An invasion of the most beautiful kind. After several days of torrential rain we have had some dry spells. I had been noticing several Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) butterflies passing through the garden, not stopping, heading northwards. Today was lovely and sunny (showers now). We had to go out in the car and during the drive of some twenty miles hundreds of these gorgeous insects were flying across the road. When we got home they were in the garden in good numbers, this one enjoying the catnip.
Every once in awhile here in Europe we experience these ‘Painted Lady years’. Millions of them migrate out of north Africa and head our way. They stop and breed en route and the offspring continue the journey. Come the autumn the second or third generation in this country then start heading back south, they cannot survive our winter (yet).
This species is also found in America. Earlier this year I heard they had also had a mass migration in places like California with countless millions heading through.
Even after x number of years kicking around this planet I still get excited when I witness something new. Just last week was a good example. I was mowing the grass, the day had been cool and cloudy now the sun was breaking through. In a patch of nettles and other assorted wild plants a flash of orange caught my eye. Went to investigate, there to my absolute delight were three male Orange-tip butterflies (Anthocharis cardamines) roosting together on the same flower head of cow parsley. I have never seen this before so thought it better be recorded, the grass can wait!
Three. As the sun breaks through one stirsTwo. A little flutter around and a move to another flowerOne. “With those two gone think I’ll get my head down for another forty winks”
And there he stayed for the rest of the afternoon. What were they missing out on? Well as they dozed away the day two female Orange-tips were in the back garden patrolling the flower beds, unlucky boys!
I wasn’t going to do a post ’till after the weekend (spoiler alert it involves very fast noisy cars and bikes) as I’m fast running out of free WordPress gb’s and will soon have to pay our blog masters for the privilege to post more images if I want to carry on.
However we had a great day out yesterday, the weather has kicked into full spring mood, and I just wanted to share some piccies, hang the expense! First off, Mrs H and I took a walk around Foxley Wood to admire the sea of bluebells, very nice they were too. Then over to the coast and Wiveton Downs. Here we saw four newly emerged species of butterfly for the year including the first Green Haistreaks and very early Small Coppers. Nearly all the action took place around a hawthorn that was bursting into bloom, enjoy.
Remember this cute fellow from last year? The very aggressive Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi). Tina was delighted as this was the first she had seenAnother species that likes to give everyone a hard time. The Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) has a quick refuel on hawthornTaking a look at the world upside down. The years first Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)Bugs as well! This impressive creature is a Hairy Shield Bug (Dolycoris baccarum) it is only 1/2 an inch (12mm) longAlso bees! This is the beautifully coloured Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena fulva)A delicate Green-veined White (Pieris napi) enjoyed the blossomAnd to finish, my absolute spring favourite a male Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) nectars on a bluebell just minutes after Tina said she had never seen one land!
That’s another gigabyte used up! Join me next time for something completely different.
When the sun shines and temperatures reach the high 50’s F those butterflies that overwinter in hibernation are stirred into life. On Wednesday we had those conditions. After two plus weeks of continuous gales and periods of rain it was a welcome relief. Driving the four mile round trip to get my daily newspaper I spotted a couple of Brimstones, it just felt like it was going to be a good day.
The back garden is a little sun trap, surrounded by high hedges it is also nicely sheltered. Movement caught my eye, a Peacock (Aglais io), got the camera ready and popped outside. The Peacock was almost unapproachable, it was so full of testosterone (or caffine!). Anything that ventured into view was immediately chased, the poor old Bumblebees on the winter heathers where getting a hard time! Enter Peacock number two, all hell breaks loose, the two butterflies join combat and go spiraling upwards till they are so high they disappear from view. A few seconds later and he is back on the patio! Then the interloper re-appears and the performance is repeated, again and again!
The cause of all the garden grief, male Peacock
I recorded all five hibernating species in the garden. Several Brimstones danced along the flower beds and the Comma was back, it might even have been the same one from February it was looking slightly worn. My first Small Tortoiseshell of the year landed on a daffodil, this would make a lovely image such colours, just about to hit the shutter button when a certain butterfly decided the Tortoiseshell was not welcome! The Peacock was becoming a bit of a thug. I did manage to photograph the Comma before it too was attacked.
Is it the returning Comma? Quite possible
It is often hard to imagine something as delicate as a butterfly being violent but several species are well known for their appetite for a fight. The tiny Green Hairstreak and Duke of Burgundy are very aggressive so too the White Letter Hairstreak. The champion though is His Imperial Majesty the Purple Emperor (Apatura iris). This fellow is not satisfied with assaulting his own kind or any other butterfly but will attack birds up to the size of pigeons!
The last two weeks of February were an absolute joy. The totally unexpected spring like weather lifted my spirits and got me out with the camera again. Not only photographing the birdlife I encountered on my days out, but also out in the garden where I could use the macro for the first time this year.
It was lovely being in the garden. With everything pruned, weeded and mown I could just relax into the therapy that is trying to image bees in flight! This is fun, however the af of the macro does not see the funny side! Photographing the butterflies was also a bit of a challenge. The male Brimstones would enter the garden, search the ivy for any emerging mates, then zip off over the roof. On a day I didn’t have a shift at work I could spend longer observing things. This was excellent as I discovered there was a small period when the Brimstones stopped to nectar on the natural primroses in my flowerbeds. Just had to be in the right spot as they only paused for a second or two to refuel.
