** July & August 2006
Archive **
(Photos
have been removed to save space.)
Thursday
31st August 2006
David Redhead reports on the status of the 2006 Brown Hairstreak
season so far:
“At the end of August we have 117 reported sightings of Brown Hairstreak
adults - all bar seven from the six core areas - Whitecross Green/Asham Meads 59, Bernwood Forest complex 19,
Piddington/Arncott area 17, Otmoor 8, Ludgershall/Rushbeds area 5, Span Green
area 2. The seven non-core area sightings range from meadows
near Bicester in the north to a copse near Waterperry in the south. The
females, many of them still very fresh looking, have been laying eggs on the
blackthorn for just over three weeks (67 eggs found to date) but at times they
can still be seen in ash, oak and elm trees along with the occasional male.
However numbers do seem to be down this year as by the same time last year 161
adults had been sighted. Please send any reports of sightings to UTB Brown
Hairstreak Champion, David Redhead on red.admiral@ntlworld.com.”
Dave Wilton managed 90 minutes in the Dorton area on Thursday 31st August: “I found quite a few Brown Hairstreak eggs, 7 fresh this year's and two last year's empty shells, but no sign of any adults despite much staring at ash trees. The sun did come out for a bit and there was some butterfly activity, but Small White, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Comma and Speckled Wood were the only ones seen.” Dave also sent these photos of a Red Admiral caterpillar and pupa, found at a site near Bicester on 1st September 06
Dennis Dell visited Laplands Farm Meadows on Wednesday afternoon,
30th August: “Speckled Woods, Meadow Browns, Small Heaths, Common Blues, Brown
Argus [one only], Clouded Yellows [three, including a deformed
specimen which had difficulty flying, hence the photo below]; one Hairstreak at
the top of an Ash; impossible to tell whether it was a Purple or a Brown.”
Dave Ferguson sent news of another Camberwell
Beauty sighting on Wednesday 30th August, this time in Bucks: “There was a Camberwell Beauty in
Prestwood feeding on rotten plums this
morning. It was found by a friend of mine, Leon de Muynck and photographed by
Angela de Muynck. I looked for it this afternoon but without success.”
[Click here to go to the third Camberwell Beauty
sighting.]
Paul Olive
has had another visit by the Camberwell Beauty to his garden in Newbury (see
his report of 29th August below): “The Camberwell Beauty was
back in my garden on Tuesday 29th
and this time I managed to get a wings-open photo whilst it rested on a garden
bench. Result is below - pretty good, but still hand-held camera - I was about
to take another using a tripod but was just too late...”
[Click here to go to the second Camberwell Beauty
sighting.]
On Wednesday 30th
August David Redhead sent the following report: “For the first
time this summer I decided to don a jumper for the morning dog walk and I was
glad of it. So I was surprised to see a Speckled Wood already active at
7.55am in the lower reaches of the ash trees in the Rivermead
Nature Reserve, admittedly they were in full sun. In the afternoon,
from 4 - 5.15pm at Shotover Meadows (19C
sun) I went looking for Brown Hairstreak but no joy and no eggs - 2 good
condition Small Copper, a tired Common Blue and a tatty Large
White was all that I managed.”
Chris Brown’s update on his survey of the Silver-washed Fritillary colony at Crowsley Park Wood for 29th August follows: “18°C cloudy/sunny - a mild day with light breezes, some sunny periods and occasional short showers. Sorry to say this, but no Silver-washed Fritillary seen despite searching the whole access track and waiting around the buddleia for about 20 minutes. There were other butterflies around so the weather was favourable. I guess those last two males wore out (see Chris’s report and photos of 22nd August). Still there was a bonus with 2 Hummingbird Hawk Moths still visiting the buddleia, arriving from the deciduous forest to the north. 2 more were seen on the way back to work.”
Dave Wilton went to Piddington Wood and surrounding area on Tuesday 29th August looking for Brown Hairstreaks: He arrived at 2.15pm and then had to sit in the car for three quarters of an hour waiting for the rain to stop! However, he did manage to find 5 Brown Hairstreak eggs during his subsequent walk, although there was no sign of any adults. The only butterflies seen were Red Admiral (1), Comma (4) and Speckled Wood (4).
Tuesday
29th August 2006
29th August - Following the exciting news that a Camberwell Beauty had been seen in the UTB area last week, a second sighting has just been received from Paul and Kate Olive in Newbury: “I thought you may like to know that we have seen a Camberwell Beauty in our garden in Newbury, Berkshire, on Friday 25th, Saturday 26th and Monday 28th August. I managed to get a photo (see top of this page). We have quite a large garden with several plum trees, all of which are laden this year, so I guess we have these to thank for attracting the Camberwell Beauty.”
[Click here to go to the first Camberwell Beauty sighting.]
David Redhead sent the following update on the Brown Hairstreak season
as at 29th August: “We now have 104 reported sightings of Brown Hairstreak
adults - all bar one from the six core areas - Whitecross
Green/Asham Meads 51, Bernwood Forest
complex 20, Piddington/Arncott area 16,
Otmoor 9, Ludgershall/Rushbeds
area 5, Span Green area 2.
The non-core area sighting was on the edge of the known range in some meadows
near Bicester. The females, many of them
still very fresh looking, have been laying eggs on the blackthorn for nearly
three weeks now (41 eggs found) but at times they can still be seen in
ash, oak and elm trees along with the occasional male. However numbers do seem
to be down this year as, by the end of August 2005, 161 adults had been
sighted.” Click here to see the
Distribution Map.
Please send any reports of sightings to UTB Brown Hairstreak
Champion, David Redhead on red.admiral@ntlworld.com.
Mick
& Wendy Campbell spent a couple of hours walking footpaths in an area to
the north of Ickford today, 29th, looking for Brown Hairstreak. In a sheltered corner of one field, where
they had found eggs in 2005, they saw 2 female Brown Hairstreaks, one of
which was egg-laying on Blackthorn. The only other butterflies recorded were Speckled
Wood (6) and singletons of Comma, Small Heath and Common Blue.
Dave Wilton spent three hours on the trail of the Brown Hairstreak on Monday afternoon, 28th: “First port of call was the M40 bridge between Waterperry and Wheatley. In the young copse to the east of the motorway I found a Brown Hairstreak egg and then, in a group of small ash trees, a female Brown Hairstreak perching on a sheltered leaf just before a shower passed through. 25 minutes later, when the downpour had come to an end, she was still perched on the same leaf with wings closed and antennae facing forwards together. I stayed watching her for another 15 minutes, during which time she remained in the same spot even though the sun had come out. Another female started flying around the next-door ash and ended up perched on top of the tree with wings open, sunning herself. Her movement didn't distract the first female, which was still in the same spot when I left. Next stop was the M40 bridge between Worminghall and Waterperry Wood where I found three eggs very quickly, two on the east side of the bridge and one on the west side. One very battered Purple Hairstreak was recorded here, along with Brown Argus (9), Common Blue (6) and Comma (1). Final stop was the Touchbridge end of Span Green. It was dull for most of the time that I was there although blue sky was visible in the distance all around. The only butterfly to brave flying in the strong wind was a single Speckled Wood. However, I did manage to find two Brown Hairstreak eggs.
Dave Ferguson went for a walk around some sites to the west of High
Wycombe, Bucks, Sunday morning 27th August and recorded the
following:
Buttlers Hangings: Silver-spotted Skipper (6), Brown Argus (8), Chalkhill Blue (6), Common Blue (4), Meadow Brown (17).
Hearnton Wood: Speckled Wood (4).
Buddleia at Nobles Farm: Painted Lady (1), Hummingbird Hawk-moth (1).
On Friday 25th August Francis Gomme’s ramble through
Whitecross Green Wood produced 5 Brown Hairstreaks, Common Blue, lots of
fresh Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Comma and Red Admiral.
