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Re: September 2009 Sightings
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 4:33 pm
by Denise
Good day in the garden today. At least 5 very fresh Red Admiral, very few 'whites'
2 Painted Lady, about a dozen worn Speckled Wood and about 6 Comma.
Denise
Re: September 2009 Sightings
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 4:37 pm
by Zonda
Well,,,hate rears its ugly head...Been trying to locate a Comma all day.
Re: September 2009 Sightings
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 4:39 pm
by thepostieles
yeah lovely sunny day here in cheshire, saw 3 red admirals, 3 or 4 painted ladies, one small tort,peacock large white, and a worn speckled wood while out on post round
Re: September 2009 Sightings
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 4:49 pm
by Bioboy
Spotted a Brown Hairstreak just east of Redhill, Surrey today (10/9/09) on the Nutfield road. Also saw saw a number of whites, pair of commas and a red admiral - just out for a walk. The hairsteak was too quick for the camera.
Cheers
Rob
Re: September 2009 Sightings
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:26 pm
by James M
Another lovely sunny day today, saw several Speckled Woods out and about and a few whites, 3 Red Admirals, 2 Peacock and a Painted Lady in the garden.
Re: September 2009 Sightings
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:27 pm
by James M
Denise wrote:Good day in the garden today. At least 5 very fresh Red Admiral, very few 'whites'
2 Painted Lady, about a dozen worn Speckled Wood and about 6 Comma.
Denise
A Comma is one butterfly that has been very scarce around here, only seen one all year
Re: September 2009 Sightings
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:25 pm
by Dave McCormick
A Comma is one butterfly that has been very scarce around here, only seen one all year
Your luckier than me to see one, I don't think any Commas were spotted in Northern ireland this year. I do recall a sighting somwhere in South of Ireland, but so far, non here
Re: September 2009 Sightings
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 5:50 am
by Zonda
It is as i suspected,,,they've become extinct in most areas.
Re: September 2009 Sightings
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:18 am
by Jack Harrison
It is as i suspected,,,they've become extinct in most areas.
There will always be pessimists as per your tongue-in-cheek comment. Last year some were moaning about the impending demise of the Small Tortoiseshell. Then (certainly in my part of the world Cambridgeshire and adjacent parts of the south and east) 2009 has been a bumper year for Small Torts; I think the same is true in many parts of the south.
Commas had a good summer emergence (pale form) and now the autumn dark form is just appearing. Just because few, if any Commas are seen in a particular area where they have been seen in recent years, there's no reason to jump to conclusions about “extinction”; they will probably bounce back next year or the year after.
Jack
Re: September 2009 Sightings
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:27 am
by Zonda
Yeh! It was tongue in cheek Jack, and i indeed am an old pessimist.
Re: September 2009 Sightings
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 7:51 am
by Mandie
Another sunny day up here, so the buddleia was the favourite nectaring spot, but a few went for the sweet peas and gladioli. Three red admirals, one very small and pale painted lady, peacocks, small + large whites and small tortoiseshells.
Plus a Silver Y moth, which hung around all day.
Re: September 2009 Sightings
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 9:13 am
by NickB
As a kid in the 1950's seeing a Comma (in Yorkshire) was a real rarity; down here in Cambs they have been doing really well. But, searching out the nectar sources at this time of year - particularly the ivy - will bring more sightings than simply leaving it to chance sightings in the garden or on a country walk for instance where you don't hunt-out these places......eg I have seen only one in my garden in the last month - but at least 10 when I search them out in the nearby cemetery....
N
Re: September 2009 Sightings
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:27 pm
by Zonda
I would like to thank Pete and Eccles for their sound advice about staking out blackberry bushes. Also, i'd like to thank my wife who has given me much needed support throughout this whole process, and driven me around a whole lot. Also, i'd like to thank an annon. farmer in Wool Dorset, for not cutting his hedges, and leaving brambles in his gateways. Lastly, i'd like to thank the Comma that posed and pouted for my camera like Samantha Fox in her heyday. Yes folks,,,i have a Comma this year.
Re: September 2009 Sightings
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:53 pm
by NickB
Persistance eh? Nice ones - they always look good on blackberries!
Re: September 2009 Sightings
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:59 pm
by Zonda
Thanks Nick
Re: September 2009 Sightings
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 4:30 pm
by Dave McCormick
Got warmer here, sun was shining bright today and I went out around where I live and saw:
60+ Silver Y moths (I stopped counting as I saw so many)
3 Red Admirals
1 Small White
2 Speckled Woods
1 Small Tortoiseshell
1 Large White Caterpillar pupating on my postbox
Large White eggs Nasturshums (sp?)
A few from today:
- Small Tortoiseshell on Wall
- Red Admiral on Hops
- Large White Caterpillar, Pupating on Postbox
Re: September 2009 Sightings
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 4:35 pm
by Icarus
Hi folks.........
Newly registered at last, but been viewing the board for a couple of years now. Very impressed with your great pics, so feel it is time I made the effort.
Located 10 miles or so east of Manchester, and bordering the local country park. After a real wash out this summer here - I think July&Aug were even wetter than last year - there was plenty to see yesterday and today.... painted lady, red admiral, L & S whites, peacock, speckled wood x10s many very fresh, holly blue, comma, first small tortoiseshell since early 2007,and small copper, ......with the sedum, verbena and buddleia all popular. Interesting that the speckled woods seemed to prefer the odd over-ripe blackcurrant left on the bush. Also seen GV white, large skipper and meadow brown earlier in the year.
Hope the attached are of interest, ...........and sized correctly.
Re: September 2009 Sightings
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 4:42 pm
by Pete Eeles
Dave McCormick wrote:1 Large White Caterpillar pupating on my postbox
That's not a Large White larva - they don't pupate head down attached only by the cremaster (as you know!). Looks more like a Red Admiral that can't find a decent bunch of nettles
Cheers,
- Pete
Re: September 2009 Sightings
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 4:43 pm
by Pete Eeles
Icarus wrote:Hi folks.........
Newly registered at last, but been viewing the board for a couple of years now. Very impressed with your great pics, so feel it is time I made the effort.
Located 10 miles or so east of Manchester, and bordering the local country park. After a real wash out this summer here - I think July&Aug were even wetter than last year - there was plenty to see yesterday and today.... painted lady, red admiral, L & S whites, peacock, speckled wood x10s many very fresh, holly blue, comma, first small tortoiseshell since early 2007,and small copper, ......with the sedum, verbena and buddleia all popular. Interesting that the speckled woods seemed to prefer the odd over-ripe blackcurrant left on the bush. Also seen GV white, large skipper and meadow brown earlier in the year.
Hope the attached are of interest, ...........and sized correctly.
Welcome Icarus - nice photos!
Cheers,
- Pete
Re: September 2009 Sightings
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 4:45 pm
by Pete Eeles
Pete Eeles wrote:Dave McCormick wrote:1 Large White Caterpillar pupating on my postbox
Not sure that's a Large White larva - they don't pupate head down attached only by the cremaster (as you know!). Looks more like a Red Admiral that can't find a decent bunch of nettles
Cheers,
- Pete