Branch Sightings

If you have any unusual sightings, take a photo and send it to us at website@northwalesbutterflies.org.uk and we can put some pictures on here to share with other members.

You can also telephone your local County Recorder with identification queries. Click on County Recorders to find out who your local Recorder is.

 

If you would like to record the butterflies and moths you see in your garden or on walks, you can get a copy of the North Wales Recording

form for butterflies by clicking here;Record Form

 

Sightings in North Wales for 2010 - The Year of Biodiversity

 

23rd April ; 6 fresh Pearl-Bordered Fritillaries in 50 minutes on Y Golfa (Welshpool) this afternoon

I will be out and about the next week or so if anyone wants to see them. 

Mobile 07866428875 Home 01691 648339  Simon Spencer

 

 

17th April Greenfield Valley (Holywell, Flintshire): - 1 Holly Blue(Top Meadow) 2 Orange Tip Males, 1 Small White 2 Small Tortoiseshells

 6 Peacocks and 7 Speckled Woods ; Pen-y-Gelli (Whitford) only 1 Peacock again Best Wishes Brian

16th April1 Comma   23 Peacocks 2 Small Tortoiseshells 5 Peacocks 2 Commas

 2 Orange Tips(1 Male and 1 Female)  1 Speckled Wood Brian

 

 16th AprilShirley Roulston sends from the Lleyn; At last the butterflies are back.

The most wonderful sight of spring, to-day a Holly Blue on a Muscari, blue on blue.  I'm trying hard to get a photo, not easy.  In my garden at Nefyn.

On the 10th April 6 Small Tortoiseshell, I found them in a field where nettles had been ground last summer and that field remained untouched during the winter.

On the 11th April 2 Peacocks. 12th- One Peacock was feeding on the  Aubrieta and I took a photo of it., look forward to seeing more butterflies as the weather improves.

Regards Shirley.  The butterflies were all seen at Nefyn.

 

10th April; visited Eyarth Rocks Reserve in glorious sunny weather (hottest of year so far) with the Myriapod and Isopod group (Millipedes, woodlice etc) who didn't find

anything of note!  I looked for feeding damage on violets in the area recently cleared of scrub, but found none. Only a single Peacock seen all afternoon; but it

has been very cold up to now. the reserve is looking great, ready for the season! Jan Miller

10th April; Brian and Sue Roberts undertook Transect Walks at Pen-y-Gelli and Greenfield Valley (Holywell) and saw the following

Greenfield Valley:- 18 Peacocks(2nd Highest Count Ever) 6 Commas and 1 Small Tortoiseshell

Pen-y-Gelli : - 1 Peacock only

8th April; John Lawton Roberts sends from Llangollen;My first butterflies of the year yesterday: 2 Peacocks and 1 Small Tortoiseshell. So spring's here. Great!

30 March - first Comma near Whitford also.

29thMarch; my first butterflies of the year at Whitford - Peacock and Speckled Wood! (latter was in the greenhouse, so may have come out early inside the warmth.) Jan Miller

 

 

Sightings in North Wales for 2009

 

17Aug Amazing numbers of butterflies these last few days - grid reference SH275 406 (Lleyn)
17 Wall Browns, 8 Small Coppers and 3 male and 1 female Common Blue's.  Footpath Nefyn Golf Course, if anyone wanted to see
 the many Walls the path is directly behind the golf shop 2mins walk from the car park, worth seeing.  The sighting to-day 17Aug.
 Regards Shirley Roulston

17Aug on a day that did not totally give ideal conditions for a Transect Walk we recorded the following in Greenfield Valley (Holywell, Flintshire): -

Large White(31) Small White(101) Green-Veined White(4) Purple Hairstreak(5) Small Copper(6) Common Blue(25) Red Admital(4) Painted Lady(23) Peacock(3) Comma(9) Speckled Wood(69) Gatekeeeper(88) Meadow Brown(20)

A total of 388  a site record for a Transect Walk-this year is turning out to be the best ever for the Valley.

Best Wishes Brian Roberts

 

14th Aug I did my transect at Rhydymwyn (near Mold) on Friday – not ideal conditions, but I did see quite a lot of butterflies – mostly Gatekeepers and meadow browns,

quite a few Common Blues and a single Small Copper – but though I searched for 3 hours I could not find any Grayling! I do hope we’ve not lost them from the site.

These last two wet summers and the cutting down of the meadow areas in which I saw Grayling larvae feeding in the first year I found them may have done the deed.

 So easy to lose these scarce species now. Jan Miller

 

 11th Aug First Holly Blue of the year seen at Saith ffynnon, Whitford, near Holywell. J. Miller
 also large numbers of whites, Gatekeepers, Painted Ladies plus some tattered meadow browns, two Small Torts and some peacocks.

11th Aug One Humming-bird Hawk-moth,  I tried so many times to get a good photo but what a job and then it was gone.  I'll be on the lookout tomorrow.
10th Aug  3 Small Coppers, Nefyn, Shirley
8th August - One Holly Blue, One Wall and at least 10 Common Blue male's and 2 female.
 The Holly Blue was in my garden at Nefyn but the Blue's were along a puplic footpath that runs along the side of Nefyn Golf Course.
Regards Shirley Roulston, Lleyn.

 

29th July Jan Miller had first Small Copper of the year at Whitford, near Holywell.

 

27 July largest numbers of whites I've ever seen in the last week, at Dinas Dinlle and Newborough forest,

along with good number of meadow browns, small tortoishells, peacocks, red admirals and pained ladys.

 Dark green fritillaries still flying on the Anglesey dunes too. Cheers Dave Thorpe.

Shirley Roulston (Lleyn)says; Yesterday around a grassy bank in a field in Prthdinllaen farm there were hundreds of different whites, also seen some freshly Painted Ladies and a stunning Peacock. On my walks to search for butterflies I ask people and a Comma has been seen and I also have seen 2 male Gatekeepers.
27 July Spotted a Holly Blue in the brambles by my field hedge today in Llanfairynghornwy Anglesey.
It's the 1st one I have seen here this year. So pleased to see it.
 John Baker   Ty'n y Coed

24th July  Thought I'd put something about latest weekly Nant y Coed (Llanfairfechan)

transect - it was sunny on and off, a bit windy for some species, but I did

record 10 species altogether, the highlight being 4 Purple Hairstreaks

sunning themselves on the upper branches (leaves) of an oak along the

stream. Really handsome in the sunshine. Luckily two started chasing each

other and flew into the transect zone, so I could count them. Commonest

species was Green-veined White, and I was pleased to see single Small and

Large Skippers. The Small are gradually increasing in this area. Ringlets

still showing but most Meadow Brown probably staying in cover.

Geoff and Kate Gibbs

 

20th July 

Sue and Brian Roberts undertook a survey of Rhydymwyn Nature Reserve this lunchtime and the results are attached.

The highlights were the sighting of three Purple Hairstreaks at the top of an Oak Tree and the possible sighting of WLH's at the top of an Ash Tree on Section 5-I

have asked advice from Helen Bantock about this before adding it to the Recording Form.


18th July Shirley Roulston saw at Nefyn Golf Course on some Bramble flowers one male Gatekeeper on Wed15th July, yesterday  the 17th  I also saw a fresh Painted Lady on a large stone down a lane in Morfa Nefyn.
 On three occasions I have seen mateing Small Tortoiseshells and a few single ones, all were very fresh and bright.  My hay field has been a success with many Meadow Browns, quite a few Ringlets as well,
I like the Ringlets dark as velvet with a white edge to the dark wings slightly smaller than the Meadow Brown.
 

 18th July  TWO CHAMPAGNE MOMENTS   

Sue and Brian popped in at Greenfield Valley (Holywell) and just had a look around Area 3(Clouded Yellow area) to see if it was fit to undertake a survey-it was so we went home and got the binoculars and clipboard and started

we were immediately inundated with butterflies including Gatekeepers Meadow Browns Small Skippers etc we had nearly finished area 3 when

I spotted this butterfly nectaring on Knapweed and immediately summoned Sue to confirm my identification

we both said in unison "Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary" we watched for several minutes , it looked quite a worn specimen but it was clearly was a SPBF. What an earth was it doing in Greenfield ,

we were looking at them at Wern-y-gaer a week or so ago but we never thought we would see one in the valley-whatever next. The other week we were undertaking a survey in the valley and I saw an Orange butterfly lift off from some fern not too far away from where we saw the SPBF today, I then thought it might have been a Comma but who knows.So in the last couple of weeks we have added two new species to the valley  Ringlet and SPBF(Champagne moment 1). We continued on the survey and when Sue added up the totals at the end of the walk we had seen 309 a new record for the valley(Moment 2)

The species seen today were: -

Small Skipper   2   (a new record for the valley)

Large White     9

Small White    43

Green-Veined White  2

Small Copper    1

Red Admiral      1

Painted Lady     3

Comma             3

Speckled Wood  26

Gatekeeper      73

Meadow Brown 123  (a new record for the site)

Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary 1

White-Letter Hairstreak      1

TOTAL    309

A good omen for the butterfly walk next Sunday

Best Wishes Brian Roberts

23rd June Great News-we have had a Brimstone in the garden this morning and then it went on to the path near the house.First time ever for our garden Survey.