Saturday
26th August 2006
Further to reports on the BC Herts & Middlesex branch website (and in particular read the report dated 21st August from Dutch Butterfly Conservation) of recent sightings of the Camberwell Beauty, the following exciting news was received from Nicky Jones today, 26th August: “Thought you might like to know that some work colleagues and myself have spotted a Camberwell Beauty feeding on a plum tree on Monday 21st August and again on 22nd August, in Marcham, nr Abingdon, Oxfordshire. ” It was reported to be in excellent condition, very dark on the underside and with beautiful blue markings on the topside with very prominent pale yellow wing margins.
[Please keep your eyes peeled for further sightings of
this rare migrant
! Click
here for more information and a photo of the Camberwell Beauty.]
Friday
25th August 2006
Mike Mobbs sent the following report yesterday, 24th August: “I went to Bradenham Hillsides this afternoon. Windy and cloudy start but sunshine when I reached the main butterfly areas. Two hours walking and wandering produced 14 species: a single male Silver-washed Fritillary (a first for me in this area after twenty years!); Painted Lady 3; Red Admiral 1; Comma 1; Meadow Brown 54; Small Heath 14; Speckled Wood 5; Common Blue 73; Brown Argus 12; Small Copper 2; Brimstone 2; Large White 4; Small White 6; Green-veined White 4. Also seen: 3 Hummingbird Hawk-moths. On Tuesday 22nd we saw eight Silver-washed Fritillary at the famous buddleia in Wendover Woods.
David Redhead spent a couple of hours in the Meadows at Shotover on
Thursday afternoon, 24th, looking for Brown Hairstreak but without
success: “Not
even a Purple – but I did manage Common Blue, Brown Argus, Small Copper,
Meadow Brown and Small White. Also some Large White in Oxford this morning and a Comma when
taking the dog for a walk at 6pm. So species total for the day was 7.
Then this afternoon, 25th I went to Marston Meadows. There was hardly anything about and definitely no Brown Hairstreaks but on my return journey I had a nice bonus - my first UTB Clouded Yellow of the year! Then I went to the eastern end of Shotover Plain where some eggs were found in the winter. I got out of the car near a large wild buddleia and there were five Red Admirals on it. Again no Brown Hairstreaks but another small buddleia had a Humming-bird Hawk Moth. Final species count was 6: Clouded Yellow, Red Admiral, Large White, Comma, Speckled Wood and Holly Blue. Wendy said there had been a Comma & Peacock in the garden while I had been out - our buddleias have gone inactive.”
Dave
Ferguson went to Yoesden Bank on Wednesday 23rd August and recorded: Adonis Blue m. (14), Chalkhill Blue m.
(30), Adonis/Chalkhill Blue f. (60), Common Blue (30), Brown
Argus (8), Meadow Brown (30), Small Heath (1), Common
Carpet (1).
News has just been received from Debbie Lewis, BBOWT, confirming that Silver-studded Blue has been seen in the UTB area this year at Broadmoor Bottom, just over the road from Wildmoor on 30th June 2006 (5 males) and 11th July 2006 (4 males and 1 female - observed ovipositing on bell heather).
On 22nd August Chris Brown sent his latest update on the Silver-washed Fritillary colony at Crowsley Park Wood: “A warm day on 22nd with very light breezes and quite humid, 21C. Mostly cloudy with frequent sunny spells. Generally a lot less butterflies of other species now and only 2 Silver-washed Fritillary males holding on. In fact if it were not for the buddleia, which they were both regularly coming back to, it would have probably been the end for them by now I assume. There are very few alternative nectar sources, just a few late bramble flowers and some small purple thistle type flowers. In fact this buddleia has been a boon in other ways too. Much to my delight there were 3 Hummingbird hawk moths there this week and I have seen another 1 on 2 separate days at home too. I guess the same ones still hanging around but that makes 9 observations in total I have seen this, and only this year. Both male SWF in very bad condition as pictures below show.”
Phil Coles went to Shirburn Hill (‘Open Access Land’) on August 22nd
2006: “Weather
moderate – Silver-spotted Skipper 1, Brown Argus 2, Common
Blue 21, Peacock 1, Meadow Brown 45, Small Heath 6.”
Dave Wilton sent this report on 22nd August: “After work today I spent a couple of hours walking from Dorton, Bucks to Chinkwell Wood and back and, yet again, had no sign of Brown Hairstreak anywhere. It was particularly disappointing not to find anything around the small copse near Spa Farm where I found 60+ eggs last winter. However, there are a huge number of young ash trees there and you can only spend so much time looking skyward without getting permanent neck damage! Butterflies seen comprised Large White (1), Green-veined White (1), Small Copper (1), Brown Argus (1), Common Blue (1), Holly Blue (1), Painted Lady (1), Speckled Wood (26, the majority inside Chinkwell Wood), Gatekeeper (1), Meadow Brown (2) along with moths Shaded Broad-bar (1), Magpie (1) & Mother of Pearl (1). Back home at Westcott the buddleias were hosting Large White (2), Small White (1), Red Admiral (5) and Hummingbird Hawk-moth (2).”
Monday
21st August 2006
Jan
Haseler sent the following report today: “On Saturday 19th
August 10 male Adonis Blues and a Clouded Yellow were
seen on the Reading and District Natural History Society field trip to The Holies (near Lardon Chase).”
Late afternoon on Thursday 17th August after the weather had cleared, Mick & Wendy Campbell decided to visit Yoesden Bank, Bucks, for second brood Adonis Blue. During several sunny spells, 7 fresh male Adonis Blue were seen along with numerous Chalkhill Blues - male & female (too many to count, but estimated to be 100-200) including a mating pair. Other species seen were Clouded Yellow (2), Brown Argus (6), Meadow Brown (5), Small Heath (5), Common Blue (good numbers – 50+), Painted Lady (3 pristine). One very worn 6-spot Burnet moth was also recorded.
Then on Monday afternoon 21st,
despite the poor weather outlook, they went on a 5 mile circular walk, starting
at Holton, in Oxfordshire, and taking in Waterperry Wood (next to Bernwood
Forest). Seven butterfly species were recorded in the fields
from Holton but only in low numbers due
to the cool and cloudy conditions. Fortunately the weather improved
dramatically by the time they reached the centre of Waterperry Wood and the
butterflies became very active - eleven species were seen here. The most
numerous was Speckled
Wood, 11 of
which were recorded in the dappled shade of the woodland rides. 10 Brown
Argus (which seems to be having a good year) were recorded down the edges
of the main ride where there are plenty of wild flowers available as a nectar
source (ragwort, fleabane and hemp agrimony). A nice surprise was Purple
Hairstreak (3) still fairly active in one of the very small Oak trees. On
the return leg of the walk, across mainly arable fields with “set-aside”
margins, a Clouded Yellow and finally a single, pristine Small
Tortoiseshell. The full list of butterflies (a total of 17 species for the
afternoon) was as follows: Brown Argus (10), Clouded Yellow (1), Comma (1), Common
Blue (9). Gatekeeper (3), Green-veined White (2), Holly
Blue (1), Large White (2), Meadow Brown (4), Painted Lady (3),
Purple Hairstreak (3), Red Admiral (3), Small Copper (2), Small
Heath (2), Small White (2), Small Tortoiseshell (1), Speckled Wood
(23). Moths were: Silver-Y (2) & Magpie moth (1 – in pristine
condition).
Thursday
17th August 2006
Chris Brown sent the following update for the Crowsley Wood site where he is monitoring the Silver-washed Fritillary colony: “Tuesday 15th was a mild to warm day with very light breezes, 22C, mostly cloudy with occasional sunny spells. I was pleasantly surprised to still see Silver-washed Fritillary. All were quite active. Females feeding on bramble flowers & males on the buddleia, settling for up to 30 seconds at each pit stop. Two females were still in good condition whereas all the males were ragged. One was in such a state that half of the entire hind wings from the rear edge was just a skeleton support with all of the wing scales missing, holes showing where the black spots should have been, but still able to fly okay! Total recorded: 7 (4 male, 3 female). Also seen were two Hummingbird Hawk-moths.”
