www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Orange Tips now out in small numbers inland from Inverness.

Jack

Jack Harrison wrote:Orange Tips now out in small numbers inland from Inverness.

How are your own doing, Jack? Have any emerged yet?

Next weekend my Orange Tip and other chrysalises will be transferred from the fridge to a dark corner of the shed. They should emerge ten days to a fortnight later.

I would have preferred to let them begin developing a few days earlier but am going on holiday (Isle of Mull) from 29 April to 4 May inclusive and don’t want to risk them emerging when I can’t let them free. But this delay might be a bonus. Favoured food plants Hedge Garlic and Sweet Rocket are hardly showing yet. (Cuckoo Flower is very local here).

Jack

Good decision, Jack. Hopefully we'll get an image or two when you return from Mull?

Pearl Bordered Fritillaries have emerged at Ewyas Harold Common, near Pontrilas in Herefordshire.

Four seen yesterday (22nd):

Green Hairstreaks out in Force in Swaledale.. 20+ seen this evening over something like 20 square metres... one "bronzish" one, and a rather pretty study on lichenified rock...

That last one's a real cracker, Kip. It's rare to see such a 'complete' hindwing streak.

Out looking for Dukes up in Pickering this last weekend; none yet, but out at Hawnby.
Did manage to find some GH in Broxa Forest, thanks to Allan Rodda.
Cranked-up the ol' 200m macro for them...

A visit to Incombe Hole in Buckinghamshire with my partner Kasia (acherontia96) late yesterday afternoon produced 5 Duke of Burgundies as well as Grizzled Skippers, a single Dingy Skipper, 10+ Green Hairstreaks and a couple of Speckled Woods. Nothing out of the ordinary except for one butterfly which was flying around and had us puzzled. We both thought that it was probably a Painted Lady but it didn't come close enough for us to be sure. However as we were leaving we spotted it again and this time it landed on a narrow chalk path. Looking through my binoculars I was amazed to see that it was in fact a Large Tortoiseshell! I handed Kasia the binoculars and she agreed with me. I approached with phone in hand for a photo as we didn't have our cameras with us (big mistake),but alas it took flight again and we lost sight of it.

I did return with my camera this morning in the hope of seeing it again, but it was not to be. I did find the Dukes and consoled myself with a few photos, one of which is posted below.

NickHull wrote:..Did manage to find some GH in Broxa Forest, thanks to Allan Rodda..

And what a cracking specimen you found, Nick. A full row of 'streaks'; not something you see every day.

Nigel Kiteley wrote:...Looking through my binoculars I was amazed to see that it was in fact a Large Tortoiseshell! I handed Kasia the binoculars and she agreed with me. I approached with phone in hand for a photo as we didn't have our cameras with us (big mistake),but alas it took flight again and we lost sight of it...

That must have been a heart-stopping moment for you, Nigel? I've never known LTs be reported over such a wide area as this year. Hopefully it's a sign of a potential recolonisation.

I'm guilty of not visiting this page often enough and as a result I'm missing out on some cracking images and other interesting stuff. Kip, Nick, I'm just loving those GH shots and I do like your Brimstone sequence Nick. I just wish there were more hours in the day!

At a fine and breezy Dungeness this afternoon ,although I never counted them ,I reckon there were a hundred + Small Coppers
on the wing ,fairly spread out over the area I covered ,I found two pairs and a couple of Blue Spots ,I found two nectaring on the Sloe bushes ,
something I don,t often see and also a couple taking sustanence from the caged Early Purple Orchids ,which have had a fine season ,with 150 +
on show . I also had one fleeting glimpse ,of what may have been a Grizzled Skipper ,but can,t be certain ,other than that just a few Whites and Peacocks. Regards Allan.W.

Allan.W. wrote:....although I never counted them ,I reckon there were a hundred + Small Coppers on the wing...

That tally is plenty more than I'll see in both the UK and Europe combined this year, Allan!

Dungeness really IS a phenomenal site for this species.

Yes David ,Dungeness is an exceptional site particularly for Small Coppers ! But is also an excellent venue for birds ,plants ,moths
amongst others ,if you,re lucky you can even watch Harbour Porpoises off-shore,at the right time of year .
A few pictures from the weekend ,including a few shots of the Early Spider Orchids from Samphire Ho ! this morning ,sadly too overcast and breezy for any butterflies though . Highlights were a pair of Peregrine ,mobbing a Buzzard and a pair of Raven in the area .
Regards Allan.W.

this Holly Blue was waiting for the sun to come back out yesterday.

Today was transect day on two sites around Gatwick, but an early arrival gave me time to check the nettle beds there where I found some 3rd instar Small Tortoiseshell larvae (nearing their next moult) and seven Red Admiral larval tents (mainly 4th instar).
Also spotted was a Speckled Wood laying 3 eggs, including this typical pair.
Part of the route runs through woods which are carpeted with Bluebells at the moment.
Highlight of the day was a singing Nightingale.

Vince

After 4 "goes " for Grizzled Skippers at my local site(in Mid- Kent ) ,I finally found one late afternoon today (a half hour visit ) ,I reckon it emerged this morning ,while I was there I was kept company by a calling Cuckoo ,at least two singing Nightingale ,and a singing Lesser Whitethroat Regards Allan.W.

Three ' new for the year ' species whilst out today . Grizzled Skipper on transect at High Elms LNR near Bromley . Dingy Skipper at Biggin Hill , Just before leaving , Small Heath . At the same site , 25+ Brimstone , with a shortage of females it seems .

My first Common Blue of the year at Denbies Hillside this morning.I also saw another one later on down at Mill Hill.

Full reports in my PD in due course.

Dave