Sue and I went to Wern-y-Gaer(SJ206689) at lunchtime and saw 10 SPB Frits and about 6 Small Heath. 

 

2nd. June first sightings of Large Skipper this year - Rhydymwyn (J.Miller) and Holywell (B.Roberts)

also had one Small Tortoiseshell and large Skipper in Whitford.

Hi Jan-Amazingly, since planting your buckthorn, a brimstone butterfly has appeared in the garden. The second we have ever seen here.

 What we need now is one of the other sex. Janet Robinson, Llandegla (You can buy Buckthorn from us at www.7wells.co.uk )

 

Hello from Llandudno, I read about the Painted Ladies in the Daily Telegraph (a welcome change from MP's expenses)

Last night (29th) on the Great Orme, Llandudno, Conwy, North Wales there were

hundreds and hundreds of butterflies. Many in fives and sixes chasing all

over and eventually two which alighted on the rocks and I managed to

photograph them and then see they were Painted Ladies.

Regards Dennis Oliver

The Saturday Telegraph mentioned that you'd like news about the 'painted ladies'. We saw about 4 on our ceanothus on Friday, 29/5, then about a dozen on Saturday, 30/5.

 But by 9am on Sunday 31/5 there was a 'cloud' of them of about 40-50, on both the ceanothus and the cotoneaster. I photographed them but they objected and would fly off at my movements. This morning only about a dozen remained.

Elsa Richter,Glan Conwy

Jean Brown also sends: We have hundreds of Painted Lady butterflies arrived last night 29th May in our gardens. This is in Gwaenysgor, nr Prestatyn North Wales.

 

31st May Today we did our Transects Walks as follows:-GREENFIED VALLEY (Holywell)- BRIMSTONE(1)(the first on the valley for about 4 years) WHITE-Large 7 WHITE-Small(25) WHITE-Green Veined(2)

COPPER-Small(2) BLUE-Common (18) PAINTED-Lady(27) Comma-(5) WOOD-Speckled (13) BROWN-Wall(1)

101 in total this is the first time we have exceeded 100 in May of any year

PEN-Y-GELLI (near Holywell) WHITE-Large(1) WHITE-Small(15) WHITE-Green Veined(1) COPPER-Small(1) BLUE-Commn(8) LADY-Pained(22) BROWN-Wall(1)

I yesterday did counts on the two transects yesterday for Painted Lady butterflies-only small numbers compared with other areas-only 24 in Greenfield Valley and 22 in Pen-y-Gelli.

We also went yesterday to the Silver Studded Blue Area on West Shore (Gt Orme) and in a 100metre stretch we saw over 200.Best Wishes Brian

 

30th May  8am, in Morfa Nefyn I came across a Sycamore Tree with hundreds of Painted Ladies enjoying the flowers,
 they were flying around the top of the tree, on the grassy and stoney lane, sadly no photo I was walking the dog instead, during the afternoon there were
Painted Ladies flying of the grassy cliffs and flying across the beach at Porth Dinllaen.
Also saw several Small Coppers on the golf course at Nefyn, very hot during the day. 
In the evening at home in Nefyn there were Painted Ladies coming out of the trees and bushes from my garden and flying over the house, they were going from the shade into the evening sun.  What a day!  From Shirley Roulston
30.05.09 Between 9.30-1pm when I was cycling to and from the Dingy Skipper transect in Harlech forest,
I saw at least 45 Painted Ladies, including 2 RTAs on the road. Walking back over the last section of the Dingy Skipper transect
 in front of the forest there were 20 in 10 minutes, all flying north. That is 120/hour! At the valerian by the recycling depot there were 4 or 5 nectaring .As some flew off, others flew in. Some were quite worn.
Helen Bantock
Only about 15 seen around midday nectaring in my buttercup meadow near Holywell.Jan
have a look at the BBC Springwatch messageboard to see reports from all over the country!

29th May Russel Hobson reports Painted Ladies streaming up the coast and passing Aberystwyth Castle

at the rate of 1 per minute, at lunchtime.

Great Painted Lady invasion!

Millions of Painted Lady butterflies are now arriving in Britain, after an amazing 1000 mile migration from North Africa.

Butterfly Conservation has been receiving reports since the start of the Bank Holiday weekend of sightings of large numbers of these butterflies. People throughout Britain have seen these

fast-flying butterflies moving overhead for hours on end, setting the scene for what could be one of the largest Painted Lady migrations in decades. 

The first indication of their arrival in Britain came last Thursday (May 21) when Butterfly Conservation members first reported seeing large numbers off Portland Bill in Dorset.

 Since then, thousands have been seen flying north at locations across southern England, from Cornwall to East Anglia. The fine Bank Holiday weekend weather brought

hundreds of new sightings from as far north as Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland. There were even sightings of hundreds in central London. An estimated 18,000 were spotted flying past  Scolts Head Island on the Norfolk coast yesterday and were passing at 50 a minute over a 400m front today.

Scientists have been predicting an unusually large migration since late winter. The butterflies originate from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco,

where heavy winter rains allowed good germination of the caterpillar food-plants. A Spanish researcher, Constanti Stefanescu had reported seeing hundreds of thousands emerging in mid February and beginning their long flight north. They were seen in large numbers in Spain during April and a few weeks later in France.

 Butterfly Conservation is asking for the public’s help to track the migration by recording any sightings at www.butterfly-conservation.org/migrantwatch

 Richard Fox, Surveys Manager at Butterfly Conservation, said: “There are literally millions of Painted Lady butterflies arriving right across Britain.

This is a spectacular phenomenon and we are asking people to send us their sightings via our website”.

 25th May Sue and I went again to Pen Y Gelli (near Holywell) to have one last good look to see if the Dingy Skippers were there-they weren't but we did get superb views of 2 Wall Browns fighting and then one perched just a few feet from us looking very fresh, then we saw a Painted Lady, 2 Common Blues(first sightings at PYG this year) a Holly Blue and finally a Small Copper.

We then went to Greenfield and got our first sighting this year at the site of a Wall Brown-there are still quite a few Orange Tips flying in the valley.

Shame about the Dingy's but I think that is it for them at the site.Brian Roberts

 

 24th May 10 years after Rob Whitehead suggested that they could be there, I saw four Dingy Skippers at World's End (Llangollen)
 - this after searching the likely areas every year without success. I'm really delighted.
 Best wishes to you.John Lawton Roberts

24th May Lancs and Cheshire Entomological Soc. had field trip to Eyarth Rocks in perfect weather - several tens of

Pearl-bordered Fritillaries flying.

Tired looking Painted Lady today, 24 May, in our garden in Rossett. 

Simon and Rosalind Mills

23rd May 1 Painted Lady
18th May A pair of Wall Browns copulating, 1 Small Copper and a Green-veined White.
Hope the weather will improve now, too much rain for the poor butterflies.
From Shirley Roulston in Nefyn

12th May Pearl-bordered Fritillaries are flying at Eyarth. Went there today with Huw, and had about 10. It was quite windy, so looking in a few sheltered places was the best method.
Had one male on the newly cleared area we worked on in January, and a few near to Rob's bench. Others were near to the lower gate next to Mr. Fleming's land.
The only other butterflies were a few Large Whites and a Speckled Wood.
 Cheers,Mel.
 11th May; first Dingy Skippers seen at Rhydymwyn near Mold, J. Miller

10th May; Seen first Brown Argus and Wall at the weekend on the Gower. Shame this windy weather is going to spoil things this week.Best wishes　

Russel Hobson

Head of Conservation Wales / Pennaeth Cadwraeth Cymru

**********************************************************************

Butterfly Conservation Wales/Gwarchod Glöynnod Byw 10 Calvert Terrace/Rhes Calvert Swansea/Abertawe

SA1 6AR

 

1st May; Simon Spencer sends; 3 Pearl-bordered Fritillaries in 10 mins at Y Golfa this morning 1/5/09 before the cloud came over + 1 male caught on the way back. 13C wind 2SW 100% sun on count.