On Tuesday 15th
August Mick & Wendy Campbell did a circular walk from Asham Meads, taking
in part of Otmoor, in search of Brown Hairstreaks. The weather
was cloudy and cool with brief intervals of sun. At Asham
Meads, however, the Brown Hairstreaks were very active during
the short bursts of sun and a total of 10 individuals were seen (male &
female), mostly flying in the tops of Ash and Elm trees. Three more were
recorded on the remainder of the walk, one female a mile south-west of Asham
Meads, another two females to the west of Horton-cum-Studley.
Other species seen were: Meadow Brown, Red Admiral, Small Copper, Speckled
Wood, Small White, Common Blue, Comma, Gatekeeper, Green-veined White, Painted
Lady, Peacock.
Phil Coles surveyed Shirburn Hill (‘Open Access Land’) on August 15th. The weather was poor but the
following were seen: Silver-spotted Skipper 1, Common Blue 3, Meadow
Brown 39.
On Saturday afternoon 12th August, in less than ideal conditions, David Redhead ran a butterfly identification and recording session in Bernwood Forest for four BBOWT members to assist them in carrying out butterfly transects on BBOWT reserves: “As we left the main car park nothing was flying, but a patch of Fleabane proved productive with a Painted Lady, Ringlet, a couple of Gatekeepers, a Small or Essex Skipper (these are not expected to be differentiated on a transect) and a Common Blue all nectaring on it. As we moved on several Common Blues were seen in flight and then one of the trainees pointed out another blue - to my amazement there was a Chalkhill Blue sitting on a bramble leaf - actually a bit embarrassing as my intro chat had included Chalkhill Blue on the wing but not here. As one of the other trainees remarked "Never say never". Presumably a vagrant but it must have flown an awful long way. A small ash tree provided another excellent identification display. A movement was noticed in the top by another of the trainees but before the rest of us could raise our eyes there was a commotion towards the bottom of the tree with about half a dozen butterflies chasing one another around. When everything had settled back down there before our eyes was a male Brown Hairstreak surrounded by four Purple Hairstreaks! Our final success was on another patch of Fleabane - a nectaring male Silver-washed Fritillary. So my concerns about a lack of butterflies to identify was totally unfounded with 14 species seen - Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Green-veined White, Small White and Red Admiral in addition to those already mentioned. The non-ideal conditions meant that most were not very active which allowed the trainees to get a really good look at them. So a very worthwhile session especially as it produced the 64th reported Brown Hairstreak sighting in the UTB area."
Saturday
12th August 2006
Phil Coles went to Shirburn Hill (‘Open Access Land’) on August 11th
2006: “Weather
poor – Silver-spotted Skipper 10, Small White 1, Green-veined
White 1, Common Blue 1, Marbled White 1, Meadow Brown 36.”
On his transect at Coombe Hill near Wendover on 11th August Nick Bowles recorded 3 Silver-washed Fritillary: “This species is new to the reserve list. I suspect that there were only two Silver-washed Fritillary there and one was seen twice in two different sections. I know there were at least two as after I saw the first I came across two males spinning about each other.”
David Redhead sent the following Brown Hairstreak update on 10th
August: “By
close of play on the 8th August the
reported Brown Hairstreak sightings totalled 59 (compared to 61 in 2005
on the same date). 30 have been seen up in oak (an unusually high proportion),
19 up in ash, 8 down on blackthorn and 4 nectaring (3 on wild angelica and 1 on
bramble flowers). Females now egg-laying - see previous reports for further
details of many of these sightings.”
Please
report any sightings to the UTB Brown Hairstreak Champion, David Redhead on red.admiral@ntlworld.com
Thomas Merckx reports seeing a male Silver-washed Fritillary foraging on buddleia at Tubney House, Tubney (SU4398) on the 9th August.
Graham Elcombe visited Aston Rowant Nature Reserve on 9th August: “Despite (relatively)
cool and cloudy weather, Silver Spotted Skippers were present in good
numbers. In several places, I saw four or five at once within a few square
yards.”
Chris Brown continued his survey of Silver-washed Fritillary at Crowsley Park Wood on 8th August in clear and sunny weather: “The Silver-washed Fritillary were quite active, settling for up to 15 seconds at each pit stop. Most males are quite ragged now, a couple of them were better, being barely nibbled. One looked nearly new. Again, all males were flying along the central track throughout its length but clustering around a self sown buddleia at the far end. There were 6 males on occasion squabbling over this bush. A female visited briefly, was mobbed and then headed straight for the interior of the conifer forest. I also saw a second female come out of the conifer forest, in what must have been a 50 yard flight, land on the bare earth, sit there for about a minute with wings open flat to the ground, then fly straight back into the forest for at least the same distance in the same direction until I lost sight of it. I got the impression this was just to warm-up as there was no interest in any of the nectar sources nearby.”
On 8th August Wendy & Mick Campbell visited a site near Bicester where they were pleased to record 13 butterfly species, including a female Brown Hairstreak. It spent 15+ minutes sitting quietly on blackthorn, occasionally sunning itself and then laid a single egg before flying up into a nearby Ash tree. Other species seen were: Common Blue, Gatekeeper, Brimstone, Brown Argus, Purple Hairstreak, Holly Blue, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Small Skipper, Meadow Brown and three Small Copper. Late afternoon they called into Lapland Farm Meadows. In the Ash trees at the end of the railway bridge there were several Hairstreaks, 3 definite Purple Hairstreaks and 1 definite Brown Hairstreak. No Hairstreaks were seen along the hedgeline through the meadow as far as the big Oak & Ash trees in the corner. A single Small Heath brought their species count for the day up to 14.
On Sunday 6th August Paul Bowyer led a joint UTB / BBOWT Field
Meeting at Homefield Wood: “On a field trip for butterfly conservation the following 19
butterfly species were identified: Silver Washed Fritillary (7), Clouded
Yellow (2), Brown Argus (20+), White-letter Hairstreak (1),
Small White, Large White, Brimstone, Green-veined White, Large Skipper,
Essex Skipper, Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood,
Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Comma, Peacock.”
Thanks to Paul Bowyer (UTB) and Phillip Pratt (BBOWT) for a very enjoyable
event.
Wednesday
9th August 2006
Dave Ferguson went to Pitstone Hill on 8th August and recorded: “30+ Brown Argus, 20 Chalkhill Blue, 20 Common Blue. I have never seen so many Brown Argus in one place! Then at Ashridge (Bucks section): 2 Hummingbird Hawk-moths. One was feeding on a Bottlebrush Buckeye bush. Today, 9th, at Little Marlow Gravel Pit: 6 Brown Argus, 10 Common Blue, Small Copper. I have never seen Brown Argus at this site before.”
Ched George reports a single Clouded Yellow in Radnage on the 8th August and
another 2 Clouded Yellows on Turville Hill (Cobstone
Hill) today, August 9th.
David and Sally Irven of Northants Branch sent this report on 8th August: “Over the week end we walked round Bernwood forest and meadows. On Saturday 5th in the wood we saw a male Brown Hairstreak nectaring on wild angelica and a female flying and settling on Oak and blackthorn. Two females were seen, on Sunday 6th, the first female was flying and then basking in the wood and the second was a very fresh female just sitting on blackthorn in the meadow.”
Becky Woodell reports seeing a Silver-washed Fritillary at Whitecross Green Wood on 8th August.
Maureen Cross saw 82 second brood Adonis Blue on a quick walk across Lardon Chase on Tuesday afternoon, 8th, and wondered if this is a record for the site.
Please email Maureen, UTB Adonis Blue Species Champion, with all Adonis sightings.
