www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Well done with those images of the larva emerging from its egg, Paul. Few of us are afforded such a spectacle so thanks for recording it and showing it to us.

Thanks David, Wurzel & Andrew for the comments

Whilst I wait for the snow to melt, I thought I would post a few more bits and bobs from last year to warm me up. A selection of photos/stories from various sites I visited during 2017.

Old Down, Basingstoke 14.5.2017 - This was my first and only visit to this site. I was hoping to find Small Blues as there is apparently a good colony here. I was perhaps a bit early and although the forecast was for warm sunshine it was actually cold,overcast and windy. The site was also not really my 'cup of tea'. It is right next to a large housing estate and was busy with joggers, cyclists, dog walkers and assorted others. Needless to say I did not see any Small Blues or indeed much else at all, 2 butterflies in fact. One bonus was one of the only Small Heaths I saw all year and the only one I managed to photograph. Kitsons Clump, Wonston 14.5.2017 - After my lack of results at Old Down I meandered my way home and stopped at a random spot. Nothing out of the ordinary here, but I spent a pleasant couple of hours exploring somewhere new. IBM/Lakeside, Cosham 11.6.2017 - This site has been perhaps the best known for White Letter Hairstreak in Hampshire. It is also an early site so I use it as a guide to when to start looking elsewhere. I popped in on the 10.6.2017 as I was passing and found to my surprise that the Hairstreaks were already out (that's been documented earlier). I returned the following day with my camera to record the Hairstreaks and whatever else was going on. I had not seen Bee Orchids before, but in 2017 I found them at several locations including the IBM/Lakeside complex. Knowle Village 21.5.2017 - This is one of my favourite sites though I did not visit as much in 2017 as I have in previous years. I was here on this day primarily to release a Red Admiral that had been reared through the winter. Red Admirals were on show in 3 out of 4 life stages with adults, larvae of various sizes and newly laid eggs all present. This is also my 'go to' site for Small Tortoiseshell. Larvae were evident in all stages as well as a parasitic fly paying close attention to one particular larval web. Broadmarsh 11.6.2017 - I was here looking for (surprise,Surprise) White Letter Hairstreaks, but there was lots more on offer. The verge along the edge of the road was bobbing with fresh Marbled Whites.

That is a beautifully marked Small Heath Paul and the Bee Orchid is a cracker I've renamed them Happy Gnome Orchid

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Those are delightful images, Paul, particularly the Orange Tip, which I hope will return to imbue us all with delight in a mere 6 weeks or so!

Recent doings 2018

We seem to be well into the season and yet I have not posted anything of note. That does not mean I have not been busy of course. I seem to be spending most of my spare time chasing after Elm trees and seeking out the White Letter Hairstreak, at the expense of seeing much other butterfly action.

Saturday 28.4.2018 Botley/Curdridge - This Wych Elm tree is my nearest source of food for larvae reared at home. I have never seen White Letter Hairstreak here despite there being another colony perhaps a quarter of a mile away. I was pleased to find x1 hatched egg whilst taking food recently. Hopefully a wandering female from nearby has deposited a few more eggs on this tree. Sunday 6.5.2018 & Saturday 12.5.2018 Southwick - I seem to have spent the whole of the winter at this site keeping track of Red Admiral larvae. I thought that today (6.5.2018) I might be rewarded with a pristine freshly emerged adult, but dissappointingly I found no sign of anything Red Admiral at all. With the Nettles to herself I watched a solitary female Peacock curling her abdomen under nearly every suitable leaf. So I turned my attention to the nearby White Letter Hairstreak colony. Here I was able to locate x8 4th instar larvae with some ease once my eye was in. The branches here hang conveniently low and all larvae were found between waist and head height. I was so encouraged with this result that I returned the following weekend and was able to locate a further x7 larvae. I was pleased that at least x1 of these larvae was suspended ready for pupation (encouragingly at the same stage as my rescued larvae at home). Sunday 13.5.2018 West End, Southampton - After having reasonable success at finding larvae at Southwick I thought I would try my luck at a new location. This fine Elm specimen (one of several in the area) is not obviously Elm when seen in full leaf. In fact I only realised this was an Elm tree when I saw it in bud earlier this year when it is unmistakably Elm. Like Southwick the lowest branches here are also low at about shoulder height. I was really chuffed to find a 4th instar White Letter Hairstreak larva on the first branch I checked and further inspection revealed another close by.