Ha ha got you at last! A male Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) on a primrose
There were many types of bees all being, er, busy. Their flower of choice was the winter heathers (Ericas), the pulmonaria (lungworts) were only just starting to bloom, but they would investigate any likely source of nectar and pollen.
Honey Bee approaching a wallflower, I can hear the auto focus complaining even now 😀
In all during the fabulous fortnight we had three species of butterfly in the garden. The last to appear was a Comma. The first day he (definitely a he, very territorial) showed up he was very flighty, I just could not get close. After a couple of days he either became very friendly or thought if he let me take a few snaps I would be out of his face! Whatever I got the images I wanted. The Comma was not interested in nectar but sought out the warmest places where it could eye it’s domain, when another entered the garden one day a frantic chase ensued.
Close enough? A male Comma (Polygonia c-album) in the sun
Well it’s now March and the weather is back to how it should be, wet and windy! but thankfully not cold. Looks as if I shall have to creep back inside for another couple of months.
With most of my butterfly posts I tend to highlight subjects that are rather beautiful or quite rare, sometimes both. There is one family that I have not featured very much. These are the ones that when we are out in the countryside Mrs H will call another of them little brown jobs, the Satyridae. So time to give them a moment of fame, and to be honest I have, er, ‘one or two’ images of them as I find them attractive. These are nearly all species of high summer. Their caterpillars eat various grasses, 2018 was very hot and dry and it is thought this might have an impact on numbers this coming year, we shall have to wait and see.
Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)
The Meadow Brown is the largest of the Satyridae with a wingspan of around 2 inches (50mm), it is also the UK’s most abundant butterfly. Pictured above is the female, the males are much darker with only a smudge of orange around the eyespot.
Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus)
Also called the Hedge Brown. Both names are very apt as this butterfly is mostly found around these features. It is smaller than the Meadow Brown at approx 1 3/4 inches (42mm) and with the wings closed can be confused with that species. The i.d features are two white ‘pupils’ in eyespots and diagnostically the small white spots on the lower wing. With it’s wings open there is no mistake as it’s washed with orange.
Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)
This has always been a favourite of mine. Memories of childhood as we played in the country lanes and this chocolate brown butterfly would lazily flit along the flower strewn verges.
Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)
Usually very annoying in trying to get photographs of. The Small Heath has a tendency to keep low, hidden among the grasses. It is the smallest of the browns at less than 1 1/2 inches (35mm).
Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
The longest flight period of all the Satyridae from early April to October. This species loves shady woodland, if there is a small area lit by sunlight a male will defend this as his territory.
Marbled White (Melanargia galathea)
To finish a bit of a curve ball, not all browns are brown! This beautiful butterfly is spreading it’s range. One day I hope to see them in my home County, they are not too far away.
Into February, another step closer to spring (hurrah!). We had a little drop of the white stuff mid-week, it had all gone the next day, just enough to make a mess. Some parts of our country had it bad, closing roads and airports, but stuck out in the North Sea this time it missed us. Must admit I’ve not been out with the camera since the new year, the cold does not inspire me and it’s been mostly wet and grey. Today it’s glorious sunshine (slightly frosty) so when I’ve finished here I’m out into the garden. There are two weeping willows that need pollarding and I can’t put the job off much longer!
For this post I’m cheating a bit and re-visiting a subject that I aired way back when I first started blogging…… Marsh Fritillary the stained glass window of the butterfly world.
Stunning Marsh Fritillary
Back in May 2017 I travelled up to Chambers farm wood near Wragby in Lincolnshire. In an area called Little Scrubs Meadow a colony of Marsh Fritillaries had been introduced many years earlier. Numbers were never very high, however on my visit there had been a record emergence and I saw well over a hundred, it was an amazing sight. One day I shall have to return.
Beautiful underwing pattern
Marsh Fritillary (Eurodryas aurinia) a few facts. This is a declining species that is mainly confined to the south west of the UK and Ireland. They prefer slightly boggy ground (hence the name, duh) which must have a plentiful growth of devil’s-bit scabious, the food plant of the caterpillar. These are the smallest of our Frits only up to 2″ (50mm) wingspan (larger females). They are also very short lived on average four days. The beautiful colouration (scales) is soon lost which led to them once being called the Greasy Fritillary. When fresh they remind me of stained glass! For a bit more https://blhphotoblog.wordpress.com/portfolio/marsh-fritillaries-in-lincolnshire/
I have been a huge fan of Drag Racing ever since my first visit to Santa Pod when I was 7-years-old. I love all Motor Sport but Drag Racing is still the one that gets me jumping around enthusiastically. Despite America having the larger NHRA Championships, which I also continuously follow, I have always preferred European and British Drag Racing. This is mainly because I have grown up with it - the first official FIA European Championships were held in 1996 and I haven't missed a big event at Santa Pod since 1997. When an event is on I get to the track, plonk myself down somewhere along the spectator banking and would very happily sit without moving for the entire weekend watching the racing.