Melvyn Jones sent this news on 7th August: “I'm writing to confirm the presence of Silver-washed Fritillary at Little Linford Wood, a BBOWT reserve near Gayhurst, just north of Milton Keynes. I reported a sighting last year and checked for the presence of violets (their foodplant) in the wood this spring - the plant is present across much of the reserve. I saw them again yesterday after recent reported sightings by others. In both years numbers seen were small - over my regular transect I saw 2 last year and 4 this, although being quite strong fliers I cannot guarantee the absence of double-counting. Also, I saw a Clouded Yellow on Saturday, 5th August at Hazeley Wood, a Milton Keynes Parks Trust property on the west flank of MK.”
David Redhead sent the following report on 7th August: “On Sunday there was a lot of Brown Hairstreak and human activity in Whitecross Green Wood - well until just before 11am when the Browns quietened down. A total of 18 Brown Hairstreaks were seen - 15 in oak trees, 2 in ash and another flying up from the blackthorn - this total was arrived at from observations made by Tony Clancey and Kevin & Sandra Standridge all from Herts and Middlesex Branch as well as myself. In the early afternoon Kevin & Sandra saw two females down on the blackthorn in Bernwood Meadows, one appeared to be searching for a suitable spot to lay an egg. Later in the afternoon I saw three (one female and two males) in the ash trees near the Menmarsh Post junction - the female and one of the males were feeding off ash buds, the other male for a short while appeared to be feeding off lichen before it flew away.”
On 6th August Tim & Colleen Watts went to Kimble Warren looking for Silver-spotted Skippers: “We saw 6 at the same time, possibly more. They were very mobile, in groups of 2 or 3 together. Also seen c.70 Chalkhill Blues, 1 Brown Argus, 1 Painted Lady.”
5th August - Adam Bassett sent the following photo of the female Silver-washed Fritillary that visited his garden in Marlow Bottom on August 4th (see report below). “It was resting on wisteria after feeding on buddleia. Following on from that visit last Friday, we had a brief visit from a rather tatty male Silver-washed Fritillary on the same garden buddleia bush for a few minutes before flying into adjacent woods. Rather tatty, it was missing some of the left hindwing and right forewing. First and second garden records!”
On 5th August Dave Maunder had a Clouded Yellow fly past his front door in Aylesbury. “And on Monday 7th my wife saw another Clouded Yellow in Stoke Mandeville. Still plenty of Painted Ladies and Silver-Y moths on the wing everywhere - a lovely summer sight!”
Monday
7th August 2006
The 28th sighting of a Brown Hairstreak has just been received - 26 seen in ash or oak trees, 1
nectaring on wild angelica and 1 nectaring on brambles. The last reported
sighting was the first definite female seen.
Please
email any Brown Hairstreak sightings to David Redhead, UTB Brown Hairstreak
Champion.
Welcome to the website new contributor Yvonne Dixon who sent this report on 6th August: “I have only recently started to take an interest in butterflies and am still very much a novice. However I would like to share my butterfly sightings as surely every bit helps. On our return from a family holiday on the Isle of Wight - where I learned to identify a few more species of butterfly - I was thrilled to see a Painted Lady, a Comma, two Red Admirals and a Large White on and around the Buddleia in my back garden in Binfield. I also saw something that I think was a Meadow Brown but it wouldn't open its wings long enough for me to see properly.”
Derek Brown made a quick trip to Greenham Common on the morning of 5th August and saw 12x Graylings in 15 minutes in dull conditions. “Grayling are clearly out in force now. The Painted Ladies are in my garden in Beenham in profusion. Cathy counted at least 8 last Monday (31st) on the Buddleia and we've had similar numbers again today. Last year we didn't manage a single specimen. Lots of Red Admirals, Peacocks, a few Commas and finally today our first Small Tortoiseshell since mid April. We also had a new species for the garden a few weeks ago - a Marbled White flyby on the 16th July - taking the garden list to 25.”
Tim Watts went to Calvert on 5th August and recorded 2 Brown Argus. Also at Calvert Green; 3 Clouded Yellow on the waste ground adjoining the estate. This area can be viewed from Brickhill Way or through the slatted fence next to green.
David Redhead sent this
report on 5th August: ”This
morning I went looking for Brown Hairstreaks more in hope than expectation
because I was on the edge of the known range in meadows at Shotover where a few eggs were found this winter.
Sadly the nice ash/oak combinations produced just one Purple Hairstreak.
There was a compensation in 13 Small Coppers mainly nectaring on ragwort
- are we in for a deluge? Also seen Brown Argus, Comma, Common Blue,
Essex Skipper, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Peacock, Red Admiral & Small
White. 11 species in total.”
On 4th August David did his M40 Compensation area transect in the afternoon: “Numbers at about 70 well down but a reasonable spread of species including a Small Copper & Large Skipper but nothing "exotic". I kept a weather eye out for a Brown or White-letter Hairstreak but no joy. On the way back I had a look at the large ash/small oak combination at the turning circle - alive with Purple Hairstreak, at least a dozen, but could not turn any of them into a Brown. I finally stopped at the ash trees by the Menmarsh post where I have seen Browns for the last few years. I arrived at 4.50pm and a few minutes later noticed a movement and managed to lock the binoculars on a male Brown Hairstreak sunning itself about half way up the middle one of the first three ashes.”
Dave Wilton spent two hours at Rushbeds Wood on 4th August: “There was no sign of Brown Hairstreak anywhere. Plenty of other species were active, though: Large Skipper, Essex Skipper, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Small Copper, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Purple Hairstreak, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Ringlet and, best of the bunch, a single Silver-washed Fritillary on brambles along the southern "tramway" (SP 669153). I then spent another two hours searching between Dorton and Chinkwell Wood, again with no luck so far as Brown Hairstreak was concerned. Most of the others were seen again, the only addition being Small Skipper to give me 18 species for the day.”
On Saturday morning, 5th August, Dave carried out his transect at Finemere Wood: “There was plenty of butterfly activity even though numbers are on the wane and the skippers and browns are starting to look decidedly worn. Twenty species were recorded inside the wood, comprising Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Large Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell (one worn individual - the first I've seen for weeks), Comma, Silver-washed Fritillary (at last! - a reasonably fresh male in the centre of the wood and it was even on transect!), Marbled White (one very tatty example), Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper & Ringlet. After completing the transect I took a walk through Finemere Meadows and added Small Copper, Purple Hairstreak and Small Heath to the total. This afternoon I went to Bernwood Meadows and then to Lapland Farm Meadows in an attempt to add to the Brown Hairstreak score but failed dismally at both places. There were Hairstreaks about, but all those that I saw were Purple!”
Mick & Wendy Campbell went to Span Green on Friday afternoon, 4th. At the north end of the footpath on the first big patch of bramble they saw a stunning, pristine female Brown Hairstreak with its wings open, nectaring on the bramble flowers. Unfortunately it was the only one they saw despite walking right through to the other end of the footpath and checking all other bramble, ash trees and lots of Angelica. 15 species were seen altogether, noteworthy ones being Purple Hairstreak (1), Small Tortoiseshell (1), Small Copper (5), Clouded Yellow (1), Common Blue (4) and Holly Blue (1). They also found a batch of 2nd/3rd instar Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars on a patch of nettles.
Chris Brown sent the following update for 2 recent visits to Crowsley Park Wood (SU735800 Berks) surveying Silver-washed Fritillary: ”25th July was a very humid, still day and the Silver-washed Fritillary were frenetically active, only settling for a few seconds at a time. 12 seen (4M, 1F, 7U). One female was investigating the conifer tree trunks but on the occasions I got a quick focused view through my binoculars, I could not confirm any egg laying. I did try to examine one convenient spot I fixed my eyes on where she had alighted but could not see anything. 1st August was an overcast warm day with occasional brief patches of sun. 10 SWF seen (7M, 2F, 1U), As expected the cooler temperatures meant that the Silver-washed Fritillary were much more docile and tended to bask and top up their tanks on the available nectar sources. Most of the males were looking 'tatty' with missing parts to their wings and were now faded to a browner shade, not looking quite so bright. It is noticeable that the females are harder to find. I am guessing that they are in the woods laying eggs?”
