Collard Hill

[MikeOxon]

It was blisteringly hot on the slope at Collard on Sunday (26th June).

Although there were lots of visitors, the area absorbed them with ease. Most headed for the main slope, where the Large Blues were extremely active, offering little scope for photography. The quarry, close to the entrance gate, offered better opportunities and I was lucky to find a mating pair in that area. Compared to previous visits, the buterflies are now ranging much more widely across the site.

Collard Hill (quarry) - 26 June 2011

As a bonus, the warden pointed out the locations of several Wasp Orchids, which are an unusual form of the Bee Orchid.

Collard Hill - 26 June 2011

My son had brought some pheromone lures and we successfully attracted several Six-belted Clearwing moths.

Other butterflies on the site included abundant Meadow Browns, Large Skippers, Marbled Whites, Ringlets, and Common Blues. There were also a few vanessids, including Small Tortioiseshell and Comma.

Mike

[Wildmoreway]

I am planning on making a visit here during the last week in June, have there been any Large Blue sighting so far theis year?

[David M]

They've been out for jut over a week:

http://ntlargeblue.wordpress.com/

[Wildmoreway]

A subtle irony is that I am likely to get my first sighting of a Large Blue before my first sighting of a Small Blue when I have two known (but inaccesible) colonies of the latter within about a mile of where I live.

[selbypaul]

How long are the Large Blue likely to be out for? I'm likely to be in the area on the 13th July, so just wondering if they'll still be about then?
Paul

[David M]

You may be pushing it there.

Take a look at this page for earliest/latest emergence:

http://ntlargeblue.wordpress.com/2011-in-review/

[selbypaul]

You may be pushing it there.

Take a look at this page for earliest/latest emergence:

http://ntlargeblue.wordpress.com/2011-in-review/

Very useful link, thanks David