www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Things have been building up nicely so far in 2019, so unless we get a prolonged cool, miserable spell, I've a feeling May could be very productive....

My first Brown Argus of the year today on my local patch near Heathrow. In fact there were two, but only one of them posed for the camera. Unusual for me to see them here first, since I saw none at either Denbies or Mill Hill yesterday and the chalk of the North and South Downs is normally ahead of my patch. Dave

Yesterday (1st May), I took a leisurely stroll in cloudy weather around the local airport. I was delighted to see 4 Small Tortoiseshells, which served to boost my annual tally to 13 (normally it's 80+).
Not too much flying, unsurprisingly. A handful of Orange Tips, a couple of Whites, a Peacock and a few Green Hairstreaks, including this individual, who had the most continuous white line of all the ones I've seen so far this year:

Humming Bird Hawk Moth in my garden here in sunny Somerset. 04-05-2019

Humming Bird Hawk Moth in my garden here in sunny Somerset. 04-05-2019

3 male Common Blues, 1 Brown Argus, 3 Grizzled Skippers, 6 Dingy Skippers and at least 12 Small Coppers (I think the most I have seen in one place) at Denbies Hillside today.

Lee

On Saturday 4th May, I saw my first Wall Brown of 2019, in the cemetery at the foot of Kilvey Hill in Swansea.

This is a reliable spot for them and would probably be even more so if the authorities didn't insist on cutting the grass every other week!

I went to Aish Tor on Dartmoor today and had a nice little haul.

6 Pearl Bordered Fritillaries
2 Clouded Yellows
3 Green Hairstreaks
1 Small Heath,

I only got pics of the PB, everyone else was motoring around, high on sunshine! To be fair the SPB were unpredictable as well so these shots were hard won and there was no chance of moving for better angles!

I returned on 4th May from a week’s holiday on Isle of Mull where I formerly lived (2012-15).

Three species of butterfly seen (and possibly a fourth, Peacock) : Green veined White. Orange Tip and Small Tortoiseshell (one ST seen at 260 metres above sea level). The only significant change was that Orange Tip now occurs in the northeast of Mull where I never saw them before. Green-veined Whites remained, as before, the most numerous species including the adjacent Isle of Iona. This was the only place I took any butterfly photos. That is, as best I can manage, a reasonably natural colour reproduction. GVWs are quite heavily marked there and – maybe just an illusion – the antennae seem extraordinarily long.

Mull clearly has had quite a lot of forest clearance (normal forestry operations) so this might benefit species such as Small PB Fritillary. There is evidence (supported by some anecdotal information) that the climate has become significantly drier. Mind you, that wouldn’t be difficult: in my final 12 months living on Mull, I recorded an astonishing 2,600 millimetres of rain

Jack

Interesting address (property for sale)

3 bed detached house for sale Just added: Brimstone Way, Speckled Wood, Carlisle, Cumbria CA1

Jack

Jack Harrison wrote:Interesting address (property for sale)

3 bed detached house for sale Just added: Brimstone Way, Speckled Wood, Carlisle, Cumbria CA1

LOL! Yours for £200k!

I actually googled that, Jack, just to make sure you weren't up to mischief.

Sad thing is, I reckoned it might be an estate named upon a butterfly theme. It isn't, so I suspect 'Brimstone' and 'Speckled Wood' are arbitrary choices in random juxtaposition.

Abysmal weather up north but managed to get this ab striata Orange Tip this afternoon