Friday
4th August 2006
4th August - Adam Bassett forwarded this sighting from
his garden in Marlow Bottom, S.Bucks: “Just had a female Silver-washed Fritillary on
the garden buddleia along with the almost daily appearance of Hummingbird
Hawk-moth. Numbers of Painted Ladies seem to have dropped off in the
cooler weather.”
David Redhead sent this “buddleia” report on 4th August: "On Saturday 29th July Wendy & I popped to Temple Cowley library in Oxford. When we arrived the buddleia alongside the car park sported 6 pristine Painted Ladies and a Red Admiral. All the Painted Ladies were still there when we left but the Red Admiral appeared to have moved on. Yesterday, 3rd August I examined the buddleias towards the eastern end of the Botley Road. They produced 3 Large White, 3 Small White, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Peacock and, to my surprise, a female Common Blue. The buddleias alongside the River Thames immediately north of the Botley Road were surprisingly devoid of butterflies.”
Welcome to the website new contributor Prem Roy who sent this sighting on 2nd August: “I saw two Silver-washed Fritillary on the 21st July quite close together, one was in Round Wood just south of Tingewick and another just outside Tingewick Wood in an area known as Tingewick meadows, but on the southwestern edge of the wood near the road. The other butterfly of interest is the Brown Argus which I have seen in Tingewick meadows, quite a few in the meadow south of Lenborough Wood and one in my garden in Lenborough (there is open grassland all around), I suspect that these are cranesbill feeding populations as there is no rockrose. The White Admiral is common in the area but no sign of the Purple Emperor. Round Wood (SP653310) has a rather overgrown entrance at the southern side, into the actual wood, but there are some clearings and rides inside the wood. Tingewick Wood (SP651316) has a track through - I have not explored it much but it is quite dense and I have not seen much. Lenborough Wood (SP669309) - this corner is good and the southwestern edge is also quite good as is the northeastern edge. There is a bridle path through but the tree cover is dense, the rest is private.”
Allen Beechey managed to join a site visit to the western part of
Aston Rowant reserve on 2nd August with Oxfordshire CC’s BAP
officer:
“Despite the weather we saw a good number of butterflies sheltering from the
wind, 13 species in total with the highlights being 30+ Silver-spotted
Skipper (see photo below) and 40+ Chalkhill Blue (including
an ab. female – photo below). Other species seen were; more Meadow
Brown than you can shake a stick at, Gatekeeper, Common Blue (many),
Marbled White, Speckled Wood, Small Skipper, Large Skipper (very worn), Brown
Argus, Large White, Small White & Brimstone.”
Maureen Cross recorded her
first second brood Adonis Blue at Lardon Chase on Wednesday afternoon, 2nd
August. Please email Maureen, UTB Adonis
Blue Species Champion, with all Adonis sightings.
Despite the dull, overcast and windy conditions Dave Wilton went to the disused railway cutting to the west of Westcott airfield for three hours on Wednesday afternoon, 2nd: “One reason for going was to have a look at Grove Wood as I think it has possibilities for Purple Emperor. The wood itself is mainly ash and it has several rides. They're not very wide and are mostly enclosed under the ash canopy, but there are some areas where sunlight would penetrate if the sun was out. I saw plenty of honeysuckle so this could be where my garden White Admiral came from (it is probably also where the Silver-washed Fritillary I saw along the cutting came from). I noticed some odd bits of sallow here and there within the wood, but there's an abundance of far better quality sallow all along the railway line between SP 700165 and the north-east corner of the wood. One to keep an eye on for next year... Sheltered from the wind, the cutting produced quite a few butterflies even under the dull overcast. 12 species were recorded, comprising Large White, Small White, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Comma, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Ringlet and Small Heath.”
David
Redhead sent this news on Tuesday 1st August: “This afternoon I decided I should take my
new responsibilities as a 10km Square Champion seriously and went for a mooch
in SP50 with the following results - my garden 8
species, Florence Park 5 species, Elder Stubbs Allotments 5 species, Cowley Marsh 5 species, Southfield Golf Course 0 species (too windy), Warneford Meadow 6 species and finally on return
home after 5pm the rough grassland above my house produced
4 species. The total for the afternoon was 15 species: Small Skipper,
Large Skipper, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Small Copper,
Common Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood,
Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown & Ringlet. Not a bad haul considering the
non-ideal weather and the habitat. The highest concentration of butterflies was
in the allotments but the majority of them were Large or Small Whites - they
know when they are on to a good thing these butterflies! The Small Copper in
Warneford Meadow gave the most pleasure, as I have seen very few this year, but
I think I would have swapped it for a Small Tortoiseshell of which I have seen
even less. The only moths were a faded Six-spot Burnet and a couple of Shaded
Broad-bar. Anybody who would like to assist in recording the butterflies
and day flying moths in SP50 please contact me on red.admiral@ntlworld.com”.
Wednesday
2nd August 2006
On 1st August Frank Banyard reports that two Silver-washed Fritillary have
been visiting his garden buddleias in Beaconsfield in recent days. “No idea where they come from as I'm
not aware of this species in any of the local woods which in general are violet
and nectar free!”
At one point on Sunday morning, 31st July, Dave Ferguson
counted 27 Silver-washed
Fritillaries on the Wendover Woods buddleia.
“There were always at least 10. Also on the bush were: Red Admiral (2), Painted
Lady (1), Comma (1), Small White (6), Large White (1),
Green-veined White (1), Meadow Brown (1), Marbled White (2),
Large Skipper (1), Small Skipper (2).”
Phil Coles went to Rushbeds Wood & Lapland Farm on July 31st
2006 in poor conditions – Gatekeeper 4, Meadow Brown 36, Ringlet 4.
Dave Maunder sent this news on 30th July: “On a family visit to Coombe Hill near the monument, I was
lucky enough to see a nice male Silver-spotted Skipper - the only one I
could find! Other species seen were:- Essex Skippers (12); Purple
Hairstreak (1); Small Coppers (5); Chalkhill Blues (25+);
Common Blues (8); Brown Argus (1); Painted Ladies (4); Red
Admirals (2); Peacock (1); Marbled Whites (3); Meadow
Browns - many; Hedge browns - many; Small Heaths (2); Large
Whites (3); Small Whites (5). Moths seen were:- Hummingbird
hawk-moth (1); Silver-Y (5); Vapourer (3); Six-spot Burnet
(30+); Pyrausta purpuralis (1).”
Tim Watts visited the private Calvert landfill site on 30th July: “On the near 4 mile walk around the perimeter I counted 56 Painted Lady and 13 Clouded Yellow. No sign of Wall Brown in favoured areas. There was 1 Greenshank/3 Green Sandpiper/2 Common Sandpiper 1 Yellow Wagtail. Clouded Yellow hotspots could be viewed from public footpaths. 3 together at the far end of the landfill. Next to the railway bridge (a long walk) 5 together on the last remaining part of the old brickworks site, next to the new Calvert Green estate. This area could be viewed through/over a slatted wooden fence next to the green on the estate (next to no walk!).”
Dennis Dell sent the following report on 29th July: “Slopes below Ivinghoe Beacon and Steps Hill, July 28th, 2 to 4 pm.
As recent sightings by members have shown, there cannot be a better place and
time for variety and numbers than downland in July. Ivinghoe Beacon yesterday
was no exception, although Silver Spotted Skippers have not yet reached 'so far
north', but I'm sure it won't be long. Seen: Small White [36], Gatekeeper
[44], Red Admiral [2], Large White [26], Meadow Brown [91],
Marbled White [34], Painted Lady [9], Peacock [5], Small
Skipper [11], Chalkhill Blue [94], Common Blue [6], Dark
Green Fritillary [9], Small Heath [4], Brimstone [5], Brown
Argus [2]. The Dark Green Fritillaries were all quite worn, so their season
is coming to an end, but they were nevertheless still flying briskly; I'm
always amazed at the energy of this species! The numbers of Chalkhills and
Meadow browns are certainly an underestimate: it became quite difficult to
count them all.”