 I predict that next week will be peak season if we get a good weekend.  Having been today I probably won’t go Sat or Sunday but may be available Monday.

 If people can do timed counts when the sun is shining once sites have reached thresholds there is no need to go back.

 I would do in order Y Figyn, Dolanog, Middletown (PBF confirmed), Fron Hydan and Y Frochas in that order

 Carpe Diem! No captive PBF hatched yet,BW, Simon

 

 

28th/30th April Just heard that Pearl-bordered Fritillary were flying on Middletown Hill in Montgomeryshire last weekend.

 (they usually emerge 2 to 3 weeks earlier on this site than at Eyarth-JM.)I am hoping to visit Eyarth the week of the 18th May, weather permitting.

If you do visit and do a timed count please sketch the areas where you counted on the map. This is so we can more accurately compare each others counts. Tom and I have been following a fixed route (the faint line on the map) but even more limited counts in particular areas are helpful.If you need any further information please let me know but I’m out of the office a lot over the next two weeks.

 (Jan has copies of the map)

Thanks

Russel Hobson
Head of Conservation Wales / Pennaeth Cadwraeth Cymru
Butterfly Conservation Wales/Gwarchod Glöynnod Byw
10 Calvert Terrace/Rhes Calvert
Swansea/Abertawe
SA1 6AR
(: 01792 642972 7: 01792 642985

 

22nd April A friend says he saw 2 green hairstreaks on Mynydd Marion, earlier in the week. Gill Tattershall

22nd April - Brian Roberts in Holywell;

in the garden today 1 Holly Blue and 1 Speckled Wood and assorted Whites.

 The Holly Blue is 20 days early than last year in the garden!!!

18th April' in view of the good weather Sue and I undertook our Transect Walks today as follows:-

PEN-Y-GELLI-(near Holywell) quite quiet

SMALL WHITE-2

GREEN-VEINED WHITE-1

PEACOCK-4

GREENFIELD VALLEY (Holywell)   totally different

LARGE WHITE-8

SMALL WHITE-7

GREEN-VEINED WHITE-1

ORANGE TIP-27 (A RECORD FOR THE SITE)

HOLLY BLUE-2

PEACOCK-7

SPECKLED WOOD-15

TOTAL 67

The highest number of butterflies we have ever achieved at this time of the year

 

Best Wishes

Brian and Sue

 

12 th April Greenfield Valley, Holywell, Flintshire:-

SMALL WHITE-1

GREEN-VEINED WHITE-3

ORANGE TIP-1

HOLLY BLUE-1

PEACOCK-1

COMMA-1

SPECKLES WOOD-1

PEN-Y-GELLI

PEACOCK-2

COMMA-3

OUR GARDEN(Holywell)

SPECKLED WOOD-1

GREEN-VEINED WHITE-1

Best Wishes

Brian and Sue

 

11 April 2009 Bob Harris ;One Orange Tip and One Small Tortoiseshell seen at SJ16H today,

 

11th.April; Jan Miller saw a Speckled Wood in her garden near Whitford (Flintshire) - first butterfly of the year here.

11th April Brian and Sue Roberts; on the way back from Llandudno today we popped into Pen-Y-Gelli (also near Whitford)

and saw the following:-

2 PEACOCKS, 3 COMMAS

At Greenfield, Holywell (only one area visited) we saw the following:-PEACOCK-8

ORANGE TIP(Male)-this is the second earliest we have seen Orange Tips at this site since we started monitoring the site in 2003

SMALL WHITE-1

GREEN-VEINED WHITE-1

COMMA-1

3rd.April Sue and Brian were in the Greenfield valley, Holywell, this afternoon and saw 2 Peacocks, 2 Small Whites, and a Comma

2nd.April The first butterflies of the season were very slow to appear in the garden it must be because of the cold northerly wind which was very persistant,
two weeks ago I saw two Peacock but I 'm glad to say that yesterdasy and to-day the Holly Blue have come out in force at least 6 I saw in different parts of the garden,
the Small Tortoiseshells were enjoying the sun along the edge of the field amongst the dried bracken, one white I'm sure not which.  This Tortoiseshell enjoyed the Primula this afternoon.
From Shirley Roulston Nefyn Lleyn Peninsula.

31st March 2009A bright yellow brimstone, looking very new, flying about in a garden in the centre of Hawarden today  - by Susan Burnett.

 
25th March with the nice weather after lunch today Sue and I first visited area 3 of Greenfield Valley, Holywell, where we traditionally see our first butterflies in the valley

 and sure enough the following were seen:- 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 5 Peacock, 1 Comma

We then made a brief visit to Pen-y-Gelli (about 2 miles away) where we saw only 1 Peacock.

Best Wishes, Brian Roberts 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sightings in (and near) North Wales for 2008

 

'Jontynycoed' says; It hasn't been a bad summer here at Llanfairynghornwy for butterflies.

 We have had lots of Speckled Woods and Red admirals, also a Large Skipper, some Tortoise Shells and Peacocks, a few Gatekeepers and Small Coppers

and a fair few Wall butterflies. No painted Ladies, nor any Blues however.

 

27th Sept

To-day, a lovely sunny day in Nefyn, I saw at least 30 Red Admiral's amongst flowering ivy,

higher up on its own a single Comma, its makes a nice photo, I thought you might like this one.

The flowering ivy around at the moment has brought in quite a few Small Tortoiseshell's in the past week.

 A single Small Copper also, to-day. From  Shirley Roulston, Nefyn (Lleyn Peninsula)

[Ed;a new influx of Small Tortoiseshells from the continent is said to be boosting otherwise very low

numbers this summer - Butterfly Conservation are researching what has happened to our

Small Torts this year - please let us know if you have any caterpillars or adults  on info@northwalesbutterflies.org.uk]

 

25th Sept Today in the Garden (Holywell) we saw a Wall Brown.Best Wishes,Brian Roberts

18th Sept photo of a Monarch (rare migrant from North America) seen in our garden just outside Ty'n y groes (near Betws y Coed). The verbena bonariensis gives an idea of the scale.
Elisabeth Jones .

12th Sept An unusual visitor to Conwy - the Death's-Head hawk Moth (probably Acherontia styx there are three species).

A North African species known for raiding beehives has appeared aptly in time

for Conwy's Honey Fair (13th September). It was found in the garden of Mr & Mrs

Jackson who live on Conwy Quay. The couple kindly took the incredible moth to the tropical butterfly house

 Conwy Butterfly Jungle, where it was identified and is now enjoying the warmer climate. The species has been recorded before in the

UK but it is unusual to see it so far north, the species is capable of emitting

a 'squeak' to deter predators and features in African folklore and myths as well

as being the moth featured in the film Silence of the Lambs.

Sam Humberstone

 

11th Sept.with the good weather today Sue and I went into the valley and randomly looked at Areas1, 2, and 3

AREA-1 Produced just 1 PEACOCK

AREA-2 we saw 2 PEACOCKS AND 6 RED ADMIRALS

AREA-3 We saw 2 SPECKLED WOODS, 1 G.V. WHITE, 2 PEACOCKS 1 RED ADMIRAL, 3 SMALL WHITE, 1 COMMON BLUE(Female), 1 LARGE WHITE, 1 COMMA and then as we we were talking to two people who had been on one of our Butterfly Walks we saw a Butterfly on the ground ` A WALL BROWN`, it was very patient and then started nectaring on knapweed for several minutes-but I hadn't got my camera with me, it looked relatively fresh. Thought you would be interested.Brian

 

10 Sept. a single Small Copper in my field near Whitford. J. Miller.

Brian Bull had 14 on his transect in Delamere Forest last week.

Just two sightings of humming bird hawkmoths this year. Since they were only a few hundred yards apart, less than a week apart and apparently pursuing the same thought matbe it was the same insect.

 6.Sept  2pm Heol Penrallt, Machynlleth - seen feeding on plants displayed outside the local florist

 10.Sept. 1pm Heol Maengwyn, Machynlleth - also feeding, this time on plants for sale on the market stall of the local plant nursery.

I suppose this is one way of finding flowers that haven't been battered to pieces in the rain.

