www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

A skinhead has to be heavily tattooed. Chequered Skippers in cop would make a good design. Any advice where to get it done?

Jack

Elusive Butterfly

I am 99% certain that today I saw the yellow form of Green-veined White P. napi ab. citronea/sulphurea on the Island of Ulva adjacent to Mull.

GV Whites are abundant in and near Mull. The one my wife and I saw briefly in flight (by Sheila's Cottage just north of the landing ramp on Ulva) had exactly the right jizz and size for GV White but it was the colour of a male Brimstone (which does not occur this far north).

Sadly, it didn't land so no confirmation.

Mind you, the reward today was Golden Eagles at three different locations on Mull. At one of these locations (near Ballygown) three Goldies were in the air plus one White-tailed Eagle.

Jack

In the past three weeks she has found (before I did)
Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Ardery, Ardamurchan)
Chequered Skipper (Ardery)
Orange Tip on Mull between Inverlussa and Lochdon
Marsh Fritillary between Inverlussa and Lochdon today (although we had thought we had just seen one in flight)

I will be returning to the Marsh Frit site On Monday, weather permitting.

Here’s a Mull Orange Tip. Apparently according to Tom Prescott of BC, they only colonised Mull about six years ago.

Jack

Early 19th century cottage in the highly sought-after Glen More on the picturesque Isle of Mull. Ideal for first time buyers. Open plan design with excellent views in all directions over surrounding countryside. “Green” central heating. Off road parking for up to five vehicles. Some modernisation desirable so would suit young couple with DIY skills.



Recently occupied by local Chimney Sweep. Offers in the region of 50 pence considered. Mortgage available subject to references.



Jack

Viv (Vivian / Vivienne) is now a few weeks away from having its gender established.



He/she fed on Cuckoo Flower and later on leaves on an Ornamental Cabbage (where it pupated) that came from the Co-op supermarket last Christmas and subsequently grew well when potted outside. It is no longer “ornamental” having reverted to a more normal looking cabbage.

Les and Sam, the two Orange Tips are ready to pupate although Sam might not be too healthy; it hasn’t got its silk girdle quite organised.

On the adult front, three SPB Frits seen today near Tobermory sewage farm (!) in Glenmore over bracken. Possible Marsh Frit in flight over boggy ground nearby (a know locality). Only some half-a-dozen GV Whites as between broods but numerous Small Heaths, unfortunately none of which could be turned into Large Heaths (which do occur on Mull, but yet to see).

Jack

On Monday I wrote about my two Orange Tip caterpillars:

Les and Sam, the two Orange Tips are ready to pupate although Sam might not be too healthy; it hasn’t got its silk girdle quite organised.

Well they have both pupated. Sam - with the poor silk girdle - fell off its twig to the bottom of its cage but seems to have pupated OK. Les is a fine pupa on a twig.

I'll find out if Les is Lesley or Leslie and Sam is Samantha or Samuel next May (season is later here in the far north)

Jack

Viv, the GV White turned out to be Vivian, male. He emerged this morning just 11 days after pupating. Unfortunately, he was rather keen to make his first solo flight so was off and away before I could photographing him wings open.



That intense yellow colour of the underside hind wings is pretty accurate.

Just visible bottom right is the out-of-focus pupa of his friend “Les” the Orange Tip settled down for its winter rest.

Jack

That's a truly beautiful shade of yellow on those hindwings, Jack. Are Scottish GVWs usually richer in colour?

Are Scottish GVWs usually richer in colour?

Summer broods of all races are more yellow than are the spring ones but not sure if Scottish ones are noted as being especially yellow.

Jack

Isle of Mull 4 August

Having been shamed by my wife’s photos taken in the garden, I had to go out into the field. Locality track past the Forestry Commission offices.

Scotch Argus in good numbers with females seen for the first time this year. This newly emerged example shows the “patina” on the forewing.



Although I had seen Scotch Argus before, this year is my first opportunity to become familiar with the species.
This is a behaviour I had not anticipated – basking on a stony path.



Dark Green Fritillary didn’t quite seem at home in woodland although that was a significant habitati in the south some 40 years ago. Here is a woodland path where DGF was nectaring on thistle. Also the inevitable Scotch Argus behaving and looking like Ringlets in the south (except for that use of the path).





Back in my garden, I was able to confirm that Tortoiseshells are indeed heavily marked – all examples seen were similar.