Following Neil Davies’s visit to Aston Rowant on 23/7/06, he has sent the following photos of Chalkhill Blue and Brown Argus:
On Friday 28th, Richard Soulsby did a Silver-spotted Skipper-special transect at Swyncombe and then on Saturday 29th he did the standard transect: “Noteworthy species were as follows. 28th July - warm and calm: 26C, 90% sun. Silver-spotted Skipper 28, Dark Green Fritillary 5, Chalkhills 20+ (not counted) mostly male, a few females, Small Blue - most noteworthy was one at bottom near car parking area. Silver-Y's - great quantities (too many when trying to spot SSS!). The hillside was alive with butterflies generally. 29th July - windy and not so warm: 24C, 86% sun 20 butterfly species seen - not bad, but not as good as the 23 last week. Noteworthy species: Silver-spotted Skipper 5 M & F, mint condition, no DGF surprisingly - I wouldn't have thought such powerful flyers would be put off by the wind. Chalkhills 24, only 3 were female Small Blue 20, seen in small numbers on every section. Inspected fresh kidney vetch flower/seed heads. On 4 seed heads found 15 Small Blue eggs, of which 2 were fresh (blue) and 13 were hatched (white with tops eaten), but no sign of larvae (hidden in seed heads?). So possibly these 2nd generation Small Blue can reproduce - but can the larvae survive the winter? There were a lot less butterflies (and moths) in evidence today compared with yesterday. Total 290, c.f. 376 in week 17 and David Redhead's 641 in week 16.”
Sunday
30th July 2006
Dave Wilton managed to get a transect done at Finemere Wood NR, Bucks over lunchtime on Saturday 29th before the weather deteriorated. “I was pleased to find 21 butterfly species active, although the only surprise was the number of pristine Painted Ladies to be seen, with 16 located along the track leading to the wood and within the wood itself. The only vanessid present in larger numbers was the Peacock with 29 seen nectaring from thistles and teasles. The other species comprised Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Large Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Clouded Yellow, Common Blue, Purple Hairstreak, Red Admiral, White Admiral, Comma, Marbled White, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Ringlet and Small Heath. Unfortunately there was no sign of Silver-washed Fritillary, a species which I've yet to see in this wood.”
Phil Coles visited Shirburn Hill (‘Open Access Land’) on July 29th
2006 where he recorded: Essex Skipper 2, Small/Essex Skipper 2, Silver-spotted
Skipper 14, Large White 1, Brown Argus 3, Chalkhill Blue 1,
Painted Lady 2, Dark Green Fritillary 2, Marbled White 5, Gatekeeper
24, Meadow Brown 100+, Ringlet 1.
Tim Watts visited Hillesden again on 29/7/06 and recorded 3 Clouded Yellows, mostly on the planted wild flower mix strip, which is adjacent to the track overlooking the pools (see also Tim’s report of 26th July below). This site is in Bucks (SP69012805). The very obvious hard track that passes the pools, which everyone uses with the owner's consent ISN'T on OS maps. However it is okay for anyone to use this track. The owner has created this area purely for wildlife and welcomes anyone there to record their sightings.
The Field Meeting led by Maureen Cross on Saturday 28th July to explore new open access land near Goring, including BBOWT's Hartslock Reserve and adjacent hillsides, produced 23 butterfly species and 10 moths. Two of the moth species, the Pyralid Mecyna flavalis and Chalk Carpet Scotopteryx bipunctaria are of special interest being new for the UTB 2006 list. The Mecyna flavalis is of notable moth status and the Goring Gap is its only known location in the three counties.
Our thanks to Maureen
for leading this event.
Dave Ferguson has been out and about during the last few days and
sent the following reports:
- “A belated sighting for 24th July: c20 Graylings scattered
around Swinley Forest.This was my first
visit to Swinley Forest. I parked at the Discovery Centre (SU876662) which has
a large free car park and is the only access point to the forest that I know. I
was walking South to Upper Star Post (SU873646). The area is coniferous forest
with rides. Some of these are sunny, wide and have grass and heather edges.
This is where I saw the Graylings. Caesar's Camp (SU657864) is an open area of
grass/heather. The information board mentions Silver-studded Blues here but I
didn't see any. There are some large oaks here which are worth a look. I was
actually after Brilliant Emerald dragonflies which have been recorded at Upper
Star Post Pond and Butter Bottom, but these ponds are fenced off. Where are the
Small Tortoiseshells? I have seen just one of the new brood, but Red
Admirals and Commas are well above normal numbers.
- Then on Saturday afternoon 29th, on the buddleia in
Wendover Woods there were 10
Silver-washed Fritillaries and one each of Painted Lady, Red Admiral,
Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Marbled White, Small White, Large Skipper and Small
Skipper.
- On Sunday morning, 30th,
at Lodge: Painted Lady
(6), Peacock (3), Red Admiral (1), Small Tortoiseshell (1),
Common Blue (10), Marbled White (3), Meadow Brown (40), Gatekeeper
(30), Small/Essex Skipper (10), Small White (80), Large
White (30).
- And finally, taken near Radnage this afternoon, 30th, this photo of Chalkhill Blues (see below). I don't know what the snail thought of this!”
Friday
28th July 2006
Francis Gomme’s tour around a very hot and dry Princes Risborough
today (Friday 28th) was rewarded with second brood Small Blue and Silver-spotted
Skippers at two previously unrecorded sites, Kop Hill and Pulpit Hill respectively. A Clouded
Yellow was also performing at Kimble Rifle Range.”
David Redhead sent the following report on sightings at the Watlington Hill field meeting yesterday, 27th July: “The most numerous species was Common Blue with numbers well into three figures. Brimstone, Brown Argus and Gatekeeper were also about in good numbers. Amongst the key species Chalkhill Blue led the way with a dozen (all male bar one), Silver-spotted Skipper totalled seven and three Dark Green Fritillary were seen in the scallops. Other species seen were: Small White, Small Copper, Peacock, Painted Lady, Meadow Brown and Small Heath. Surprisingly the other Skippers, Red Admiral and Comma were all noticeable by their absence and a haul of just 13 butterfly species was a bit lower than expected. In places every step disturbed a pyrausta moth and they seemed to be almost exclusively Pyrausta aurata. Silver-Y moths were frequent and a few Six-spot Burnet were seen.”
Dave Maunder sent the following report on 27th July: “Yesterday I was lucky enough to see another two Silver-washed Fritillaries - male and female again - up on Coombe Hill behind the monument. I also saw a Purple Hairstreak, 3 Painted Ladies, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Comma, 1 Peacock, 2 Small Copper, 20+ Essex Skippers, many Hedge Browns, 15+ Meadow Browns, 3 worn Ringlets, 2 Speckled Woods, 3 Brimstones, 1 Large White, 10 Small Whites.”
On 26th July Frank Banyard and Ched George went to Holtspur Bottom. Frank sent the following exciting news: “Ched was primarily checking for Dark Green Fritillary while I was looking for second brood Small Blue following their return last year and successful 1st brood this year. Two, possibly three Small Blue were seen, the first this July. In the area just in front of the new Claude Rivers memorial seat, Ched noted a male Chalkhill Blue. This is the first recorded sighting of this species in the valley for at least 40years, and near to the bank on which we have reintroduced Horseshoe Vetch. With the return of the Small Blue in 2005, two of the three "blues" long absent from the valley have reappeared. The third, Adonis Blue will probably take longer, but the current successes will encourage more Horseshoe Vetch planting this winter. Ched did not record Dark Green Fritillary on this occasion although they have been about in increased numbers this year.”