 Jan Morgan

 

30th Aug One lone Small Tortoiseshell among all the Red Admirals, Peacocks and Large Whites

on the buddleia in my garden near Holywell. J.Miller; Butterfly Conservation are researching what has happened to our

Small Torts this year - please let us know if you have any caterpillars or adults  on info@northwalesbutterflies.org.uk

 24th Aug.Please find attached pic of red underwing sighted 12 noon sunday 24th Aug.At Groes Fawr Llandyrnog (my garden) LL16 4NB

Many thanks, Gordon Cox

John Hicks reports from Tal y bont that he has had two sightings of Convolvulus Hawk moth in his garden

 recently. As usual, they preferred the Nicotiana affinis plants. Some campers in a nearby field had one on their tent!

(see Newsletter Spring 2007 for his article on this, and get the plant from www.7wells.co.uk)

 

23rd. AugGill Dobson saw a Dark-green frit in Pandy Quarry, nr Pantymwyn (SJ195658)(near Mold) this morning. We  also saw a brighter orange frit in the same place on 15th, possibly a male 

(confirmed by photo)

23rd. August Brian Roberts (Holywell) says; we took the break in the bad weather to undertake our 2 Transect Walks today:-

Pen-y-Gelli (near Whitford)we recorded the following:-

Large White-7

Small White-9

Small Copper-2

Common Blue-51 (2nd highest figure ever)

Red Admiral-26    (Record for the site)

Peacock-10

Comma-4

Speckled Wood-2

Wall-1

Meadow Brown-1

Total 113 (Highest ever for a Transect Walk at Pen-y-Gelli)

we even had a possible Purple Hairstreak but couldn't be 100% certain.

GREENFIELD VALLEY(Holywell):-

Large White-9

Small White-19

Green-Veined White-8

Common Blue-8

Holly Blue-1

Red Admiral-5

Small Tortoiseshell-1

Peacock-8

Comma-6

Speckled Wood-39

Gatekeeper-27

Meadow Brown-9

Total 140

We are now averaging 79 butterflies per visit making it the 2nd best season we have had at the valley after 2006.

So after a poor start it has improved.

14th August 1 female 3 male Common Blue,   7 Small Copper and 1 Wall Brown

15th August 1 Grayling (photo below) at Morfa Nefyn, Lleyn Peninsula. From Shirley Roulston

 

10th Aug Janet Robinson reports a Dark-green Fritillary below the Horseshoe Pass, near Llangollen

(confirmed by photo)

7th August a single Grayling as well as Common Blue, Small Copper and many whites and Meadow Browns and gatekeepers

finally found on my transect at Rhydymwyn again! glad the Grayling are still there after not having seen any since 2006. J. Miller

 

2nd August and 5th August I saw a Painted Lady on the 2nd and  a Wall Brown on the 5th, also in Nefyn (lleyn Penninsula).

 The Painted Lady was very tatty but still to-day was on the Buddleia. Regards Shirley

 

Richard Smith sends; This round up covers reports received since last "Frits About" on 26th July.
Reports continue to be "very few and far between", no doubt a sign of the continuing poor survey weather , except perhaps for that exceptional last weekend of July.
Summary:  PBFs long finished, and also Small Pearl-Bordered with just one new report  (of an earlier sighting) received, Marsh Frit adults well finished (but recent record received of a new local population on known habitat in the Dulais valley in NPT) but larval webs now visible, Dark Green well and truly worn (probably now finished), High browns are now also looking worn and soon to finish on one current Welsh site, and several more reports of Silver-washed.
Look out now onwards:  Marsh frit webs for several weeks yet *, and hopefully some more SWF sightings to come over next few weeks.
(* Butterfly Conservation will be running a volunteer training day in S E Wales in late August/early September for MF larval web surveys).
PBF No further detailed reports.
SPBF- Anglesey. Richard Williams, a volunteer in NW Wales "new to butterflies" has contributed records and photographs, including of one SPBF at Dinas Dinlle near Caernarfon. 
MF Only one more report of adults, but a very significant one.
Neath Port Talbot /Powys/Brecon Beacons National Park: The Ystradgynlais area (metapopulation) habitat survey in 2004/5 had found 9 local populations, of which 7 were previously unrecorded and over 100 hectares of suitable habitat concentrated in a landscape area of suitable patches in a wishbone shape with a block of hills over 350m between the "arms". The arm along the Dulais valley north of Crynant (NPT) held plenty of good suitable habitat but no definite evidence of a population, despite casual follow up searches. However a targeted consultant survey in Seven Sisters, necessitated by a proposed development nearby, found not only 23 adult MFs on the wing over 2 days in late May/early June, but also a narrow bordered bee hawk moth, plus small heath & dingy skipper. This not only adds a record of a 10th local population in this important MF landscape area, but one of the best MF adult numbers reported in Wales this year and only the 6th recent site f
or Narrow Bordered Bee HawkMoth!
Only one more report received of MF larval webs since last Frits About:
N W Wales: Helen Bantock found one web at Morfa Harlech on 30th July.
August and September are generally the time to look for larval webs.
 

DGF- Vale of Glamorgan: Alun valley. DGFs still recorded on all 3 transect routes in small numbers, but latterly (3rd Aug) only from sheltered valley bottom route.
 (7th Aug) we still had dark green frits about at Stackpole (a few seen but most looking a bit worn and tatty). I think their numbers have generally been quite good over here, with up to 20+ at a time seen on the Range in some areas when they were at their peak in early July. Bob Haycock

 N W Wales (Anglesey): Richard Williams, a volunteer in NW Wales "new to butterflies" has contributed records and photographs, including of one DGF at Dinas Dinlle near Caernarfon and "dozens" of DGFs at Aberfraw Dunes. No dates supplied, but "in month or so" before reports sent in (on 24th July).   
 

HBF
Vale of Glamorgan: Alun valley. HBFs still recorded on all 3 transect routes in small numbers, but latterly (3rd Aug) only from sheltered valley bottom route.

SWF Earliest UK 2008 sighting (BC web site) = 26 June, Wiltshire.
Six more reports since the 4 locations in last "Frits About":
- Pembs: Lin Gander & Ruth Harding saw three silver-washed in Pengelli forest NNR (Pembs) on Sunday 27th July.
- Carms: Isabel Macho was thrilled to see "27 July: 1 SWF flying over the Doethie river and along bank at SN776467" and 

"2 August: 2 SWF feeding on bramble flowers and knapweed in unimproved grassland at Cwm Rhaeader woods SN760433".
- Brecon Beacons National Park (Carms): RGS and Julian Friese watched an SWF nectaring on bramble in a disused quarry at SN726247 along the Sawdde valley, S E of Llangadog, on Friday 8th August, after looking for hairstreaks nearby.
 

Neath Port Talbot: 1 fresh male recorded basking on low bracken in Afon (Argoed) Forest Park in very dull weather on Sunday 3rd August by RGS. (This was the only butterfly seen in a 15 minute break from a butterfly ID course!  Unfortunately, no-one else saw it!).
- Gower: a SWF sighting last week from Gareth who walks a multi-species transect at Millwood on the Gower (SS485883). 

Bob Haycock still has silver-washed frits at Stackpole. Counted a couple doing my butterfly transect on 7th AUG- they were in much better condition and I would hope they will be around for a week or more yet. Noted the quite first easy to find marsh frit webs of the late summer when leading a Castlemartin Range guided walk on Sat 26th July. Further surveys planned later in the month.
Annie and I have noted (around Martletwy area) brown hairstreaks out quite early (also noted on a butterfly transect walk) in late July and a week ago a purple hairstreak in oaks along the roadside walk - our first for the 1 km square (possibly even a new record for the 10 km square). Are the hairstreaks having a good year in general?
Most other species are doing ok this summer over here at Stackpole in good habitat, possibly less well away from good habitat zones. Though there seems to be a desperate shortage of small tortoiseshell and peacock butterflies on the transects I do. Their populations appear to have collapsed completely this year! I have read about a parasitic fly - is this impacting either or both of these species? So far Comma numbers appear to be reasonably typical and ok.Best wishes,Bob Haycock
Do please keep your info coming in.Good hunting to all,
 

July 31 On this night in my garden 15W actinic trap, I recorded the second Blomer's Rivulet Discoloxia blomeri (photo attached) since I started trapping five seasons ago. The first was on June 19 2006 and on that occasion I was using a 125W MV lamp. Also had a first for the garden on the night of July 30 when a Scallop Shell Rheumaptera undulata was in a 125W MV Robinson trap the next morning. Butterflies are beginning to appear in small numbers, the best day so far being August 1 with 1 Small Copper (on common ragwort), 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 5 Red Admirals (both on buddleia) and a Gatekeeper and a few meadow browns on knapweed.

