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On friday 27th I went to the sand pit at Wrecclesham, nr Farnham in the hope of seeing the Glanville Fritillary, a first for me. After breifly surveying it on a google map and thinking i had got it all in my head as to where to go I ended traipsing around for quite a few miles through rough ground, farmer's fields, railway lines etc, before eventually concluding that a big quarry type site with a small lake had to be the actual site. Did I see any in my 3 hour trek? No, not a thing, not one butterfly of ANY description (despite it looking like a site which would support a number of species). Apart from a fair few bird species all that materialised on the insect front were a few hardy bumblebees; some scorpion flies and a cinnabar moth.
So could you advise me where it went wrong? Was the weather too cold (I had my jumper and coat on and I can't remember the last time that i did that this year)? If that was the case, I've heard it said that butterflies "hunker down" when it's cold, but where exactly do they do it?
Could it be that the season for Glanvill Fritillary was over, or worse still I was looking in the wrong place?

Looking forward to any replies that would shed light on this matter

I can only conclude having been there myself that if weather conditions were reasonable or better then you must have gone to the wrong place.

Did you encounter lots of large plastic tubing dotted about the site and robust sprinkler-type mechanisms?

If you didn't then you cannot have been in the right location.

Haing dropped in briefly this morning, in similarly cool, breezy and sunless conditions, I saw not a single GF in any of the places where I found them a week ago. All I found were two roosting Common Blues and a Large Skipper making itself as small as possible on a daisy.

Dave

There were still plenty there on wednesday including fresh ones so my guess is they were just hunkering down somewhere.

Haing dropped in briefly this morning, in similarly cool, breezy and sunless conditions, I saw not a single GF in any of the places where I found them a week ago. All I found were two roosting Common Blues and a Large Skipper making itself as small as possible on a daisy.

Dave

Thanks Dave. It seems that I was looking in the correct place but it was the weather conditions that did for me. Do you think I have a (last) chance if the weather warms up on Tuesday?

Susie wrote:There were still plenty there on wednesday including fresh ones so my guess is they were just hunkering down somewhere.

Any idea where butterflies "hunker Down" ? I don't think in all the times I've gone on a butterfly hunt, that i've encountered such a dead habitat. Perhaps I've been lucky in the past?


by David M » Sat May 28, 2011 6:12 pm
Did you encounter lots of large plastic tubing dotted about the site and robust sprinkler-type mechanisms?

Not sure, but just to erase any doubt that I might've chosen the wrong site, I went through a recreation ground, heading South West; along a tree lined track, through a fence into a field (lots of buried plastic tubing, then into a quarry (lake at bottom) bordered on its R/H side by a railway line ... which I took to be the site. After a fruitless seach and just to be certain I hadn't got the wrong area I crossed the railway and found my self in open fields of grass / farmland (again a seach didn't reveal anything). Back to the quarry and a seach along the banks where there were lots of plantains and vetches, but still no joy.

You were in the right place. I went across th rec, down the track past the allotments and over the fence into the meadow. The ox eyed daisy patches were full of butterflies including large skipper, common blue and brown argus.

Susie wrote:You were in the right place. I went across th rec, down the track past the allotments and over the fence into the meadow. The ox eyed daisy patches were full of butterflies including large skipper, common blue and brown argus.

Bad weather then? (and bad luck). What chance if it warms up?

N.B I'm fairly new to these message boards and i'm considering putting out a plea to scounge a lift (shared petrol; costs) from anyone who might be going from Surrey to Norfolk to see the Swallowtail next weekend. There seems to be a lot of Swallowtail activity at the moment and I'd love to see them, but I don't have the car (old peugeot 107) or the money (wife and two kids) to justify me doing it on my own. Where should I place this post?

Thanks

Phil

Philzoid wrote:I went through a recreation ground, heading South West; along a tree lined track, through a fence into a field (lots of buried plastic tubing, then into a quarry (lake at bottom) bordered on its R/H side by a railway line ... which I took to be the site. After a fruitless seach and just to be certain I hadn't got the wrong area I crossed the railway and found my self in open fields of grass / farmland (again a seach didn't reveal anything). Back to the quarry and a seach along the banks where there were lots of plantains and vetches, but still no joy.

