Wednesday 19 May 2010

With hot weather encroaching, butterflies take pole position






















Green Hairstreaks, Duke of Burgundy Fritillary and Dingy Skipper butterflies (Chaz Jackson)
TUESDAY 18 MAY

After driving over 800 miles from Grantown-on-Spey to home, via the Ythan Estuary and Musselburgh, I snatched three hours sleep and hit the road again. It had been a clear night, with temperatures dropping to 3.5 degrees C, and by dawn, mist patches were forming. It was later to get quite warm (16 degrees C) and remained fine and dry throughout.

With the day warming up considerably, I then turned my attentions to butterflies, with large numbers seen..........

TOTTERNHOE KNOLLS AND SEWELL CUTTING AND QUARRY (BEDFORDSHIRE)

25+ DUKE OF BURGUNDY FRITILLARIES, 3 SMALL BLUE and 16 GRIZZLED SKIPPER were on the wing whilst 1-2 male EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE were purring.

BISON HILL, WHIPSNADE (BEDFORDSHIRE) (TL 000 190)

8 DUKE OF BURGUNDY FRITILLARIES and 5 GREEN HAIRSTREAK butterflies recorded, plus 4 singing male Common Whitethroats.

IVINGHOE CUTTING (BUCKS) (SP 960 165)

A further 8 mainly fresh DUKE OF BURGUNDY FRITILLARIES, a SMALL HEATH, 1-2 Orange Tips and 15 DINGY SKIPPERS in the carefully managed cutting, with 2 Red Kites overhead, several singing male Common Whitethroats and a singing male GARDEN WARBLER.

CHURCH END CUTTING (BUCKS) (SP 943 997)

My first COMMON BLUE of the year - a freshly emerged male - along with 3 SMALL BLUE, 15+ DINGY SKIPPERS, 2 Brimstone, several Green-veined White and 5 very showy GREEN HAIRSTREAKS. A male COMMON CUCKOO was calling frequently.

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