Peter Hall recorded a Clouded Yellow at Bradenham on Wednesday 26th.
Dick
Bodily had a Painted
Lady on the buddleia in his Shenley Lodge garden on 26th July.
Tim Watts passed on this
news: “Up to 6 Clouded
Yellow seen by Jon Holt 26/7/06 at Hillesden.
This site is accessed from public footpaths that form a circular walk from the
church at the far end of the village. Walk through large open iron gates to
left of church, carry on down the track through the wooden gate. After a
further 300mts take track on right which passes a large open area with pools
which has been created for wildlife. Clouded Yellow seen over this. View from
path only. This is a very recently created area that has instantly attracted
rare migrant birds and now migrant butterflies.”
Tim followed up the sighting with a visit to Hillesden pools on 27th July and recorded 5 Clouded Yellow, Small Copper, Painted Lady & lots of blues.
25th July at Wytham Wood, Andy Reynolds saw 6 Silver-washed
Fritillaries (2 male, 1 female, 3?). “Also 1 male SWF on the buddleia bush
in my urban Oxford garden in Summertown - that's the 12th species on that one
bush this year!”
Welcome to the website new contributors Jane & Alan Williams: “My husband and I went to the Dancersend BBOWT site for a walk on the afternoon of 23rd July. It was fantastic and we will be going back again. Anyway, we thoroughly enjoyed seeing lots of butterflies and we spotted a Silver-washed Fritillary and a male Brimstone.”
Wednesday
26th July 2006
“The Silver-spotted Skipper season is truly underway! They have been seen at Kimble Warren, Buttlers Hangings and Aston Rowant, plus I saw two this on 23rd at Swyncombe. All reports will be gratefully received by email, UTB website or phone.” Richard Soulsby, UTB Silver-spotted Skipper Champion.
Jackie Tuckey sent this unusual report yesterday, 25th: “I sat down to have my lunch at Murcott under the apple trees when suddenly a butterfly dropped on to my hand. It was a bit tatty and new to me then it opened its wings and there it was, a beautiful purple sheen. I've never seen one before but that was definitely a Purple Emperor! It wouldn't leave me and was wandering round my hand prodding me with his yellow tongue. After studying it for so long I tried to put it on to some flowers but it kept coming back to my hand. Just as I was wondering what to do it flew off. Fantastic! Do you think it was getting minerals or salt from me? Am I lucky or what!”
Welcome to the website Neil Davies who sent this report yesterday, 25th: “I live, and do my butterfly recording, in Shropshire but last weekend I was visiting in-laws in Little Chalfont so took the opportunity to visit your site first in readiness for getting out on The Chilterns for the first time ever. On Sat (22nd July) I visited Aston Rowant (North). It started to pour down just as I arrived in the afternoon and I duly headed back home. On the Sunday (23rd July) by early afternoon the cloud was starting to break up in Little Chalfont so I headed back to Aston Rowant on the off chance it was going to be a fine afternoon. Arriving at 2.30pm, the sun had disappeared again! Nevertheless, I spent a profitable hour or so waiting for the sun to return and saw: Meadow Brown 50+, Gatekeeper 30+, Marbled White 20+, Small / Essex Skipper 30+, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Brown Argus. At 3.45pm, the sun came out properly - then after 5 minutes of sun, I saw 10 Chalkhill Blues (all male, save 1 female lying low on vegetation) and 6 Silver-Spotted Skippers, as well as more of the species seen flying when the sun was in - but no more Brown Argus.”
Phil Coles reports that in the 1Km square SP7310 (Cuddington –
Bucks) on July 25th 2006 he recorded: “Small/Essex Skipper, Large
White, Small White, Green-veined White, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Peacock,
Comma, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown.
On 25th July Andy Reynolds reported that he visited
Waterperry Wood: “I had 16 species just in a 20-metre strip of bramble, including White-letter
Hairstreak and Purple Hairstreak, both feeding on the bramble. White
Admiral (2 or 3) and possible Silver-washed Fritillary (flew by fast) too.
I didn't get to see the mighty Emperor in Waterperry but did see a raggedy old
male Purple Emperor in the south of Bernwood. That trip upped my species count for
this year to 34.”
On Monday afternoon, 24th July, Dave Wilton called into Greenham Common on his way back up from the south coast: “As there's still no mention of the species on the website and as it took me 45 minutes of searching to find just one example, I thought I'd better let you know that I saw a single Grayling there today, about a quarter of a mile west of the control tower. Quite understandably, other butterflies tend to shun the stony areas favoured by the Grayling so, despite the glorious sunshine, my species count remained very low for the hour that I was there: Clouded Yellow (2), Large White (1), Common Blue (21), Meadow Brown (6), Gatekeeper (5) and Small Heath (1).
Also, I spent 90 minutes at Stoke Wood on Friday morning. 16 butterfly species were in evidence but the only noteworthy item was a single Silver-washed Fritillary. I think I can state fairly categorically that this is not a Purple Emperor wood - I found no sign of sallow anywhere.”
Allen
Beechey went up to Chinnor Hill during his
lunch break on Monday 24th July to have a look for potential Purple
Emperor habitat: “Whilst up there I had a look at the grassland.
The clearing had a veritable swarm of butterflies criss-crossing the sward. I
didn’t bother counting numbers but saw: many Marbled White (looking
quite faded), Meadow Brown (new & old), Gatekeeper, Small
Skipper, Large Skipper, Green Veined White, Large White, Peacock, Brimstone (second
generation), Common Blue (1 male & two female – second generation), Painted
Lady (two very fresh individuals) & Comma. On my return to the
office in Chinnor there were 5 Painted Lady, 2 Peacock & 2 Red
Admiral on the buddleia waiting to greet me! Not bad in half an hour, even
if Iris did not show itself!”
Welcome to the website new contributor Stephen Jackson from
Stanwell, Middlesex: “I was just reading through the UTB Butterfly sightings and took a look
at the first sightings page. You have your first recorded Silver-spotted
Skippers for the 21st July, I was at Aston
Rowant on Thursday evening, 20th July, from 18:30 until
about 19:15 and in that time I saw about half a dozen Silver-spotted
Skippers. Other species noted were Large, Small & Essex
Skippers, Chalkhill Blue, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Small Heath and Red
Admiral.”
David Redhead went for a longer walk than he meant to Sunday afternoon, 23rd, in Jarn Mound/ Matthew Arnold Field/ Wootton/ Youlbury/ Chilswell Farm/ Boars Hill area (the last in error as a footpath he was aiming for had disappeared). “In the woodland near Yarn Mound I saw a fresh Holly Blue and in a field belonging to the Oxford Preservation Trust a White Admiral & two pristine Small Coppers. The rest did not quite live up to this start but I still ended up with 19 species. A glorious patch of fleabane in the setaside meadow south of Chilswell Farm where I saw the first UTB Small Skippers was covered in Meadow Browns & Gatekeepers and also provided a pristine male Brown Argus, male Common Blue and, surprisingly, a female Common Blue. By the time I got to the footpath leading to Chilswell Farm I had only see one Skipper and that was Small Skipper. Suddenly there were Skippers everywhere and I was able to identify a considerable number of them and they were all Essex Skipper. I went past a lot of oak trees but none produced a Purple Hairstreak.”
At Aston Rowant on Sunday afternoon, 23rd, Tony Croft
saw at least 10
Silver-spotted Skippers: “They weren't being very co-operative posing
wise so the attached picture is the best of a mediocre bunch (see photo below).”
On Sunday 23rd, in Wendover Woods Dave Maunder got nice sightings of two Silver-washed Fritillaries - male and female - at close range. On 11th July he had a White-letter Hairstreak land on his stomach while in his Aylesbury garden! “Good numbers of Peacocks have been on the wing since the 18th, also many Red Admirals this week, and a few Painted Ladies appearing on our local buddleias. Also Small Tortoiseshells seem to be around in good numbers now.”
