www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Does anyone know if the High Brown Fritillaries are on the wing yet at AK?

Thanks.

just got back from arnside, very hot and sunny great day
NO high brown yet , loads newly emerged dark green and quite a few small pearl bordered, grayling, small heath, northern brown argus and scotch argus.

phil

Hot and sunny today??

GOLDENORFE wrote:... and scotch argus.

phil

And Scotch Argus? I didn't they were out yet...

Dave

YES, scotch argus, never seen them before. did not bother shooting them , thought they where just dark meadow browns
next time i guess!

here is a dark green frit, all looked stunning in the bright sun up north!!!!

That's unusual if Scotch Argus are out before High Brown but this year has certainly been an odd one.

I'd always thought Scotch Argus were late season butterflies.

That's what I thought too. End of July - I saw some of the first flush on 27th July two years ago.The current sighting would be about five weeks early in comparison.

Dave

Just had a look at the BC First Sightings log going back to 2002 - not 100% gospel, of course, but a good guide. In the last ten years, the earliest was 10th July (in 2009). There was no note of where this was.

Dave

Sure this wasn't Ringlet (though they're barely out in the south right now)?

The earliest I've found Scotch Argus at AK was 13th July with only two males emerged.

Here's one of them:
On the 1st August last year there were hundreds of them all over the Knott.

no not a ringlet , did see a few at whixall though while hunting for large heaths, which are numerous

no reason a couple of early ones emerged, its a strange year so far with the weather!

wish i had got a shot of one !

Phil, parking the Scotch Argus for a moment.

I am not wishing to doubt you - how could I, I'm a relative novice, but are you confident there were no HBF's? I guess I'm just hoping as I'm planning to go on Friday specifically for this little chap.

The reason I ask is threefold:-

1) They are of course difficult to identify on the wing, and based on the conditions you experienced I'm guessing they weren't landing much and showing their underwings.
2) Last year HBF's outnumbered DGF's at this site by about 10:1 - surprising as it may seem. This was from a reliable source.
3) Last year and the year before they were numerous by the 26th and 28th, (I can't remember which way round it was, but the dates are close enough for it not to matter). Between Arnside Knott and Warton Craggs there were "100 seen". Again, not me but a reliable source. I know we aren't at those dates yet, but I'd have thought a few would be around, especially given that everything is earlier this year. I was expecting loads by now.

What do others think in terms of any being around on the 24th?

Thanks.

Steve.

Lawts wrote:
What do others think in terms of any being around on the 24th?

I'd be amazed if they weren't on the wing right now. The High Browns in south Wales (which isn't hugely different in terms of climate) have been out for 3 weeks now.

CUMBRIA IS A LOT COLDER THAN SOUTH WALES !

HERE IS AN UNDERWING VIEW, DARK GREEN YES ?

PHIL

GOLDENORFE wrote:CUMBRIA IS A LOT COLDER THAN SOUTH WALES !

Arnside's in quite a protected spot though, tucked up in the estuary opposite Grange-over-Sands. I wouldn't have thought there'd be a tremendous variation in average temperatures, and I can say without fear of contradiction that conditions here in S. Wales have been decidedly ordinary since the beginning of May (except for those 3 glorious days at the start of June that everyone had).

PS: Lovely DG Frit photo. Why do they never settle wings shut like that for me?

It is a cracking shot - one of each like that and I'll be a happy chap!

Phil,
no need to shout! Great photos, as always from you . I admit I'd sort of got it in my diary to go to Arnside Knott for the Scotch Argus in August. Looks like some more re-scheduling will be in order when I get back from holidays.

In my opinion, although the High Browns have been out for several weeks at the Alun Valley (S Wales), they are certainly not out in good numbers yet, whereas the Dark Green Fritillaries are quite common at the moment. Perhaps the High Browns are sensibly waiting for the good July weather
Michael

There were excellent numbers of fresh High Browns last year on July 8th so I'm guessing this year maybe next weekend there could be HB's at Arnside.

HIGH BROWNS ARE OUT

went today 27th june, only positivly id 4 as dark greens are numerous but were probably alot more that i could not see underwings

phil