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Three Small Tortoiseshells in my garden this afternoon: a Bumper Crop!

Two small tortoiseshell, a comma and a few whites in the garden yesterday. At my nearby brown hairstreak site there was still no sight of them. I am concerned that the overgrown blackthorn bushes here are now not suitable for them. Pristine speckled wood, meadow browns and gatekeepers around though as well as some whites.

Rodborough Common, Gloucestershire. Belated report from last Thursday when I spent best part of a lovely warm summers day (sounds great does'nt it!) with hundreds of beautiful Chalkhill Blues. Having been rather busy with domestic matters over the past few weeks, butterflying adventures have had to be curtailed so it was great to get some quality time in with one of my favourite species, and to add to the enjoyment, I've not seen them in better numbers, strange how we can have countless Chalkhill Blue and yet I saw not a single Common Blue all day I really do hope the 2nd generation Common Blue is better than the first, come to think of it, I only saw six, so it can't get much worse, they've had an absolutely awful year up to now.

Among the other species seen were Small Skipper, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Small Copper, Small Blue, Brown Argus, Dark Green Fritillary, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet so quite a good day with 13 species seen. My years total for species now stands at a quite respectable 44, and considering the awful weather this year I'm rather happy with that total if a little disappointed not to have hit the half century I had hoped for when planning for this summer during those dark winter night...'best laid plans of mice and men'...

Bill

A_T wrote:Was passing near Llynclys Common at lunchtime so decided to drop in despite it being overcast and a bit drizzly. Really glad I did

Silver-washed Fritillary - 3-4 - still in good condition feasting on knapweed
Peacock - 4-6 - in pristine condition
Meadow Brown - numerous
Gatekeeper - numerous

Also Common Darter 1 male 1 female

The Silver-washed were magnificent but also something a little sad in watching these beautiful creatures live out the remainder of their lives - their function in life having been fulfilled.

I was in your neck of the woods over a week ago now, and found White-letter Hairstreak egg at Dolgoch Quarry. There is a considerable amount of wych elm present so the site probably supports a good colony.

Whitbarrow, Cumbria 14/8
Brimstone and Peacock in reasonable numbers.
Surprised to see a Large Skipper in fair condition.
One DGF, probably the last of the year.

At my friend's garden near Lancaster, plenty of Small Tortoiseshell larvae, mainly 4th and 5th instar. Saw about 40 - 50.

I think I've seen more Small Tortoiseshells in the last week than I did throughout the whole of 2011; this one is being admired by my dog who you can just make out through the vegetation : It's very much the butterfly of my childhood when they were very common. I'm sad to say that I'd all but forgotten just how beautiful they are. Fingers crossed that the recent increase in my sightings of them is the beginning of an upsurge in their numbers.


We also came across a Red Admiral: And this pair of Common Blues:

Really love the common blues - I am still waiting to find a female one

Debbie

Only two Torties seen here in NW Norfolk in the last weeks but numbers of Commas and Peacocks are still astonishing. I guess the wet early part of the summer kept the vegetation (nettles) lush providing those hungry caterpillars will all they need. Large Whites are more numerous than I have know for a long time. Large Skippers remain in good numbers in my garden.

It's be very different for me next year when I report from Tobermory, Isle of Mull. (I move there in early November). A Comma, while not totally impossible, would be a first for the island. The vendor of my next house while uncertain of her i/d, thinks North Browns (aka the dreadfully named Scotch Argus ) are casual visitors to the garden. Certainly Siskins breed nearby. It was a party of youngsters in the garden that sold the house! And if I have the patience to sit staring at the sky for long enough, I will see Golden Eagles. That makes the Buzzards here seem a bit old hat by comparison.

Jack

Nineteen (19) species at Aston Rowant today after managing to change my day off to avoid yesterdays rain.

Meadow Brown - hundreds
Chalkhill Blue - hundreds
Silver-spotted Skipper - dozens
Brown Argus - a couple of dozen or more.
Small Copper - a dozen or so.
Hedge Brown(Gatekeeper) - about a dozen.
Small Skipper - a dozen or so.
Brimstone - 4 males, 2 females.
Peacock - 6
Large Skipper - 4
Green-veined White - 4
Small White - 2
Large White - 1
Common Blue - 2
Small Tortoiseshell - 1
Speckled Wood - 1
Ringlet - 1
Small Heath - 1
Essex Skipper - 1 identified by photo.

We called in at Bernwwod Meadows on the way back on the chance of Brown Hairstreak. No luck with the BH but we did see a couple of faded female Silver-washed Fritillaries in the woods bringing our total for the day up to 20 species

Report and Photos as usual in my diary later when I get time.

Cheers,

NeilF.

Neilf[]

...our total for the day up to 20 species

Twenty is pretty good. I got 24 way back in 1976 and have never come amywhere near since. I believe Sussex Kipper once managed something approaching 30.

Jack

Hi Jack,
I got the full 30 at Newtimber Hill a few years back. It did include a Large Tortoiseshell though.
Neil

Hi

Please could I ask for everyone's opinion on this little skipper I spotted in the field at the back of our house? Are those tips black enough for Essex??





Thanks in advance

Chris

Hi Chris - the only way is Essex on that critter ID

Cheers,

- Pete

No question there! Nice shots!
Saw a few myself today, though a little aged and shabby... Also plenty of Peacock on Hemp Agrimony - always one or two, sometimes several around each patch.
A few MB and Gatekeeper too and....lots of Common Blue, eventually...