Paul - Hi. I live in north east Hampshire.

Do you know about the White-letter Hairstreak colony on Odiham Common? I saw a few there last year.
I saw a WLH in the "Triangle" at Noar Hill last year too. Do you know where the elms are there?
There are some elms around the central park in the village of Chawton but after repeated visits I have never seen any WLH's. Is there any history of them being there do you know?
The site you mention in West Meon. I know they have been recorded along the path of the disused railway line but I have never seen any there myself. Is the picture you show in one of your diary entries, that fenced/gated area beside the car park by the disused railway station?

Best Regards and keep up the great work you are doing.

Crickey Paul you must have Eagle eyes to spot one of those excellently camouflaged cats Really interesting read and useful shots of the leaf damage caused by their feeding

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Fabulous finds there, Paul. We seem to have a lot of early stage reports on here lately and in many ways they are more interesting than those involving the adults. The camouflage is simply stunning on those cats.

Hi Ernie, David & Wurzel thanks for all your comments

ernie f wrote:Paul - Hi. I live in north east Hampshire.

Do you know about the White-letter Hairstreak colony on Odiham Common? I saw a few there last year.
I saw a WLH in the "Triangle" at Noar Hill last year too. Do you know where the elms are there?
There are some elms around the central park in the village of Chawton but after repeated visits I have never seen any WLH's. Is there any history of them being there do you know?
The site you mention in West Meon. I know they have been recorded along the path of the disused railway line but I have never seen any there myself. Is the picture you show in one of your diary entries, that fenced/gated area beside the car park by the disused railway station?

Best Regards and keep up the great work you are doing.

Hi Ernie
I have noted quite a few Elms in 'your' area to check out this year, I will keep you posted if I find anything.
I found WLH at Chawton last year. There is a brief report in my diary last year. I recorded 9 individuals there on 18th June but none were low down. I can pm you with a grid reference/directions if required.
I found the West Meon colony in 2015. It is based around a single large Wych Elm on the far side of the fenced/gated area next to the carpark where the station once stood. This area is now a mini nature reserve managed by the local school/HCC and South Downs National Park. This area was a bit overgrown when I discovered the colony (I preferred it that way to be honest). The decision to make it into a nature reserve was unconnected with the WLH colony. They were quite surprised when I told them there was WLH there. I only made one visit during the flight season last year on 18th June when I counted just 3 individuals. As far as I know there are no other Elms along the part of the old railway line between Knowle and West Meon. I have yet to look at the line beyond West Meon which is not quite so accessible.
I have not visited Odiham Common but I had heard there was WLH there, I would be interested in the exact location of the colony. There are also a couple of promising looking trees along the A287 near Odiham which I intend to check out this year.
I have noticed a few sporadic reports of WLH at Noar Hill over the years, I know Pauline saw one last year. I was hoping to have a look round up there whilst the trees were covered in seed/flowers but I have missed my chance this year. That will have to wait till next year.

Paul - Thanks for your information.

I will certainly check out Chawton again. The Elms I found are around the edge of the park in the centre of the village across the road from Jane Austen's house. Is this the tree? Its the biggest - but there are other, smaller ones nearby.
I will also look for the Wych Elm in the old station car park nature reserve at West Meon.

Info for you regarding the location of the Odiham Common Site.

