Butterfly Update

 Over the last week or two I've been out and about looking for a few new summer butterflies.

The first were seen at Barbrook Pools (formerly Barbrook Reservoir) last Sunday, when the 2 Small Coppers, Large Skippers and Narrow-bordered 5-spot Burnet moths were present. Whilst there, I was also able to confirm breeding for Tufted Duck (female and 8 ducklings) and Lapwing (1 adult and 3 chicks).

Narrow-bordered 5-spot Burnet

Tufted Duck 

The next butterflies seen were at Lindrick Dale, yesterday. Overall, numbers were well down on previous years (possibly due to the very warm spring?), with just 4 Dark Green Fritillaries, 6 Marbled Whites, 4 Gatekeepers, 1 Ringlet and about half a dozen Small Skippers seen. 1 other species, Silver-washed Fritillary, was also seen flying around the woods, on the walk through.

Lindrick Dale- 29th June 2024

 This afternoon, I had a drive across to Lindrick Dale, near Worksop, to try my luck with the butterflies. It was 20 degrees, and pretty overcast when I arrived, but I got lucky and saw 5 new species for the year. 

The first species, and the most common (c.20), was the Marbled White. Also present were: Ringlet (c.10), Meadow Brown (c15), Large Skipper (1) and Dark Green Fritillary (c.5). Unfortunately, no Silver-studded Blues were seen (too early, too overcast?)

Marbled White

Ringlet

Dark Green Fritillary

Large Skipper

Linacre Butterflies - 18 species!!!

The weather forecast for this morning was dry and sunny (!!!), so I spent 5 hours (8.30am - 1.30pm) on site to see what I could see. As the title of today's blog shows, it was a very well spent few hours. The total of 18 species must be my best ever, and included four brilliant species: White-letter Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak, Silver-washed Fritillary and Dark Green Fritillary. In addition, I recorded 2 new species for the site, an Emperor dragonfly and a Hummingbird Hawkmoth!

White-letter Hairstreak

Purple Hairstreak

Silver-washed Fritillary (female)

Silver-washed Fritillary (male)

The list of species seen is: Peacock (2), Red Admiral (7), Meadow Brown (c.20), Gatekeeper (7), Ringlet (1 very tatty individual), Small Copper (1 on the dam wall of the top reservoir), Small Tortoiseshell (3), Large White (5), Green-veined White (2), Speckled Wood (1), Comma (6), Holly Blue (1), Common Blue (1 in the ringing site), White-letter Hairstreak (1, by the bridge on the top reservoir, at 10.30am), Purple Hairstreak (1, in oaks by the bottom reservoir, at 12.45pm), Silver-washed Fritillary (3; 1 male and 2 females), Dark Green Fritillary (1 in the ringing site) and Small Skipper (c.5, in the field beyond the top reservoir).

 3 species of day-flying moth were also seen: Shaded Broad Bar (2), 6-spot Burnet Moth (1) and Hummingbird Hawkmoth (1 in the ringing site - a site first). 

4 species of Dragon/Damselfly were present: Brown Hawker (1, including 1 ovipositing in the bottom reservoir), Emperor Dragonfly ( 1 on the middle reservoir, a first site record for me), Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies.

Brown Hawker (female)

Hoverflies seen were: Marmalade, Volucella pellucens , Myathropa florae and Eristalis sp.

Two species of ladybird were seen: 7-spot and Harlequin.

I think there might have been some birds around too (!), but I didn't do a full count. Instead here are a few of the "best": Swallow (6), House Martin (2), Canada Goose (2 on the top reservoir), Buzzard (2 adults), Stock Dove (1 by the muck heap by the main entrance), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1 adult), Willow Warbler (1 very yellow juvenile bird by the top reservoir) and Chiffchaff (1 singing and lots of "wheeting").

Linacre 8th July 2023 - a new species!!

I had news yesterday that the first Silver-washed Fritillaries and White-letter Hairstreaks of the year had been reported at Linacre (thanks  Pete). I set out this morning (6.15am - 9.15am) to see if I could spot either species. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't quite as good today (20 degrees, instead of 26 degrees yesterday), and the cloud cover was much higher, so I "dipped" on both species.

Luckily for me, however, I did manage to spot a new species of butterfly for Linacre - a female Dark Green Fritillary!! This species does seem to be on the increase in Derbyshire, and today's individual was spotted feeding on thistles in the hay meadow by the top reservoir.

Dark Green Fritillary

Whilst there, I also spent some time in the field just beyond the top reservoir, where I spotted: Meadow Brown (c.10), Ringlet (c.5), Red Admiral (1), Large White (1), Small Skipper (3), Large Skipper (1), 2 Volucella pellucens (hoverfly) and a couple of 7-spot Ladybirds. 

