www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Those dead heads are lesser knapweed, of hardheads. If present, Dingy Skippers will almost always use them, in my experience at least. But anything dead or brown seems to suffice!

I've seen them egg-laying on lots of plants in the past David but I think this year it was a great find! In fact, this season just finding any butterfly is a great find

Cheers Mark. I appreciate that. I'm going to keep a close eye on that site this year and see if I can find out exactly where they are roosting. If I do, I'll let you know.

I took a bit of a chance today as I hadn't seen any reports of Wood Whites but it was good to catch up with them again:

A few more from this morning:

Those are the first Wood White pictures I’ve seen, Pauline. Were they at Chiddingfold Forest, Botany Bay complex?

Lovely set of images Pauline especially as it's been a few years since I've seen Wood Whites Love the OT shot - I got a similar one the other day funnily enough, although mine won't be posted possibly until July

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Lovely images of the Orange Tip & Wood White, Pauline - perhaps the two most delicate species we have in the UK.

Well done too with the Speckled Yellow, never the easiest of moths to photograph.

Just a quick response for Mark and others who may want confirmation - yes Mark, it was Botany Bay and I think they might be the first ones seen in Surrey from what Martin has said. However, the weather here is pretty poor again today - low temperatures, grey skies with the forecast of heavy showers later!

Cheers Wurzel - just a thought, but perhaps do what Dave and David do - post briefly under 'sightings' and then more detailed account in diary when time permits. That way, we get the best of both worlds. Folk are alerted to what is happening on your patch and is more current/relevant????? and then the enjoyment of reading the detailed account of your day at their leisure. I am soooo impatient I don't want to wait until July to see your OT

Thank you David. I do enjoy watching those tiny, delicate Wood Whites. They look so fragile I wonder how they manage to survive from one year to the next. I was only there for about 55mins but must try to get back.

Well, an easy morning for me today. Off to physio now then back for a bacon sarnie and cup of coffee before deciding how to spend the rest of the day.

Some might remember my efforts in 2020 to rear a couple of eggs from the Duke of Burgundy. It had taken me 3 years of asking before I was granted permission so I was determined to give it my best shot. It was a very rewarding and educational experience. I discovered a few things that I have not seen documented before, including the colour changes of the larva prior to shedding their skin and the prolonged time that it takes them to do this. Perhaps the two are linked as the larva must be very vulnerable at this time and appearing dead, or at the very least distasteful, must surely be one of their survival mechanisms. They certainly had me fooled. As a reminder, the larva first becomes a very pale insipid colour before turning almost jet black:
I was delighted when they successfully pupated but disaster was to strike. Late one very stormy evening I had a delivery. The rain was pelting down and a real gale blowing. It was pitch black. As I ran out to take in the delivery I realised that the pupa were in danger of being blown away so on my way I grabbed the container holding the pupa intending to put them in the garage for the night. I was also concerned for the delivery driver whom I imagined must be getting soaked waiting for me........so, I was running, but with head down watching the pupa to ensure they were safe. I hadn't realised the storm had blown open a heavy wrought iron gate (and didn't see it because it was so dark) so that is how I managed to run full pelt into it. I ended up on the ground with blood running down my face and no sign of the pupa. A trip to A&E confirmed I was concussed and although I subsequently located the pupa I think the imact with the ground was the reason no butterflies emerged. I was gutted.

However, a meeting with the site management the following year about a different issue resulted in further permission being granted to remove another couple of eggs. I have been very cautious with these ones. I really wanted to complete that life cycle and finish documenting the last stages. In recent days I have been watching the first pupa. Just like the larva in 2020, the pupa convinced me that they had died. They looked like they had started to rot. They initially looked like healthy pupa should:
but then they started to change colour just at one end - a sort of pale brown colour. I didn't even take any shots so convinced was I that this could not be normal. I confess I almost disregarded them. Protective covering was removed and I was on the verge of disposing them. I thought I would check one last time and lo and behold one of the pupa had completely turned a dark grey and I could see orange markings. So, without further ado, these are some shots of that pupa over the last few days:

Absolutely fascinating, Pauline. I trust you were able to successfully take at least one to emergence?

Yes indeed David. I am sure anyone who has ever attempted to do this will appreciate just how difficult it is. I remember Buggy once commenting after a failed attempt that you 'need to sleep, eat, go to work etc' and this is so very true. Trying to juggle this vigil with caring for the other animals meant there was a very real chance I would miss the emergence but I gave it my best shot. I cannot take photos indoors and the weather outside was less than ideal. Several times I was driven inside by quite violent thunderstorms and despite a jumper and jacket I was freezing cold. Nevertheless, over 3 days I spent 17 hours watching this pupa - not a record for me but long enough under those conditions. The butterfly chose to emerge at about 8.00am yesterday morning and the wind was so strong I was concerned the whole plantpot would be blown away. I had tried to rig up a windbreak of sorts from some bamboo poles and a large roll of bubble wrap I had in the garage. It was better than nothing but the gale certainly had a negative impact on some of the shots. I shall just include all of them and let you decide:
This was an incredibly fast emergence but the actual pumping up of the wings was relatively leisurely. I am keeping my fingers crossed now for the other one but time will tell.

I guess I just need to finish this episode. Within an hour of emerging this gorgeous female was back on Noar Hill. I took a few shots before reluctantly leaving her in order to deal with other priorities, in little doubt that someone would soon see a mating pair!

Well I think that’s an excellent sequence Pauline, well done.

And well done for getting it back to Noar Hill so quickly.

I appreciate that Mark. It has taken me a total of 6 years to get those shots!!!! By way of contrast, the ones below only took me about 6 minutes with the added bonus of my first Speckled Wood thrown in for good measure
This male Bullfinch was boldly eating dandelion heads by the side of the road:

Fantastic sequence of shots Pauline- it's amazing to see the miniature wings against the full size abdomen Cracking looking Pearl - a partial melanistic

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Wonderful emergence shots Pauline, well done! She looks beautiful on the Cowslip.
I saw my first Dukes today on Kendal Fell.
Also really like your Wood White and Pearl photos.

Sarah.

Pauline wrote: ↑Sun May 14, 2023 6:18 am...Nevertheless, over 3 days I spent 17 hours watching this pupa...

That's admirable dedication, Pauline and you fully deserved your reward.

Exquisite.

A great sequence of the emerging Duke Pauline and lovely shots of the result. I especially like the underside shots on the hawthorn.

A nice dark looking PBF too and not forgetting that lovely female Speckled Wood.

Cheers,

Neil.

Cheers Wurzel - this site is looking a whole lot better since the last time I visited. Liking your reports in 'sightings'.

Thank you Sarah and Well Done. It's not proving to be easy this year!

Thank you David - btw, the Nuthatch came back

It's kind of you to say so Neil but I am rarely happy with my own attempts at photography and on this occasion the weather was also against me. However, I AM very happy with the next set of shots.

Success! I was better prepared this morning, knew what to expect, and the weather was kinder. As a result, when the 2nd Duke emerged this morning (after only watching for 90 mins ) I was able to witness the actual emergence. It was wonderful to see both of them complete their life cycle:

Wonderful Pauline, well done! I am so pleased you were rewarded, very well deserved!

Sarah.