I took these photos of the rare aberration ab: 'taras' in both male & female while they were mating at the annual fieldtrip on 5th May, 2019 led by Paul Browning & the once in a lifetime chance to witness a mating pair of Grizzled Skippers ab: 'taras' both extreme & both having their wings open whilst mating!! Fantastic afternoon with the excellent & friendly & very knowledgeable Cornwall Butterfly & Moth Society (CBMS). Perfect timing datewise for our fieldtrip with 20 people attending!! Well done everyone!! (y)
[img][/img]

lee3764 wrote:I took these photos of the rare aberration ab: 'taras' in both male & female while they were mating at the annual fieldtrip on 5th May, 2019 led by Paul Browning & the once in a lifetime chance to witness a mating pair of Grizzled Skippers ab: 'taras' both extreme & both having their wings open whilst mating!! Fantastic afternoon with the excellent & friendly & very knowledgeable Cornwall Butterfly & Moth Society (CBMS). Perfect timing datewise for our fieldtrip with 20 people attending!! Well done everyone!! (y)
[img]Grizzled%20Skippers%20%20ab%20taras%20mating%20Penhale%20Sands%205th%20May,%202019.%20Close%20up.jpg[/img]Grizzled Skippers ab 'taras mating Penhale Sands 5th May, 2019.jpg

Priceless photo's there Lee - fantastic!
I had the good fortune to visit Cornwall's taras site last year with Paul Browning and John Chapple - great place. Saw quite a few ab.taras but nothing quite as sensational as your photo's - great result!
Pete

petesmith wrote:

lee3764 wrote:I took these photos of the rare aberration ab: 'taras' in both male & female while they were mating at the annual fieldtrip on 5th May, 2019 led by Paul Browning & the once in a lifetime chance to witness a mating pair of Grizzled Skippers ab: 'taras' both extreme & both having their wings open whilst mating!! Fantastic afternoon with the excellent & friendly & very knowledgeable Cornwall Butterfly & Moth Society (CBMS). Perfect timing datewise for our fieldtrip with 20 people attending!! Well done everyone!! (y)
[img]Grizzled%20Skippers%20%20ab%20taras%20mating%20Penhale%20Sands%205th%20May,%202019.%20Close%20up.jpg[/img]Grizzled Skippers ab 'taras mating Penhale Sands 5th May, 2019.jpg

Priceless photo's there Lee - fantastic!
I had the good fortune to visit Cornwall's taras site last year with Paul Browning and John Chapple - great place. Saw quite a few ab.taras but nothing quite as sensational as your photo's - great result!
Pete

Yes Paul Browning led this trip yesterday. John Chapple wasn't there but Dave Spencer was & 20 people altogether! Just good fortune to see this but there were plenty of pairs of eyes looking so we made our own luck! They are not quite at their peak yet in my opinion Pete. All the best.......Lee

One hell of a Bank Holiday...
Saturday 14+ Pearls at Bentley including pair in cop and ab. intermedia Grizzled Skipper at Sidbury Hill
Martin Down yesterday Small Heath and a open wing shots of male and female Brimstone
Martin Down today open wing shots of male and female Holly Blue, 8 Small Coppers, my first Brown Argus of the year and Marsh Fritillary.All appearing in my PD around July time Have a goodun

Wurzel

Johnfosteruk wrote:I went to Aish Tor on Dartmoor today and had a nice little haul.

6 Pearl Bordered Fritillaries
2 Clouded Yellows
3 Green Hairstreaks
1 Small Heath,

Clouded Yellow is a fabulous sighting for this time of year, John. Mind you, PBFs are pretty desirable too.

Saw my first Common Blue of the year in Swansea on Saturday 4th:
Still plenty of Orange Tips, though Brimstones and vanessids are considerably on the wane.

lee3764 wrote:I took these photos of the rare aberration ab: 'taras' in both male & female while they were mating at the annual fieldtrip on 5th May, 2019 led by Paul Browning & the once in a lifetime chance to witness a mating pair of Grizzled Skippers ab: 'taras' both extreme & both having their wings open whilst mating!!

Phenomenal, Lee. Just seeing one is a treat but a mating pair is (correct me if I'm wrong) unheard of!

David M wrote: Clouded Yellow is a fabulous sighting for this time of year, John. Mind you, PBFs are pretty desirable too.

It rather took me by surprise and I did give chase but she wasn't stopping for anyone!
PBFs are lovely and Aish Tor is a wonderful site for Frits, I'll be paying many visits this summer.