Butterflies 2009

[Hazelnuts]

Hi there

I have been hearing about people seeing Butterflies around their gardens now.
Got my eyes peeled and I have thought I have already noticed one the other day, but it might have been leaves or similar (with all the wind we have been getting recently)

We had a Red admiral that we saved last year by placing it under a box so it would not feel cold in any way and continue its sleep. I hope it survived for this year, as these butterflies can live up to 18 months (most of the time asleep I hasten to add)

The box was placed on gravel stones so there would be gaps for the butterfly to get out if it wanted.

Anyone else had any 2009 luck yet? :)

[Hazelnuts]

Been on a few walks recently, and we have come across Brimstones, Red Admirals, Whites, Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells and Commas

Just a nice little selection of butterflies and we are looking forward to seein gosm emore in the near future - with our eyes peeled

Love to see a Meadow Brown (and many others as we do) as they are never difficult to see. We will no doubt see them when the Dragonflies and Damsels are sround once more (strange how you refer different species to the same time zone) :)

[Kerry L]

So far we have had brimstones (male and female). Tortoishell - I think, or a comma - it didn't stop long enough for me to see (didn't have my specs on either!:o). A blue - probably a Holly Blue - and the orange tips have started flitting around now.

[Hazelnuts]

Another super looking Orange tip fluttered through our garden today.

He was a large male and very attractive too. What a beauty.

I am glad that our nettle patch is looking very healthy now and many butterflies will appreciate it for what it is

[Hazelnuts]

Hi there

We have seen Speckled Wood 2 times recently and a Skipper though not sure what type? a picture would have been the best option for us.

[70007]

Hi Kate.

If you saw a skipper in April in Bedfordshire, it would be quite a rarity. Most skippers do not appear in adult form until June/July.

It must have been a grizzled skipper, which are dark with white spots on the wings, but they flap their wings so rapidly they seem more like a moth.

In my experience, a really fast flying "small tortoishell" sized butterfly is usually a comma.

[70007]

I have just seen a Painted Lady in the garden, plus 3 Speckled Woods so am feeling quite pleased at the moment.

[Hazelnuts]

I have just seen a Painted Lady in the garden, plus 3 Speckled Woods so am feeling quite pleased at the moment.

Hi 70007

Great to hear all of the butterfly activity in your garden.

Speckled Woods are just the most attractive, distinctive butterflies there are. We have only seen them in Nature Reserves.

Saw lots of Painted Ladies in Spain over the last 2 weeks. One plant had so many sitting on it, and one sat on my head. Never seen so many in my entire life.

It is great to hear that they are doing so well at the moment.

We have seen a Brimstone, or two flying through our garden too.

Regards
Kathy
x

[70007]

Apparently, the south to southeasterly winds are bringing painted ladies here in their millions, so you should see some very soon.

John

[Hazelnuts]

Apparently, the south to southeasterly winds are bringing painted ladies here in their millions, so you should see some very soon.

John

Hi John

Looking forward to that - not had them in Bedford yet!

Kathy
x

[70007]

The interesting time, after these mass migrations, is late July and August. The initial butterflies will breed and assuming there is a good healthy distribution of thistles, the caterpillars will pupate and turn into adults in a couple of months time.

We could then have them everywhere, as in 1997 (I think) when I had 17 Painted Ladies in my back garden at once, one afternoon.

[Hazelnuts]

The interesting time, after these mass migrations, is late July and August. The initial butterflies will breed and assuming there is a good healthy distribution of thistles, the caterpillars will pupate and turn into adults in a couple of months time.

We could then have them everywhere, as in 1997 (I think) when I had 17 Painted Ladies in my back garden at once, one afternoon.

Hi John

That sounds good, but as you say as long as it is for the good of the species.

Just got back form Menorca, Spain, and there was lots of Painted Ladies there too. Never seen so many in my life.

Some buttefly pictures from Spain

Picture 1 - Cleopatra's Brimstone
Picture 2 - Red Admiral
Picture 3 - Painted Lady

[70007]

I wonder if I have just seen a clouded yellow in the garden. Something paid a frustrating fleeting visit, as is often the case.

At first I thought it was a rather pale Brimstone, as it was about the right size but it did not look quite right, then I decided on a very pale Painted Lady but it did not seem to have the patterning on it.

