www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Well, that's been quite some month of May! Can June follow the same pattern?

Cawdor near Inverness 1st June
Orange Tips still flying.Local GV Whites can be unusual. I have seen a spotless male like this on Isle of Mull.Females often quite heavily marked. At nearby Cawdor Castle lake, 20 male Mandarins, one female with five ducklings. Just a sample.Jack

373 Small Blues today at Hutchinsons Bank, will i top 400 next week

MrSp0ck wrote:373 Small Blues today at Hutchinsons Bank, will i top 400 next week

Amazing statistic. I once counted 200-250 and thought that was impressive!

Lulworth Cove today and the Skippers are coming along nicely with double digits easily on one tiny section of pathways. There were also some really fresh Dingies, Common Blues, Brown Argus Painted Lady and an ovipositing Red Admiral. At Stairhole more Lulworths, a couple of Blues, Wall and a male and female Large Skipper amid the Lulworths.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

David M wrote:

MrSp0ck wrote:373 Small Blues today at Hutchinsons Bank, will i top 400 next week

Amazing statistic. I once counted 200-250 and thought that was impressive!

Thats only in a 10metre wide strip, and the other side of the valley is not included either. everytime i enter the numbers into UKBMS i get the "Small Blues are not normally seen in more than 20" box, this is for every section, it would be nice to have a remember answer on this box.

Jack Harrison wrote:...GVWhite Females often quite heavily marked.

That's really well marked, Jack. Looks almost like a Mountain Green Veined White.

Another Fritillary fest on Fairwood Common, Gower, on Saturday afternoon. At least two dozen of both Marsh and Small Pearl Bordereds seen, along with several Green Hairstreaks, a handful of Common Blues & Small Heaths, a Red Admiral, a Small White and even a rare June Brimstone!

Got into at least double figures of Glannies at Wrecclesham along with several Common Blues and a Brown Argus

Botany Bay at least 20, maybe more, Wood White - the last one of the day was actually in the car park Also a couple of Common Blues, Large Skipper, Green-veined White, 2 male and 3 female Brimstones, 2 Red Admirals and numerous Specklies

Have a goodun

Wurzel

A late afternoon visit to a local site ,mainly to have a look at the Common Spotted orchids that grow in profusion ,its also an excellent butterfly and insects (various ) site and I was very pleased to find several still on the wing . The blue on Lichen was from Dungeness on Sunday morning. Regards Allan.W.

I've seen several painted ladies in the Woodbridge region (Suffolk) over the last few days. I think others have been seeing them around the country too.



Guy

Blean Woods
I visited Blean Woods, west of Canterbury yesterday 3rd June and found 21 Heath Fritillary fairly scattered around the area.

PatMoore wrote:I visited Blean Woods, west of Canterbury yesterday 3rd June and found 21 Heath Fritillary fairly scattered around the area.

Excellent, Pat. I wonder whether this species will have as good a flight season as some of the slightly earlier species.

Hi Folks,
Some sightings from the East Midlands these last few days:

Arboretum, Evington, Leicester 01 June:
aegeria, argiolus, cardamines, c-album, urticae (caterpillar)
Small Tortoiseshell caterpillar (32 mm long) Brampton Wood 03 June:
sylvanus, aegeria, argiolus, brassicae, atalanta Monk's Wood 03 June:
pruni, aegeria, jurtina, c-album, cardamines, atalanta, icarus
Black Hairstreak
(thanks for the pointer - the person knows who he is) Glapthorn Cow Pastures 04June:
pruni, pruni (pupa), rapae, aegeria, cardamines
Black Hairstreak pupa Chris

So pleased you got your Black Hairstreak, Chris.

One of the few butterflies in the Midlands that you won't find near Marseilles!

On Tuesday 4th June I met up with Rosalyn P, Phil B, and Nick B in a not-so-secret glen to the west of Spean Bridge. We were well rewarded. I owe much of my success to the sharp eyes of the others. Chequered Skipper, a couple of Green Hairstreaks and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries as well as the ubiquitous Green-veined Whites.Habitat. Further down the glen near a bridge produced some newly emerged Frits and Skippers.I thank the other three for being so considerate to an 80 year-old dodderer.

Excellent photos Jack ,really envious of the Chequered Skippers in particular ,one of my "missing " species ,something I,m going to have to try and remedy ………………………...perhaps next season !
Regards Allan.W.

I presume this is an Adonis Blue Female AB;Krodeli? taken today at Hutchinsons Bank.

That is indeed what it looks like. These ab. krodeli individuals turn up not uncommonly in both sexes of Adonis on the sites along the North Downs.

Cheers,

Dave

Jack Harrison wrote:On Tuesday 4th June I met up with Rosalyn P, Phil B, and Nick B in a not-so-secret glen to the west of Spean Bridge. We were well rewarded. I owe much of my success to the sharp eyes of the others. Chequered Skipper, a couple of Green Hairstreaks and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries as well as the ubiquitous Green-veined Whites...

So glad you got to see them, Jack. Spean Bridge is quite a distance from where you live, isn't it?