Jack

Found Scotch Argus within the bounds of Tobermory - a mere 300 mtres from home.

And not only do they fly in dull weather, they can fly when there is a light drizzle. So much for the received wisdom.

Jack

Jack Harrison wrote:Found Scotch Argus within the bounds of Tobermory - a mere 300 mtres from home.

And not only do they fly in dull weather, they can fly when there is a light drizzle. So much for the received wisdom.

Those responsible for the dissemination of received wisdom don't live on the Isle of Mull though, Jack.

I've seen enough in my amateur caperings to dismiss several statements made in publications by butterfly experts, for instance White Letter Hairstreaks gorging on bramble nectar in 17c temperatures, overcast conditions and light rain as well as female Brown Hairstreaks observed going about their business in 13c temperatures and flying across (and settling in) relatively open terrain.

There is much that remains unrecorded (officially, at least).

Some great photos Jack, many of which are subspecies and forms that are only found in north-west Scotland, so do please consider posting them in the species-specific albums! Specifically:

Speckled Wood (ssp. oblita)
Green-veined White (ssp. thomsoni)
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (ssp. insularum)
Small Heath (f. rhoumensis, if you ever get to the Isle of Rhum, North Uist, South Uist, Eriskay, Raasay or the Barra isles - but not Barra itself)
Large Heath (ssp. scotica)
Dark Green Fritillary (f. scotica)
Mountain Ringlet (f. scotica)
Meadow Brown (ssp. splendida)
Grayling (ssp. atlantica)
Scotch Argus (ssp. caledonia)

Guess where I'll be heading next year

Cheers,

- Pete

Pete:

Guess where I'll be heading next year

You'll be welcome to stay.

I hadn't realised that individual ukb members posted to the species-specific albam; I had assumed that was for the moderators.

I'll get round to at least some of them (not photographed all on your list) once the busy season is over.

Jack

Jack Harrison wrote:You'll be welcome to stay.

Thanks Jack - very much appreciated. If Plan A comes to fruition I'll definitely be in touch. Even if I'm unable to stay over, it would be good to finally meet up

Jack Harrison wrote:I hadn't realised that individual ukb members posted to the species-specific albam; I had assumed that was for the moderators.

In a sense you're correct - due to the large number of images we have submitted, Vince now specifically requests photos to be added (this is a change of protocol from previous years). However, wherever there are gaps (as in the Scottish rarities), just assume that your contributions will be welcome!

Jack Harrison wrote:I'll get round to at least some of them (not photographed all on your list) once the busy season is over.

Good man

Cheers,

- Pete

Interesting reports Jack and great photos.

Jack Harrison wrote:

Are Scottish GVWs usually richer in colour?

Summer broods of all races are more yellow than are the spring ones but not sure if Scottish ones are noted as being especially yellow.

Jack

I have noticed a few GVWS around my part of the midlands with that same yellow shade to them, I put it down to them being very fresh examples.

Interesting comments on the Scotch Argus flying in dull drizzly weather. When I was at Arnside the other week I went looking for them on a cloudy morning to try and photograph them in better light and noticed how readily they would fly whilst it was dull, especially the males. It was warm however and I believe it was the temperature rather than direct sun that had them flying.
Later on when the sun came out they were even more in evidence and I did notice that they kept flying when clouds covered the sun again and didn't disappear into the grass as I have read about in a number of places.

Cheers,

Neil F.

The new generation of Peacocks has just begun emerging here on Mull (reported but haven't seen any myself).
This one – photographed 18th August 2013 – must have been born in 2012, ie fully 11 or 12 months old now.



Meanwhile my daughter Polly sent me this fresh one from Cambridgeshire. (Fuji FinePix F60)



Jack

I have been trying to find the cause of the significant damage to my geraniums. Finally tracked one down.



It’s about 3 cms long and presumably a moth of some sort. Any identification ideas?

*The Terror of Tobermory was WW2 Admiral Sir Gilbert Stephenson who terrorised his sailors based in Tobermory.
His photograph shows a most amazing likeness to "Jim" who works for CalMac ferries at Tobermory.
I wonder if “The Terror” wasn’t quite what he was made out to be

Jack

Absolutely nothing to do with butterflies but this DID happen in the town of my birth and the childhood residence of the great F.W.Frohawk.

Enjoy - and don't laugh (too much).

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/dwarf_actor ... _1_2374039

Jack

Well, nobody else remembered my birthday (except wife). 75 today



Jack