Peter H Rathbone,Llanarmon-yn-Ial

30th:July Geoff Gibbs reports: our butterlfy transect (Llanfairfechan SH695739): SpWd, GvW, LgeW,

Holly Blue, Comma, PK, MBrown, Purple Hairstreak

 

30th July Brian and Sue Roberts: Greenfield Valley (Holywell) transect this afternoon with the following results: -

SMALL SKIPPER-3, LARGE WHITE 19, SMALL WHITE 34, GREEN-VEINED WHITE 4,

PURPLE HAIRSTREAK  1,  WHITE LETTER HAIRSTREAK  2, COMMON BLUE 2, HOLLY BLUE  2

RED ADMIRAL 1,COMMA 4, SPECKLED WOOD 37, GATEKEEPER  46,MEADOW BROWN 48,
TOTAL  203

 

29th July I have had a red underwing moth on my front window for the last 24 hours. The books I have indicate this moth to
prefer the south UK. I thought this might be useful.
regards Ian Landon, Wrexham

Bryan Formstone, moth Recorder for Denbighshire replies; [If you want to contact your local Recorder,

click here; County Recorders]

Thanks for the Red Underwing record. It is scarce in Denbighshire VC50, with records from only three 10km squares, mostly around Gresford and Rossett.

I will e-mail Ian for his address to work out the Grid Ref.  If he lives in the south of Wrexham, it will be a new 10km Sq record.

I have records of four scarce Denbighshire moths recorded recently, including a photo of a Scarce Silver Lines from my garden.

 I'll send them to you for theNorth Wales Butterfly website.Best Wishes Bryan

Recent Denbighshire V.C.50 records include Scarce Silver Lines (Photo) at M.V. Light in my Gresford garden on 27-7-08. As its name suggests it is scarce in the county, it has been recorded 18 times since 1976, but only in one 10km square, and all in theGresford and Rossett area.
Justin  Williams has only been recording moths at M.V. Light in his Marford garden this year and has found Leopard Moth on 28-7-08 the last county record was 1992. He also recorded Lesser-spotted pinion which has been found in only four 10km squares.
A moth which is recorded more frquently is the Dingy footman which before 2005 had only been found in the county once at Tal y cafn in 1976 (Hugh Michaelis).
Peter Rathbone had several in his garden near Llanarmon yn ial in 2005 & 2006. John Smith has had three in his garden trap recently, and Justin Williams has had two. 

 

28th Geoff Gibbs; Nant ffrancon SH 628642 Large Skipper

27thJuly  Cors Geirch SH33135: Speckled Wood, Gv White, Ringlet, M Brown, Large White, Gatekeeper, Holly Blue

        Nanhoron SH282319: Comma, Meadow Brown, Large White, Common Blue, Gv White, Small Tort (rarity!)

        Talsarn SH273299: Gatekeeper, GvW, Speckled Wood, Meadow brown

        Rhosneigwl SH255292: Gv White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown,
        Ty Mawr  SH255289 GvWhite, Gatekeeper, Speckled wood
 
27thJuly Brian and Sue have just had a Wall Brown in their garden in Holywell -it has been in twice today.

26th July With respect to the head green keeper at Nefyn Golf Club,  he has left area's to grow wild, wild flowers which flowered and brought in a huge selections of butterflies, last Wednesday the 23rd July, in one hour I saw Small Skippers, Ringlets side on to the blackberry flowers, Meadow Browns, one stunning Comma, Small Tortoiseshell's,  Gate Keepers and one Common Blue which was such a bobby dazzler that I ended with loads of photos.  The heat has kept me away from there since, its like an oven up there. From Shirley

 

24th July Richard Williams sends; Hi, I'm new to butterflies.  I've been taking photos over the last month or so and have been getting to know some of the butterflies around Snowdonia, Anglesea and the Lleyn. The common butterflies I have got to grips with.  It's getting interesting now with fritillaries.  Beautifull.  My first deliberate search for fritillaries was 2 days ago.  Walking through tall grasses and rag-wort in a sand dune acompanied by meadows, ringlets and gate-keepers they appeared. At first a couple then dozens.  The dunes were alive, a special moment. I would like to share a photo with you. From the books I believe they were all SPBFs.

 Today I went in search of a magical moment in a different set of dunes, again accompanied by a flying troop of meadows, graylings and gate-keepers with appearances from small coppers and common blues. There were many small butterflies around and I managed to get a shot of the underside of one. Low and behold the markings are very similar to the SPBF however unlike the sightings 2 days previous was tiny in comparison about the size of a copper. On leaving the dunes I managed to get a shot of a large butterfly, the underside was hairy green like the dark green frit or the high brown, the photo is an upper shot and difficult to see clearly.

 

Allan Brandon reports Small Copper and Small Heath at Dinas Dinlle SH4356 (23rd July?)

Fritillaries Wales-wide

This round up covers reports received since last "Frits About" on 8th July.

Reports have been very few and far between, no doubt a sign of poor survey weather until this last week.

Summary:  Pearl-Bordered Fritillaries long finished, and only one new report of Small Pearl-Bordered received (8th July), MF adults well finished (last 15th June) but larval webs now visible, Dark Green beginning to look well worn, High browns are still doing OK on their one current Welsh site, and some reports now of Silver-washed.

Look out now onwards:  Marsh frit webs for several weeks yet, late DGFs (and HBFs) and hopefully some more SWFs to come over next few weeks.
........................................................................................................................................................................................

PBF No further detailed reports.

SPBF
- Pembs. Maggie Humble kindly contributed: "1 SPB (rather old) on same path as DGFs at SM 745281 on 8th July"
North Wales - Snowdonia/Lleyn 24th, R Williams
 

Marsh Fritillary No more reports of adults, not surprisingly. The last report was on 15th June from Hirwaun.
Gower: However, Julian Woodman & Karen Wilkinson noticed two larval webs on Welsh Moor:
"JW - SS 5170 9278, on  'the bank'
KW - SS 5192 9302, near Welsh Moor Farm.
Both on the common north of the road. Had a look around rest of common, didn't finish mapping habitat quality but some nice habitat and well grazed".
 

DGF
Earliest UK 2008 sighting (BC web site) = Glamorgan on 2nd June.

- Vale of Glamorgan: Alun valley. The nine weekly fixed route timed counts, in total, included 79 definite DGFs + an estimated 385 DGFs by proportioning the 541 unid large frits, in 35 hours of observations.  This gives an index for 2008 to date of 13 per hour, which is still considerably higher than for the same period in 2007 (194 DGFs in 26 hours = 7.5 per hour).
- Bridgend: Despite a second search of the Dimbath/Mynydd Y Gaer site near Blackmill, by RGS on 21st July in 24C, mostly sunny, no fritillaries at all were recorded. A further final visit is intended, weather permitting!
 
- Gower: 1 Dark Green Fritillary on Fairwood Common, Gower on 17th June, recorded by Russel Hobson.


- Pembs: Maggie Humble reported "8 x DGF on top of cliff & stretch of bracken behind @ SM 748288 and 1 x DGF on green lane (photo available) SM 743283, all on 8th July" 

 
- North Wales (Monts): RGS, John Sherwood & Martin White recorded 12 Dark Green Fritillary at Dolanog on 14th July, in typical (for that site) warmish but mostly overcast & breezy with a little sun.
24th- Snowdonia/Lleyn R. Williams
 

- Neath Port Talbot: RGS recorded 15 DGFs at Bryn, between Maesteg and Port Talbot, on reclaimed coal tips long re-vegetated.

HBF

Earliest UK 2008 sighting (BC web site) = Devon on 10th June.

Vale of Glamorgan: Alun valley. The eight weekly fixed route timed counts since 12th June when HBF first recorded here this year, in total, included 36 definite HBFs + an estimated 156 HBFs by proportioning the 541 unid large frits, in 30 hours of observations.  This gives an index for 2008 to date of 6.25 per hour, which is slightly lower than for the same period (10th June to 29th July) in 2007 and considerably lower when you take account of the extraordinarily high numbers in first week of June 2007.

Bridgend: Despite a second search of the Dimbath/Mynydd Y Gaer site near Blackmill, by RGS on 21st July in 24C, mostly sunny, no fritillaries at all were recorded. A further final visit is intended, weather permitting!

SWF

Earliest UK 2008 sighting (BC web site) = 26 June, Wiltshire.

At last there are a few reports:

- Vale of Glamorgan: 1 recorded on Upper North transect in Alan valley on 20th July.