Small Skipper

Large Skipper (patterned wings and hooked antennae)

Back on the top reservoir, the sun had come out again, and the number of damselflies had increased. Only two species were seen: Common Blue and Blue-tailed (first Linacre record of 2023), but both species were seen "in tandem", proving breeding. A Common Lizard was also seen by the top reservoir, but it was disturbed by 3 joggers (!!) before I could get a photo.

Blue-tailed Damselflies

Common Blue Damselfly

Hoverfly numbers were better today, with Volucella pellucens (2), a Sphaerophoria sp, Marmalade Hoverflies, and a Syrphus sp seen.

Last, and by no means least (!), were the birds. Waterbirds were: Mallard (147), Moorhen (19), Coot (24), Mandarin Duck (43), Tufted Duck (26), Grey Heron (1), Cormorant (1), Great-crested Grebe (13; 6 adults and 7 juveniles), Grey Wagtail (2; 1 adult and 1 juvenile), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1), Black-headed Gull (1 heard - an unusual July record), Little Grebe (1 adult heard), Buzzard (1), Chiffchaff (4 singing), Blackcap (3 birds seen and 3 heard),  Swallow (3), House Martin (3) and Swift (1 - my first Linacre record of 2023!!!).

Lindrick Dale - 2nd July 2023

 On Sunday, I went across to Lindrick Dale to see if there were any butterflies. It was 18 degrees, overcast and quite windy, but I did still mange to see a few of the regulars.

The first butterflies seen were Marbled Whites, with c.20 in total. Dark Green Fritillaries were also about, but only 4 were flying. Other species seen were: Small Heath (1), Ringlets (4), 6-spot Burnet (1) and Meadow Browns (c.10). Unfortunately, no Silver-studded Blues were seen.

Marbled White

Dark Green Fritillary

Two species of orchid were also seen: Pyramidal and Common Spotted.

Lindrick Dale - 2nd July 2022

On Saturday, Jayne and I had our annual trip to Lindrick Dale, near Worksop. It was about 20 degrees, with quite a lot of  cloud cover and also quite windy, but, we still managed to spot the butterflies we'd gone to see, and two species for us there as well!!

First up, the "usual suspects", namely Dark Green Fritillary (c.10), Marbled White (c.5), Silver-studded Blue (just 2, one male and one female), Meadow Brown (c.5), Ringlet (3) and Gatekeeper (1).

Dark Green Fritillary

The two new species were a single 6-spot Burnet, and, most surprising, a pair of mating Silver-washed Fritillaries!!

Silver-washed Fritillaries

In addition to the butterflies, Jayne also noticed this gall on a rose plant, that turns out to be a Robin's Pincushion, also known as a bedeguar gall. This is created by the gall wasp, Diplolepis rosae, that lays an egg in the rose's bud in spring. The larvae then develop inside the gall, before emerging as adults, next spring to begin the cycle again.

Robin's Pincushion

Butterfly and Dragonfly Update - July 2021

I've been out and about quite alot recently, and have managed to see some lovely butterflies. 

First up, is my annual trip to Lindrick Common. I went here on 1st July. The flowers weren't very far on, but I still managed to see Dark Green Fritillary, Marbled White and Silver-studded Blue.

Dark Green Fritillary

Marbled White

Silver-studded Blue

On 10th July, Jayne and I visited the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, where we had great views of Large Skipper and Black-tailed Skimmer. 

Last Saturday (17th) we travelled down to Cotgrave Forest in Nottinghamshire, where we had fantastic views of Purple Emperor butterflies. We also saw Small Skipper, Ringlets and a single Silver-washed Fritillary. 

Purple Emperor

Silver-washed Fritillary

On our last trip, to the Wellington Monument on 20th, we saw a male Golden-ringed Dragonfly, and a minimum of 4 Purple Hairstreaks!

Golden-ringed Dragonfly

Purple Hairstreak

Lindrick Common - 20th June 2020

This spring has seen a lot of warm, dry weather and above average temperatures. As a result, butterflies seem to have been emerging earlier than usual, so I decided to go to Lindrick Common a couple of weeks earlier myself.

When I arrived, it was obvious that they vegetation hadn't kept pace with the butterflies and there were only a few flowering plants. The butterflies, however, were all present in good numbers, with 10+ Marbled Whites, 15+ Dark Green Fritillaries and at least 15 Silver-studded Blues (all but one being male). The temperature was around 20 degrees, so the Whites and Fritillaries were all pretty active. The blues, on the other hand, were the most confiding I've ever known, and posed, beautifully, with open wings.