Go into the centre of Odiham village and take the London Road. This is now a now a by-passed road and is a dead-end. Go right to the end of this road, past the pub on the left and over the canal bridge. There is a large car park right at the end, when you can drive no further. At the end of the road are a lot of large recycling skips and next to them a tunnel which goes under the by-pass. Go through the tunnel. On the other side is Odiham Common. You will see the Nature Reserve signboard in front of you. DO NOT go onto the common in front, take instead the tarmac path to the left which leads up to the road. Cross the road and turn left. Walk about 20 to 30 paces and find the entrance to a field on you right. Walk down the slope and ranged in front of you are a line of Elms. The ones in the corner of the field seem to be the most productive and last year WLH's came down to nectar from the flowers in front of them.
Incidentally, if you had gone straight onto the common next to the nature reserve info board and walked perhaps only 50 paces you would fact a Purple Hairstreak Master Oak. It gets the sun all day long so they stay there all day long and often come down fairly low.

Oh yes, I nearly forgot.

I saw a WLH last year at Noar Hill just a few days from when Pauline saw hers. We worked out that the two sightings could NOT have been of the same individual. She saw one first and it showed signs of wear. The one I saw later was in pristine condition. There must have been at least two of them.

Many thanks for the information Ernie . I have sent you a PM

The Changing Fortunes Of My Local Duke of Burgundy Sites:

Saturday 19.5.2018 West Wood Nr Winchester- I found both Duke of Burgundy and Pearl Bordered Fritillary at this site three years ago by complete accident. It is not the best known site for either species, in fact I have heard several people say that they have not seen either species here even though they have been visiting the site for many years. You have to know where to look of course, I think I was just lucky . In 2016 I saw just 2 Duke of Burgundy, last year I saw just 1 but this year I am pleased to say I counted 11 including at least 1 egglaying female. Pearls were similarly doing well I counted 6. This year I was able to watch 2 female Pearl Bordered Fritillaries actively laying eggs for the first time. I was surprised at the variation of egglaying locations. One female was seen to lay eggs directly on the foodplant close to the ground and another was seen laying eggs on Bramble 4-500mm off the ground. I bumped into Andy Barker who, amongst other things, is Hants BC species champion for the Pearl Bordered Fritillary he gave me a bit of an insight into the particular conditions that this species requires. Other species flying were Grizzled Skipper, Brimstone and Small White Sunday 27.5.2018 Stephens Castle Down - Following Alan Thornburys recent comments raising concern about Duke of Burgundy at this site, I thought I would check things out for myself. This has been one of my favourite sites over the last few years and one I am very familiar with. Although a relatively small colony of Dukes is present (I have never counted double figures)they seem to have been maintaining their numbers over the last few years. However, I am sad and concerned to say that I also did not find a single Duke yesterday which is rather worrying. Hopefully they are still present and will bounce back. It would be a great shame if they were lost from this site. Despite the lack of Duke of Burgundy I managed to time my visit to perfection for Common Blues. I arrived under light rain and over the next hour it gradually brightened to a clear blue sky. I was treated to the most astonishing display of Common Blues I have ever seen. The biggest count of Common Blues I have ever recorded at any site. Males were extremely numerous and varying in condition, I counted 66 males but this was very conservative. It was in fact the females that stole the show all seemingly freshly emerged. I only counted 18 females all incredibly beautiful and demonstrating the full, amazing spectrum of variation.
Also on show Grizzled and Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Small Heath, Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue and Large White.

A beautiful Grizzlie and a very handsome Duke, Jack!

Lovely Butterflies Jack especially the Grizzled Skipper Goldie

Sterling work with West Wood Paul and a great set of images, those blue females are REALLY blue Fingers crossed for the bounce back - though butterflies do seem to manage to g a few years undetected, as in the case of Marshies at Bentley Wood

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Those sure are impressive female icarus, Paul. To be honest, the one that catches my eye is the one with the LEAST blue, i.e. the first one, which has very strange, washed-out forewing lunules.

I also have a soft spot for female Common Blues, Paul, and yours are a lovely selection. I don't think any two are the same.

Dave

Thanks Janet, Goldie, Wurzel, David & Dave for your comments

Beautiful image of the Small White Paul! Couldn't be any more crisp and sharp!