Here's a Small Tortoiseshell that brightened up my lunch break today :

Hoggers, are you deliberately taunting me You seem to be surrounded by Small Torts wherever you look and I have now taken to scouring folks' gardens as I walk pat in the hope of tracking one down In fact, I know exactly how Wurzel felt now when everyone else had seen a Green Hairstreak

It really is extraordinary Pauline but these last few days I've had them in my garden, on my dog walk ,seemingly all over. Wonderful to see ! I hope you catch up with one soon: I've seen the photographs you take and if anyone can do this butterfly justice it's you!

A bit belatedly, can I report a visit to Aberbargoed grasslands, Sunday, 5 August , 13.00 to 16.00 hrs. Much wetter than this time in previous years ( hardly surprising ! ), the grass much more luxuriant. Meadow Brown 20 +, Hedge Brown 20 +, Grayling 30 +, Ringlet 4, Speckled Wood 4, Large White 2, Gr veined White 2. Despite the grasslands being bordered by numerous Oaks I failed to see any Purple Hairstreak.

With a weeks leave from 13 August I decided to go south, to Wurzel country. First stop, Sat 11 August, Alners Gorse from 10.00 to 13.00. Meadow Brown and Hedge Brown in profusion, Ringlet and Speckled Wood high teens each, Small Skipper 3, Marbled White 2, Large White, Small White, Gr veined White, Red Admiral, 1 of each. Despite my best efforts I could find no Hairstreaks of any colour ( Brown, Purple and White letter are all found here ). Best sightings were of Emperor Dragonfly by the small pool ( not so small this year either ) and Spotted Flycatcher living up to its name and perching on the 2 dead saplings on the left hand side of the path on the way down. So, on to Fontmell Down. Quite windy here, the downs revealed only Meadow Browns and Hedge Browns. The lane from the car park down to the small quarry had Gr veined White, Large White and Brimstone 2, the quarry itself had 2 Small Blue males on the chalk bank, and 2 Small Skipper on trefoil. Then on to Salisbury where I`d booked a B & B. A quick visit to Bentley Wood, arriving 17.00, really just to see what entries were in the sightings book. I walked down the switchback to the crossroads and scanned the Oaks, again hoping to see PH. Didn`t see any but instead at 17.20 had a male Purple Emperor flutter down from the tree top ( I thought at first it was a leaf falling ) before swooping back up, over the tops of the oaks and away. Not a bad substitute and how late in the day, and season, for this.
Sun 12 August, Martin Down. Hot and humid. Dark Green Frits 13 perhaps 14, most now very worn, Chalkhill Blue, not the numbers seen at Sussex sites but 20 or so, Small Heath 8-10, Small Copper 3, Meadow and Hedge Browns in profusion, Peacock 2, Common Blue 1, Brimstone 1 and Brown Argus 1. Back to Bentley Wood mid afternoon. The usual woodland species including Silver washed Fritillary 6-8. No White Admiral or PH seen and no further sighting of PE.
Monday 13 August. Down to Durleston Country Park, Swanage. Had about 1 hour here before the rain set in but did see Lulworth Skipper 6, Marbled White 5, and again Meadow and Hedge Browns too numerous to count. Only 1 blue seen, a Common. From mid day the day was a wash out so butterflies were out and birding was in at Pennington marshes before heading back, soaked, to Salisbury. I did locate the Night Heron thats been here since June so the afternoon wasn`t a complete waste of time.
Tuesday 14 August. Left Salisbury and re-traced my steps at Fontmell Down and Alners Gorse. At the former, I saw 1 ( ! ) Silver spotted Skipper to add to the list. What has happened to this species here ? Alners Gorse gave me nothing new except a possible White letter Hairstreak at the top of a Wych Elm. A brief one-second glipse and it was gone and I failed to re-locate it. So I left at 17.00 hours for home still Black, Brown and Purple Hairstreak-less for 2012 !.
A warning for anyone visiting Alners Gorse. The house opposite the entrance to the reserve ( Common Farm ) has beehives in the garden only 10-12 feet from the road. When I got back to my car and got my sandwiches and coffee out, I was surrounded by bees. I had to dash into the car and then noticed the hives with the bee-keeper, fuuly dressed in protective outfit, having lifted the top off and removed the honey comb. Didn`t know that going butterfly-ing needed a Health & Safety certificate !
Sorry I`m no photographer, I do appreciate all the wonderful photos that other members submit. Even Philzoids photos of Brown Hairstreak which left me green with envy. And back in Glamorgan its back to the rain, but maybe a bright weekend to come. If so I`ll be out again.

Jenks

Very comprehensive report Gareth (Jenks) hope you enjoyed your break. Of particular interest was your Fontmell Down and Alners Gorse information, I was considering a visit to these sites tomorrow, especially as there's some sunshine promised Could it have possibly been a bit too cool for any Silver-spotted Skipper sightings? I've usually been fortunate enough to see them at Fontmell when the temperatures were more conducive to their needs, but like lots of other species this season has been difficult

I must now decide whether to venture forth tomorrow, Silver-spotted Skipper and Brown Hairstreak beckon, strangely no one seems to have mentioned Brown Hairstreak at Alners Gorse on the sightings pages yet (unless I've missed something?) I'd also like to get some better quality photographs of Silver-spotted Skipper, the ones I've taken up to now leave quite a bit to be desired

Best Wishes,
Bill