- Cardiff : Ben Williams observed 6 in about an hour at the regular Forest Fawr site, neat Castell Coch.

- North Wales (Monts): Martin White recorded 1 at Allt Dolanog on the fritillary transect on 14th July.

- Bridgend: Despite a second search of the Dimbath/Mynydd Y Gaer site near Blackmill, by RGS on 21st July in 24C, mostly sunny, no fritillaries at all were recorded. A further final visit is intended, weather permitting! (SWF re-appeared here in 2006).

Do please keep your info coming in.Good hunting to all, Richard Smith

 

 

22nd July; Brian Roberts sends; I managed a walk around one section of the Greenfield Valley, Holywell today when the sun was out and saw the following;-

2 White-Letter Hairstreaks

6 Small Whites

9 Meadow Browns

7 Small Skippers

6 Gatekeepers

4 Large Whites

1 Comma

1 Speckled Wood

That is the first sighting of WLH's in the valley this year

 

20th July Brian Roberts says; after several surveys this year at Pen-y-Gelli (near Holywell)

we have seen no Dingy Skippers in any of the two areas they  usually appear-I just hope we have not lost them,

talking of which, I was worried when they mowed the whole of the Battery Pool area at Greenfield Valley that

 we may have lost the Small Skippers but today we saw the largest number we have seen this year-5,

so hopefully they will be ok-despite sun there was no sign of either Purple or White Letter Hairstreaks.

 

15th July Shirley Roulston reports from the Lleyn; a beautiful Small Copper.

and 14th July a Comma and a Gate Keeper

 

14th July  this Dark Spinach came to my moth trap on this evening. Last recorded in VC 48  in the 1920's!

Helen Bantock, Traeth Dy, Harlech, Gwynedd

 

14th July John Good says; I spent several minutes watching what must have been a newly emerged (pristine) Dark Green fritillary

 nectaring on a plant of Dactylorhiza fuchsia in my garden yesterday. I have never seen one

in Penmaenmawr before (lived here since 1979), so very excited! I did not get a photo.

 but no doubt about the identification.

Butterflies generally v. few in number in my garden so far apart from holly blues early on and

sequential Speckled woods.

 

13th July; Yvonne Keeping sends this sighting and query from Anglesey: This weekend I released a Humming Bird hawk moth from our cottage at Penmon and it went straight

outside and started feeding on the Valerian.  We saw this moth last year for the first time in our garden.

  I have also seen the largest caterpillar I have ever seen near Llangefni.  It was walking along a road and

 was about 3 inches in length, brown and furry.  I cannot find reference to such a large caterpillar and

wonder if you could tell me what  it was.  It was near a boggy area.

[- any ideas?please e-mail info@northwalesbutterflies.org.uk if you think you know what it might be.

You can buy Valerian plants (and many others) from us and help our funds at the same time at; www.7wells.co.uk ]

 

11th July Shirley Roulston noticed a few Ringlets about in Nefyn, on the same day a Small Skipper,

13th July a Holly Blue I expect it from the 2nd batch,

 

"Frits About" 8th July; The following  round up from Richard Smith covers reports of Fritillaries from all over Wales received since last "Frits About" on 15th June.

scroll down for more local North Wales sightings of all species.

 
Photo courtesy of Clive Jones - mating Dark Green Fritillaries in Rhiw Forgan, Vale of Glamorgan.
 

Whilst PBFs is clearly long finished, good numbers of reports of Small Pearl-Bordered continue to be received, although reports of Dark Green are surprisingly few and far between. High browns are doing OK on their one current Welsh site, but no reports so far of Silver-washed. Marsh frits seem to have ceased around mid June, with poor numbers generally, except Castlemartin!

Pearl-Bordered Fritillaries

No further detailed reports, although Simon Spencer tells me that there were a few worn females still around quite late in season on one of the Monts sites.


Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillaries

- Carms. Clive Jones found 2 SPBF on a visit to the ride in Pembrey Forest on June 19th.
RGS did manage to find one SPBF this year (failing in 2006) on the Plantlife reserve at Pen-y-graig, SN605443.
- North Wales. Simon Spencer reports "a rather worn SPBF (selene) at Dolanog (Monts) on 19/6/2008".

- Ceredigion: David Woolley tells me "1 SPBF at Llawrcwrt on 7th June. They seem to hang on here but I seldom see more than one at a time and annual index is in single figures".
 
- Pembs. Mike Howe (PCNPA) reported 2 SPBF from Mynachlogddu, presumably some time during the first half of June.
 

Maggie Humble kindly contributed: "2 SPB in the small valley (beside fort ramparts) at Nine Wells on 6th June (SM787244);
2 SPB recorded at the top of the main valley at Nine Wells (near the irrigation pond) on 10th June (SM788245);

<>Morfa Common: 3 SPB recorded near the field wall at the back of the common (i.e. away from the sea) on 7th June (SM781244) &

Carn Perfedd: 2 SPB recorded here on 15th June, 1 each at SM750286 and SM751282".

- Radnorshire.  Julian Jones came across 16 SPBF on Gilfach transect on 19th June. 


- RCT. On both 7th June and on 15th June, Mark Evans recorded just one SPBF at Hirwaun siding.
 

- RGS recorded 5 SPBF on PR1&2, near Tonyrefail, on 16th June (but no MFs by then). 

- Vale of Glamorgan. The HBF transect in Alun valley yielded just 1 SPBF sighting on 23rd June, but none since.

- Brecknock. Clare Williams reports 2 SPBF at the Usk reservoir on 12/06/08 at SN820273.
 Norman Lowe found 5 Small Pearl-bordered Frits at Usk Reservoir on 30th June (but no signs of NBBHM sadly) and
on 1st July, "several" at Blackrock Quarry, nr Cwm Clydach.
 

Jon Wohlgemuth reports on 9 June 2008 - 1 SPBF @ Woodland Park (SN94410787).

<> Andy King found: "28/6, one at Cilieni valley, MOD Sennybridge (Epynt) within SN905372 where reports have been made in recent years". 


Marsh Fritillaries

Brecknock (& BBNP):
Jon Woglhgemuth reports 2 MFs from Cwm Cadlan NNR on 6th June. This is particularly encouraging because they were first (at least in modern times since the sheep were taken out!) reported here in 2006, the same year that both adult & larval web numbers were high at Cors Bryn y Gaer. Although there were no reports last year, it seems that a "local patch colonisation" did occur in 2006 and has persisted.

Ceredigion: David Woolley tells me that Rhos Llawr Cwrt had its second worst year on record for MFs (in 25 years).

Pembs:  Mike Howe (PCNPA) reports (early June) "10 MFs found at Penrallt Ddu, near Pontfaen; 1 found at Wern, Mynachlogddu and 2 MF near Llanycefn.

RCT: On both 7th June and on 15th June, Mark Evans recorded 3 MFs at Hirwaun siding.



Dark-Green Fritillaries

Earliest UK 2008 sighting (BC web site) = Glamorgan on 2nd June.

- Vale of Glamorgan: Alun valley. The seven weekly fixed route timed counts, in total, included 70 definite DGFs + an estimated 364 DGFs by proportioning the 480 unid large frits, in 25 hours of observations.  This gives an index for 2008 to date of 17 per hour, which is considerably higher than for the same period in 2007 (189 DGFs in 20.5 hours = 9 per hour).

- Pembs: Both Joyce Jones (BC volunteer) and Mike Howe (PCNPA) independently reported DGFs from the coast path from Strumble Head to Pwll Deri at about SN 884398 to 898415. As Joyce enthuses "There was about 1 every 20 meters along this path. They were more numerous in an area of bracken between two buildings one each side of the path.(probably old WW2 lookout posts). I had no books or camera with me but thought they were either dark green or high brown. They were flitting around seldom settling. When one or two did settle the wings were flat or partly folded, there was a greenish sheen on the hind wing. They sometimes fed on bramble, hawkweed and thyme".

- North Wales (Monts): Simon Spencer reports "Quite good numbers of very fresh Dark Green Fritillary at Dolanog today -  19/6/2008.  No High Brown.  Managed to get enough sunshine to do the 3 transects.  Warmish but windy.  DGF & SPBF mainly in flush on East transect."

- Radnorshire: Julian Jones advises "Gilfach transect on 19th June - 2 DGF".



High Brown Fritillaries

Earliest UK 2008 sighting (BC web site) = Devon on 10th June.