Definitely the right place then.

Must have simply been too cool and overcast for them to fly, though I'm surprised you didn't disturb any whilst walking through the grass.

The main bulk of them are to be found amongst the Ox-Eye Daisies in the first field you come to after the track ends and you jump over the mesh fence (or what's left of it).

Yes, I think you probably walked passed the best place for them. If you go back check out the ox eyed daisies. I'd expect the glanvilles to be around for a while.

Perhaps but your request re swallowtails in general.

Perhaps but your request re swallowtails in general.

Thanks Susie

I'll give it a go. You never know?

I went back Wrecclesham today and what a different outcome. Within seconds of getting into the (top) field with the Ox-eyed daisies (thanks Susie) I had my first encounter with a Glanville Fritillary, or should I say two. They were in a courtship flight and soon paired up. Once paired they were easy to move onto an Ox-eyed daisy for photographing. The female looked fresh which bodes well for future visits. Later on more were encountered in the top field before I ventured into the (bottom field) quarry area. Word of advice here. Some of the terrain here is pretty inaccessible with inviting areas cut off by bramble and nettles and the ground pockmarked full of holes (which didn't do my gouty toes any good). Wear strong boots! Although I found a few frits on the left bank of the bottom field, the top field had larger numbers and is the best bet if all you want to do is see the butterfly and get photos.
Other butterflies seen were my first meadow browns of the season (including an immaculate dark chocolate brown male) Brown Argus; Common Blue; Small Heath and a lone Large Skipper. 'False alarms' were plenty due to the numerous Burnet Companion moths and my not so keen eyesight. One thing which was obvious and of slight concern, was the state of some of the vegetation which looked like it had been sprayed with weedkiller but which was just a consequence of the drought we've had this spring. If we don't get any substantial rainfall soon could this have a detrimental effect on the survival on next season's numbers?

For those of you who haven't been the Sandpit at Wrecclesham is a scenic sight (tarnished slightly by all the agricultural 'litter') but nevertheless definitely worth a visit. As Susie says and my findings suggest, the Glanvilles should be around for a while yet.

Thought I might show you the GF pics I obtained on the 30th (Hand held Nikon Coolpix digi camera)

Philzoid wrote:I'm fairly new to these message boards and i'm considering putting out a plea to scounge a lift (shared petrol; costs) from anyone who might be going from Surrey to Norfolk to see the Swallowtail next weekend. There seems to be a lot of Swallowtail activity at the moment and I'd love to see them, but I don't have the car (old peugeot 107) or the money (wife and two kids) to justify me doing it on my own. Where should I place this post?

Hi Phil,

sadly I work most weekends so can't help re the swallowtails, but regards cadging a lift to far away places I'd be happy to split costs and offer a seat for you. Usually it's just me and Sami in the car. Whereabouts in Surrey are you? Trips we plan include Cumbria for Mountain Ringlet, Dorset for Lulworth Skippers, East Blean Woods for Heath Frits now they're properly out, Black Hairstreaks in Cambs etc etc etc. Also a road trip into northern Scotland and overnighter in Ireland...phew!

PM me if you like?

Cheers,

Gibster.

Hi Gibster
Thanks for your offer. Please excuse my ignorance as to not knowing what "PM" means.
There are two species on your list which I havn't yet seen which are a possibility. The Lulworth skipper and the Black Hairstreak. WRT the Heath Fritillary i went to East Blean last year under my own steam (well my good lady's car (X reg Octavia which has now got 102K on the clock and has to last for quite a few years yet) so long butterfliy trips are out)) and it was a journey well worth making but one I'll decline this year.

By the way, I live in Woking. Should i leave you a contact phone number here or does 'security considerations advise/prohibits this sort thing?

Hiya Phil,

check your email. There'll be one from Pete at UKButterflies sending a notification of my PM to you. Then log back onto UKB and on the blue bar just beneath the UK Butterflies banner it will say User Control Panel (1 new message) Click on that and you'll find my PM! Easy mate

Philzoid wrote:Please excuse my ignorance as to not knowing what "PM" means.

Private Message.

Cheers,

- Pete