "Top-trump" garden Brown Hairstreak for later....

That'd still be trumped by either Black Hairstreak or the daddy of them all - Mountain Ringlet!

You've got me there!
N