Vale of Glamorgan: Alun valley. The six weekly fixed route timed counts since 12th June when HBF first recorded here this year, in total, included 19 definite HBFs + an estimated 116 HBFs by proportioning the 480 unid large frits, in 21 hours of observations.  This gives an index for 2008 to date of 6.5 per hour, which is slightly lower than for the same period (10th June to 7th July) in 2007 (94 HBFs in 12 hours = 8 per hour). However, from the start of the flight period in 2007 (1st June) 289 HBFs had been recorded in 17 hours, giving an index of 17 for the first 6 weeks of its 2007 flight period (as 195 HBF sightings were estimated from 3 visits in those first ten days of June 2007).

Bridgend: Despite searches of the Dimbath/Mynydd Y Gaer site near Blackmill, by RGS on 1st July in 24C, mostly sunny, no fritillaries at all were recorded. A further visit is intended, weather permitting!


Silver-Washed Fritillaries

Earliest UK 2008 sighting (BC web site) = 26 June, Wiltshire.

Nothing to report yet, although violets abundant in suitable parts of Alun valley woods.

...........................................................................................................................................................................................

Do please keep your info coming in.

Good hunting to all, Richard Smith

 

24th June Sue and Brian Roberts went to Wern-y-Gaer (near Rhes y Cae, Flintshire) today and saw an extremely fresh Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary and also our first Small Heath of the year.

and from Jill Tattershall; A Meadow Brown spotted in our field (Conwy), on 20th June and a Ringlet, in the woodland edge yesterday (23rd). Red Admiral feeding on Red Valerian in the garden today. Since I last sent you my records, I've seen single sightings of several species - 25th May, 1 tatty Painted Lady; 2nd June, 1 Common Blue and a bedraggled Wall and on the 6th June, 1 Small Copper. Also saw several sightings of Commas. Currently, there's a large cluster of Peacock caterpillars on the Nettles. A few weeks ago a cluster of tiny Tortoiseshell caterpillars were seen but very few individuals spotted since. Despite it being a bit on the cool side, we put our loaned moth trap out for the first time last night. Such anticipation! Caught one! A Heart and Dart. Our first Moth.
Kind Regards, Jill and Mark.

 

14th June Despite 2008 being a most disappointing year for moths and butterflies I did trap what turned out to be

 only the second ever Denbighshire record for Beautiful Brocade Laconobia contigua

on the night of June 14 in my garden at Llanarmon-yn-Ial. The first record was in 1954

in Llansannan so this is the first for 54 years. Peter Rathbone

Beautiful Brocade Laconobia contigua

 

14th June Pete Heywood says he has 'been struggling for butterflies this week the weather hasn't been too good

 when I can get out but did see a Small Copper at Worlds End while looking for Dragonflies

surprised to see him up there also saw 2 Small Heaths Cheers, Pete
 
14th June enquiry to website from Claire Allen; For the last two days there has been a white moth in one of my plant pots on the patio. It has laid some small eggs on the leaf of the plant and is now underneath some ivy i have growing in that pot. It is just under 2cms approx in length, with fluffy white head and white wings and a few spread out brown spots. Very pretty to look at.
 I have briefly searched for which species it is on the internet but can not see anything similar. I was wondering if you could help me identify it.
 I live on the Vaynor housing estate in Newtown, Powys. There isn't much cover here for wildlife and it is rare you see anything like this.
 then again, later; 'I have just emailed to say i had a strange looking white moth in my garden and needed help identifying it.

I have just found an identical looking moth on the internet and believe it is a White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda. I have also read that they are quite common. I am sorryto have bothered you. Should i record this sighting anywhere?
 Regards Claire Allen

 

 11th June Shirley Roulston says she has ' been going a bit further afield, Nefyn golf course

 its very interesting if you can avoid being hit by a golf ball, to-day I saw a Large Skipper,

 I've never seen one before and it was ages in settling but the camera was waiting and I got it.

 Lots Common Blues and Speckled Woods about. Shirley.

10th June Large Skippers seen in the following three places:-

1. Path near our home (Holywell):- 2 Seen  (08/06/2008)

2. Greenfield Valley:-    1  Seen  (10/06/2008)

3. Our Garden:-            1 Seen   (8th and 9th June)

Also Small Copper seen in the Greenfield Valley on 9th June

Our First Red Admiral in the Garden seen today (10th)

Common Blue in the Garden on the 9th

 Brian Roberts

 

(15th)mid-June; Richard Smith sends Fritillary news from all around Wales;

This round up covers reports received since last "Frits About" on 3rd June.
As you might expect reports of PBFs have dried up (last noted on wing 31st May), whereas dark green & high brown are now on wing, but nothing yet for silver-washed. Depending on locality, you might still be lucky to find the odd remaining MF.

Pearl-Bordered Fritillaries (PBF)

North Wales...."31st May.  Set off on Saturday , to carry out what we hoped to be a peak count of PB Frits at Eyarth. The day was sunny and warm,but a quick walk about on the reserve suggested we were too late to carry out our task. In a morning survey from 11am to 12-30pm, we made a count of just 17 individuals. A similar count, of the whole reserve,in the afternoon yielded an even poorer 13 butterflies.It seemed pretty clear we had missed the peak count by some days,if not a week or more,cheers David".
A count done by Tom Knight on 24th May of only 15 individuals in 2 hours.
Russel also did a count on May 17th and got just 2 pbfs, so I think we have covered the flight period pretty well, but that they must just have suffered in the poor summer last year?" Jan

Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillaries (SPBF)

- Carms. Clive Jones found 2 SPBFs along the butterfly ride in Pembrey Forest on 4th June. He'd be interested to know if anyone has other SPBF records from this forest. Pat Owen has recorded SPBF again at Pembrey (Sat 31st May - just one individual).
- Jon Baker reports: "One SPB Frit seen at Wharley Point near Llansteffan yesterday (2nd June)... SN3310, but the site is very under-grazed this year and becoming swamped in Bracken".
- North Wales. David Thorpe reports (on 3rd June): "SPBFs flying in bogs in Caernarfonshire, on Anglesey dunes at Aberfraw and Rhosneigr and on limestone sites on Anglesey too. Counts of 10+ in Aberfraw dune slacks last Thursday (29th May). Cors y Wlad is the best site in Caernarfonshire with several 1000s on the wing last June".
 - David Cheetham photographed a SPBF at Plas y Brenin Outdoor Centre in Snowdonia on 2nd June.

- Pembs. David Redhead, on a visit from Oxon, reported "Our other major success was 7 Small Pearl-bordered Frits on Monday (2nd June) on the coast path between St David's and Solva - 4 on Morfa Common and 3 in the lowest rampart of the fort just to the east".
- Clive Jones put me onto the Pembs Bird web-site which showed 2 SPBFs at Strumble Head ("recently" on 3rd June) and 5 SPBFs near Fishguard "Coastguards/Stena small store building" on 10th June.
 
- Tonyrefail (RCT). On 29th May, Ben Williams recorded two SPBFs (but no MFs) at PE1. He also went to PR2 and saw two SPBFs.
- RGS recorded 1 fresh SPBF on PE2 on 6th June. 

- Ben Williams recorded 26 SPBFs in Cwm Clydach (RCT) on 9th June.

- Karen Wilkinson & Julian Woodman recorded about 10 SPBFs on Cors Bryn y Gaer SAC, Hirwaun (RCT) on 9th June.

- Vale of Glamorgan. The HBF transect in Alun valley knotched up 4 SPBFs on 9th June, but just 2 on 14th June. A visit by RGS to Stalling Down, near Cowbridge failed to find any SPBF for second successive year. 

- Brecknock. Andy King reports: "Timing appears on cue and about right for this area, with:

1.   (Via Gareth Rees) Just one at Usk Reservoir (South Bay) SN820275 at 320 metres ASL on Saturday 7th June. 
2.   (Via myself)  There was also just one fresh one at the verge, A470 under Craig y Fro, Beacons lunchtime SN971209 (ca 400 metres ASL), 8th June in 23 minutes search.
3.  (Via myself).However, a new site that I always thuoght looked good for the larger frits (but never checked out) is the south facing lower slopes of Buckland Hill, SO138207 at 220 metres ASL.  Flying by 08:30 am this morning, I had 12 in thirteen minutes, all seemingly very fresh.  The heat at this site today, even early in the day, was impressive due to its shelter and aspect South facing is probably going to be the earliest we have. Common land, now ungrazed for a couple of years.  Bracken fairly dense but patches of trash more open, several wet flushes and lots of violet.
4.  Called into a known site SPBF site on 10th June and had 2 in 9 minutes at Coed Cowyn Wood, Irfon valley west of Builth Wells. SN982493".
- RGS recorded one fresh SPBF (first for site?) at Blaen y Gors Farm, just south of Ystradgynlais on 10th June.
- RGS recorded (and 25 people witnessed!) one very fresh SPBF at Pen y Graig Goch Farm, near Llandeussant (known site) on a Flora Locale visit hosted by owner Ruth Watkins on 11th June. SN7422.
 