Marbled White

Dark Green Fritillary (underwing)

Dark Green Fritillary 

Silver-studded Blue

Other species seen whilst there included my first Ringlets of the year, along with several Meadow Browns, 1 Large Skipper, and, best of all, a day-flying moth called a Burnet Companion, which was a lifer!

Burnet Companion

Three species of orchid were out, namely Bee (1), Pyramidal (c.15) and Common Spotted (c.10).

Silver-spotted Skipper

Whilst researching places to visit in East Sussex, I noticed that there was a species of butterfly, the Silver-spotted Skipper, present on and around the South Downs. As it has a very restricted distribution in the UK, and we'd never seen this one before, Jayne and I decided to have a walk in the area around the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head, to see if we could find it.

Beachy Head

We started our walk at the National Trust's Birling Gap car park, and walked up onto the Downs for a couple of miles to the Belle Tout Lighthouse (now a B and B) and Beachy Head.

Seven Sisters and Birling Gap

At the start of our walk, we spotted a couple of Small Skipper, and the first of dozens, if not hundreds, of Gatekeepers. As we continued up the cliffs we added Dark Green Fritillary (1), Chalkhill Blue and Meadow Brown to the list of butterflies seen, before finding the first Silver-spotted Skippers just below the Lighthouse.

Chalkhill Blue

As it was a lovely sunny day they were quite tricky to see, but we eventually managed to get a few photos.

Silver-spotted Skipper

Summer Butterflies - 29th June 2019

We haven't yet had a great deal of decent sunny weather this summer, so, with the sun out, and a very decent temperature of 25 degrees today, I thought it was time to head over to Lindrick Dale near Worksop, to have a look at  the butterflies there.

I arrived at about 10am and straight away saw good numbers of Marbled White (15+), Dark Green Fritillary (c.20) and Silver-studded Blue (10+ males, no females).

Marbled White

Dark Green Fritillary

Dark Green Fritillary (underwing)

Silver-studded Blue (male upperwing)

Silver-studded Blue (male underwing)

Other butterflies seen were: Small Heath (2), Ringlet (10+), Meadow Brown (c.10), Large Skipper (1 male), Painted Lady (1 - my first record here) and a day flying moth, the Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet moth.

Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Moth

Flowers seen were: Bladder Campion and 3 types of orchid: Bee (3), Common Spotted and Pyramidal.

Silver-studded Blue

For the last few years Jayne and I have visited a super site in Carlton in Lindrick, Nottinghamshire, to see some lovely butterflies; Marbled White, Dark Green Fritillary and Silver-studded Blue. We've always managed to see the first two species, but the third one has been a little trickier!! Thankfully, this year we managed to drop lucky, seeing at least 1 female and 1 male.

Silver-studded Blue (male)

Silver-studded Blue (female underwing)

Silver-studded Blue (female upperside)

Dark Green Fritillary

Marbled White

Other butterfly species seen were: Comma (1), Red Admiral (1), Ringlet (10+) and a small skipper species (either Small or Essex; 1 of which was reported by another visitor).

Marbled White, Ringlet and Meadow Brown

Tennyson Down and The Needles

On Wednesday, Jayne and I spent a good few hours walking around Tennyson Down and The Needles, on the far west of the Island. The weather was kind, and we enjoyed some great views, along with some new insects, flowers and a "year tick"; a Dartford Warbler.

We started our walk in the High Down Chalk Pit car park, an old quarry. There were plenty of buddleia bushes here, so we had a quick scan, picking up a number of butterflies; 2 Dark Green Fritillaries, 2 Red Admirals, 1 very tatty Ringlet and  3 Painted Ladies (our first of the year). We also had a male Migrant Hawker, and 2 Peregrine Falcons (1 adult and a juvenile bird).

Painted Lady

We walked up from the car park ( a very steep walk!!), to the monument on the top of Tennyson Down, and walked the 2 miles to The Needles. Along the way we spotted dozens of Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns  and Chalkhill Blues, along with another Red Admiral and another Painted Lady. Bird wise we saw a male Stonechat, with at least 3 juveniles, 3 migrating Wheatear, a hunting Kestrel,  Herring and Great Black-backed Gull, and, best of all, a Dartford Warbler.

When we arrived at The Needles, we spent some time looking around the Old and New Battery, and also enjoyed watching a pair of Ravens flying around, and then sat on the floor, and perched on a telephone mast!

The Needles

Raven

The last thing I wanted to mention was a type of flower called Yellow Wort. This is a chalk loving species, and was quite  common all along the chalky downs. It's a new plant for me, and I like the way the leaves wrap around the stalk. Unfortunately, the petals close up unless there's full sun, so my photo isn't great, but it was nice to see, nonetheless.

Yellow Wort

Year List update:

165 - Dartford Warbler