Jim Asher visited Buckland Warren on Sunday afternoon, 23rd, after the sun eventually re-appeared. He found two Silver-washed Fritillaries on the east side of the wood and one towards the south, plus one White Admiral. “I have seen Silver-washed Fritillary only once before here (a singleton, a few years back) and White Admiral just once, also a couple of years back. It’s a first time for both together and Silver-washed Fritillary in multiple numbers.”
Francis Gomme sent this report on 23rd July: “On Saturday 22nd Silver Spotted Skippers were already in good
numbers at Linky Down. Two Dark Green Fritillaries also seen in the upper field
adjacent to Upper Icknield Way i.e. the more recent NNR extension.”
David Redhead reports that the Swyncombe Downs transect, which is
now in its fifth year, produced a record number of butterflies on Tuesday 20th
July with 641 individual butterflies. “The stars were 16 Dark Green Fritillary
(also a record for the transect) and 18 pristine second brood Small
Blue, including a mating pair (see photo below). Meadow
Brown were the most numerous at 261 and Marbled White
came a strong second at 140. The remaining numbers were made up of Small/Essex
Skipper 64, Ringlet 43, Gatekeeper 30,
Small Heath 27, Small White 14, Chalkhill
Blue 8, Large White 7, Brimstone 6, Green-veined
White 2, Speckled Wood 2, Red Admiral 1,
Comma 1, Peacock 1. Also seen off transect
were singletons of Common Blue & Small
Tortoiseshell.”
Danny Howard had his first ever Purple Emperor sighting at Bernwood Forest on Sunday 16th. “I had just about given up and was walking back to the car park when a female Purple Emperor came and sat on some sallow next to the main ride at about head height. It fluttered from leaf to leaf and it wasn't until it had flown back to the tree tops that I realised it may well have been egg laying (although a very brief search didn't yield any). I think we are having a bumper Silver-Y moth year too! Have had about 40 feeding (and egg laying) in my garden every evening for the last week or so.”
Saturday
22nd July 2006
David Redhead attended the hayraking party at Whitecross Green Wood
on Friday, 21st: “Just after 9am our activities received a seal of approval
as a White Admiral majestically circled round us - we were to
see two more later in the day. Whilst moving to the next raking location, about
10.20am, I noticed an interesting looking dead leaf on a small oak tree, on
closer approach it transformed into a pristine Brown
Hairstreak settled on an oak
leaf at head height. It sat there for a couple of minutes, allowing me to
examine it at close quarters, before it flew off - unfortunately I did not have
my camera with me! A nearby ash tree showed some Hairstreak activity up top but
they were all Purple Hairstreaks. A pristine male Brown
Argus was the last butterfly seen before leaving site. Another 13 species,
making a total of 17 were seen by the party - Large Skipper, Small
Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Comma, Peacock, Red Admiral,
Marbled White, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown & Ringlet.”
There is still a lot of hay that needs raking up at Whitecross
Green Wood. This is essential work to prevent over-enrichment of the rides. The
next hayraking party is on Monday 24th July from 9am onwards. Why not come and
help preserve the flora and fauna you enjoy watching. Contact David Redhead
01865 772520 for further details.
On Saturday afternoon, 22nd, Tony Croft managed to add
Purple Hairstreak to his list of garden visitors: “We have a very large ash tree
which I have studied from time to time over the years to little avail but
during the last few days have noticed butterfly activity up at the top. I
finally got a good view of one which turned out to be a Purple Hairstreak.
There is a copse nearby containing quite a few oak trees so I guess a
visitation was inevitable eventually.”
On 21st July Francis Gomme made a lunchtime dash to the
very hot, dry and dusty former BBOWT Chequers reserve: ”I was rewarded with my
first Silver-spotted
Skipper of
the year on Kimble Warren. Recorded every year here since the BIG/EN field day in
1999 - two days earlier than 2005. On the way home tonight I had another Purple
Emperor at Whiteleaf, in trees below the cross.”
Michael Pitt-Payne visited the nature reserve at Lower Cadsden
opposite the Harrow pub on 20th July: “The whole area was alive with butterflies.
The most noticeable were Chalkhill Blues and Marbled Whites. I
was delighted to see a Clouded Yellow and to obtain this picture of
it (see below).”
Peter
Hall sent the following report on Thursday 20th July: “Silver Washed Fritillary today at
the base of Coombe Hill, Ellesborough.
Also Small Skipper, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Small White,
Small Copper, Common Blue, Peacock.”
Robin Dryden followed up his friend Paul Cropper's sighting of
White-letter Hairstreak at Maiden's Green on 20th July at 9am: “I was also successful with three White-letter
Hairstreak nectaring together on bramble. The path was full of butterflies
with Meadow Drown and Gatekeeper too numerous to count, fourteen Small
White, one Red Admiral, two Essex Skipper, one Holly Blue and
one Purple Hairstreak also on bramble.”
The Holtspur Valley Reserves Open Day on 15th July was a great success. Frank Banyard reports: “18 species of butterfly were recorded - Dark Green Fritillary, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Brown Argus, Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Red Admiral, Comma, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper & Ringlet. Numerous Six-spot Burnet moths and a Dusky Sallow were seen. In fact the moths tended to outshine the butterflies as several larvae of the Striped Lychnis, a ‘Notable A’ moth, were found on the Dark Mullein plants re-introduced to our Holtspur Bottom Reserve by our Striped Lychnis Champion, Peter Hall, as there were historic records for the valley. Also seen on both the Bottom and the neighbouring LNR Holtspur Bank were singletons of Sitochroa palealis- a ‘Notable B’ Pyralid moth - never previously recorded in the valley.
On
the Monday following the open Day, new brood Painted Lady was present on Holtspur Bottom, while Purple Hairstreak was
also seen. Both this and Holly Blue had been recorded on the previous Friday.”
Note: Nick Bowles subsequently reported that the walk he led managed
Small Copper and Speckled Wood in addition to those listed above, bringing the
species count to 20.
On Thursday 20th July Dave Wilton thought he would try the woods south of Tingewick, Bucks: The first wood had some reasonable rides with plenty of brambles and as a result was quite good for butterflies. “I found Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Large Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, Green-veined White, Common Blue (1 fresh female, plenty of bird's-foot trefoil about), Red Admiral (2), Peacock (16), Comma (1), Silver-washed Fritillary (1, a bird-pecked male), Speckled Wood, Marbled White (20+), Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper & Ringlet in residence. I was surprised not to find White Admiral as I saw quite a bit of honeysuckle. I then went to Tingewick Wood, which has public paths around the outside and through the middle. This is another mostly conifer wood with some areas of ash. The rides are narrow and, for the most part, little light gets down to ground level. Very little was seen, but I did find Peacock (7), Comma (1) and Silver-washed Fritillary (1, believed female).”
David Redhead reports that he and Wendy had sightings of
Silver-washed Fritillary in their Oxon garden on 19th July: “One Silver-washed Fritillary was
flying around the partially out buddleia which catches the early morning sun
along with a couple of Red Admiral, Comma, Peacock, Gatekeeper, a Large
White and several Meadow Browns.
Then at about 5pm today a second, darker (possibly female) Silver-washed Fritillary flying round a small wild buddleia near the bramble patch.”
David also passed on this news: “Just had a telephone conversion with a contact who was in Bernwood on the 18th July. He saw a large Fritillary in the eastern side of the forest towards the M40. He did not think it was a Dark Green because he had seen them about 3 weeks ago on Cleeve Common and asked me if it could have been a Silver-washed Fritillary - I told him it almost certainly was. He also went to the old Hell Coppice car park because he remembered seeing a Purple Emperor there in 1974. He stood with his back to the gate and saw a Purple Emperor up in the smaller of the oak trees. In fact he had three separate sightings but they may all well have been of the same butterfly. This was about 11:15 am.”