Unfortunately, it never settled anywhere - nor did it come close enough for a more accurate attempt at identification.

I am hoping it was one though; certainly the conditions are right - hot and sunny with S-SE winds.

John

[Hazelnuts]

I wonder if I have just seen a clouded yellow in the garden. Something paid a frustrating fleeting visit, as is often the case.

At first I thought it was a rather pale Brimstone, as it was about the right size but it did not look quite right, then I decided on a very pale Painted Lady but it did not seem to have the patterning on it.

Unfortunately, it never settled anywhere - nor did it come close enough for a more accurate attempt at identification.

I am hoping it was one though; certainly the conditions are right - hot and sunny with S-SE winds.

John

Hi John

Yes, there is a good chance that you might have seen a Brimstone or a Clouded Yellow.

The males in both species are yellow as far as yellow goes. On the other hand the Females are a 'washed out' Pale Yellow. They look a different species all together.
So maybe that is what you have been seeing in your garden ;)

Also there is a chance that you have been seeing Green Veined White Butterflies (they are around now).

They look creamy white but you can see the tinge of green while they fly about

Great to see a picture John. :)

[70007]

Hi Kate,

It wasn't a Green Veined White; it was larger than that. It never got close enough for a detailed look.

I dont think it was a female Brimstone because it had some form of patterning and it was not the canary yellow of a male. I also wondered if it could have been a Marbled White but I have never seen one in this garden whereas I have seen the occasional Clouded Yellow.

Looking at a butterfly in flight is difficult because I am seeing the majority of the underside with just an isolated glimpse of the upper pattern mingled in, so it makes for a rather confusing picture.

Marbled White would probably be the more obvious candidate so early in the summer, which would be great but I havent seen it since, although I did see a Meadow Brown on the blackberry flowers along the fence.

It is in these really warm and sunny summers that I get my all time favourite, Silver Washed Fritillary. They are big and cant be confused with anything else.

And the Painted Lady caterpillars should be munching away at the thistles by now, so lets hope the weather doesn't disappoint.

Fingers crossed :)

John

[Hazelnuts]

hi john

Yes, lots of interesting butteflies about at the moment. We can see pale green.yellow butterflies and they want to land.

I have never seen a Marbled white yet and that would great to see.

Please let me know of any interestin gones that you find.

I have noticed Ringlets, Small Heath, Speckled
Wood, Gatekeeper, Skipper as some of the ones worth watching out for at the moment

[astracat]

Hi , i was just about to reply to your article regarding windy days in the garden, but i seem to have lost you but found you in another place so here goes--If you fill a sack [ small] with sand and place it on your bird table all around the bottom it will NEVER fall down again. I heard about this years ago and i use it all the time its just wonderful . So the money you save on repairs or new tables can be spent on our little garden friends !. Happy Tweet :p

[70007]

Today I saw a red admiral circling around in my back garden and sitting on leaves in the sun.

I felt very honoured considering it is the 20th Nov.

John

[Pine Marten]

I live in sw.england and i seen one on my walk today. Have read that it would not be unusuall to see in december.

Pine Marten.

[Hevva]

I've seen a couple here in the south east too in the last week. :)

[Hevva]

Sadly I know very little about butterflies, but whilst feeding my fish, a beautiful orange butterfly landed on the fir tree next to the pond. I tried, without success, to catch it for identification but it was quite large with pale brown markings on. Not a Painted Lady but around the same size. The sun is still quite warm today and it was flitting from branch to branch. Any ideas?

[70007]

Sorry this is a bit of a late response Hevva, but could it have been a Clouded Yellow?

John

[Hevva]

If I'm really honest, and being a senior member, I can't remember! I know that it was beautiful and I was amazed at the fact that it was still around at the end of November. I promise to pay more attention next time, but thanks anyway and looking at the photos, it could well have been. :)

[70007]

If I'm really honest, and being a senior member, I can't remember! I know that it was beautiful and I was amazed at the fact that it was still around at the end of November. I promise to pay more attention next time, but thanks anyway and looking at the photos, it could well have been. :)

I suspect that it was a Clouded Yellow, they are not uncommon during the Autumn in the southeast of England.

I am going to start a butterfly 2010 thread, to keep things nice and neat. :)

John