Gwent: Aberbargoed Grasslands SAC (Gwent/Glamorgan border). - Mark Allen saw 12 SPBF's on 10th of June.
- Martin Anthoney advises a new SPBF site on 7th June at Cwm SO18740395, with (at least) two seen on a recovering tip.

Marsh Fritillaries (MF)

Ceredigion: - Lin Gander visited Rhos Pil Bach, Friday 27th June.  No frits seen.
- Lizzie Wilberforce adds: "We visited Rhos Glyn yr Helyg last week (Friday 6th) and sadly saw no marsh frits in the 20 mins or so that we were in the main marsh frit area. We didn't find any webs there last Sept either (normally get about 16)".

Carms: - Russel Hobson found 1 fresh MF female at Caeau Ffos Fach, Cross Hands on 29th May.
- Jon Baker found "no Marsh Frits seen in 30 minutes at Pembrey MOD on Sunday (1st June). VERY sad".
- Deborah Sazer spent most of her time on marginal or unknown sites around Mynydd Mawr finding only "one or two individuals".
 - RGS reports (to WT) "called in at Rhos Cefn Bryn (nr Llannon) on 11th June and just managed to get around the first (northern) field in the 15 minutes which I had. Habitat looks good generally and I counted 6 marsh fritillaries.

Pembs: - Bob Haycock replied to last Frits About...."We also found several pupa and recent pupal cases and photographed some at Castlemartin. Actually we were not completely sure if they were MF at the time but it is useful to see Helen's image as it confirms our initial ID. They were not that difficult to find".
- David Redhead, on a visit from Oxon, reported "At Stackpole on Friday we managed a couple of Marsh Fritillary actually on the cliff top near St Govan's Chapel. Could not see any on the estate itself although we by no means covered it all and the MoD land to west was inaccessible. Attempted to contact Bob Haycock but again thwarted by total lack of reception on my Orange mobile phone".

<>Gower: Sian Musgrave (NT) advises "Butterfly survey today 3 marsh frits on our transect on Welshmoor, but more around the common in general.None seen last week when the transect was done.
- Russel Hobson: "We had 7 MF’s on Welsh Moor this afternoon (10th June) including two sparring males".

Swansea: Karen Wilkingson saw 2 MFs on Nant y Crimp SSSI (late May), near Penllergaer.
Brecknock (Powys): RGS recorded 3 MFs (all fresh males) in 45 minutes at Hen-glyn isaf SSSI; 6 moderately fresh males in 15 minutes on site at Nant Gyrlais (all in west end of site) and 1 fresh female at Tegfryn Villa in 5 mins. All these sites are around Ystradgynlais and first visited on 7th June. No MFs were found at North of Weaver's Rd (habitat OK) or west of Conical Tip (grass mown for sileage!). On 10th June, in 15 mins, there were still 6 males, now a little worn and scattered more widely across the Nant Gyrlais site. Visits to known (2005 - 2007) sites Blaen y Gors farm, Rhos Common (just in NPT) & North of Weaver's Road failed to produce any MF sightings. However, neighbours to habitat at South of Weaver's Road (no access) had recorded about 10 MFs outflying and visible from their gardens during the last week of May, into first week of June. 
RCT: - Anon reports "On 31st May, on the adjacent (to Cors Bryn y Gaer, nr Hirwaun) disused railway platforms, I saw one female Marsh Frit', nectaring on Common Cat's Ear. On a previous visit, on the 18th May, I saw two MF on the SAC".
- Karen Wilkinson & Julian Woodman recorded 17 MFs on Cors Bryn y Gaer SAC, Hirwaun (RCT) on 9th June. 6 were females, the rest males.
Tonyrefail (RCT): Ben Williams...."on 29th I went to PE1/2 and saw no MFs. I also went to PR1/2 and saw three MFs.
- RGS: recorded no MFs on PE1/2, but 1 fresh female on PR3 on 6th June. RGS recorded no frits at ID site on either 21 May or on return on 14th June, despite patches of reasonable habitat in an otherwise slightly neglected site.
Bridgend: - RGS failed to find any MFs at Bryn Bach SSSI (Cefn Cribwr) on 7th June & at Cwm Sychbant (Maesteg) on 2nd June; these believed to be Bridgend's last two remaining sites in 2007.
Gwent: Aberbargoed Grasslands SAC (Caerphilly CBC & Gwent/Glamorgan border). Mark Allen saw 11 MF's on 10th of June.
 
North Wales: - Helen Bantock advises "Marsh Fritillaries on the wing in Cerrig y gwaenydd on June 1st. I saw four.
However, a trip to Harlech Point to the NNR yesterday in good weather found none, although other lepidoptera were on the wing".

Dark Green Fritillaries (DGF)
Earliest UK 2008 sighting (BC web site) = Glamorgan on 2nd June.
So our DGFs seem to be first in UK!  In fact, Mike Clark tells me (since) that he saw one in Alun valley on Sunday 1st June.
Vale of Glamorgan: Alun valley transect count included 13 definite DGFs + 49 unid large frits (probably DGFs) in 3.5 hours on 9th June. On 14th June, transect count was also 13 definite DGFs + 80 unid large frits (probably 74 DGFs, as only 1 HBF definitely id'd).
RCT - Ben Williams was at the Cwm Clydach site on 2nd June but although SPBF plentiful, no DGFs yet flying. 
Bridgend - Mike Clark advises that DGFs plentiful at Kenfig NNR first week of June. By last week, some were looking worn.


High Brown Fritillaries (HBF)
Earliest UK 2008 sighting (BC web site) = Devon on 10th June.
Vale of Glamorgan: Alun valley. Paul Dunn recorded the first few definite HBFs on the wing on Thursday 12th June. He saw another early on Friday before cloud set in mid morning. We had one definite on transect on 14th June (with possibly 6 more of the 80 unid large frits!). Our particular appreciation must go to Mike Clark who spent at least 4 whole days searching for HBF larvae, finding 15+, including on a new sub-site and one where breeding not found since 1990s. Mike was unable to re-locate any on 9th June, so hopefully they have mostly now pupated! Paul Dunn also found one in his shorter time available in early May.
Bridgend: Although the Dimbath/Mynydd Y Gaer site near Blackmill, hasn't had definite HBF records before 1994 or after 2000, it has now just come to light that Terence Parsons, who in 1950 was writing a book on the Butterflies of Wales and is still living in Cardiff, recorded them there in large numbers in the summer of 1947. This gives valuable history to the site and our hopes to restore it. As both DGF and SWF have returned there in last 2 years and still some good habitat, we will be visiting again this year.

Silver-Washed Fritillaries (SWF)
Earliest UK 2008 sighting (BC web site) = not yet!
Nothing to report yet, although violets abundant in suitable parts of Alun valley woods.
No photos this time, but do please keep your info coming in.
Good hunting to all, Richard Smith

 

5th JuneThere are still a few Grizzled Skippers and Dingy Skippers about; I saw 2 grizzleds and 2 dingies as well as several common blues at the calypso site

(Wrexham Industrial estate) last thursday (5th June)

Pete Heywood

 

National Moth Night this year was on 7th June -John Smith and Bill Devereux organised a

public moth-trapping event at Wilderness Farm near Wrexham and the catch was shown to

visitors at the Llangollen Garden show the next day.

 

for more info see the Events page for future local moth-trapping nights.

 

5th June Dan Freedman sends this great photo of the day-flying Cinnabar moth, whose caterpillars have to feed on Ragwort

(along with some other 40 species of insects.) see BC main website for an article suggesting reasonable management for this much maligned plant)

' I was birdwatching at Talacre (Point of Ayre) today and afterwards went for a stroll along the board walk across the marsh before striking off

towards the lighthouse when I saw this flying no more than 12" high and settling on various plants
many thanks Dan

'Frits About' circular from Richard smith, South Wales Branch

I received some really amazing pictures with your reports since last "Frits About" on 15 May. Hopefully, most people are now on broad band, so I've included a couple of photos (see text below for related narrative!).

Pearl-bordered Fritillaries

Ben Williams reports "a dozen" seen at Ewyas Harold Common on Sunday 11th May, including females.

first PBFs seen at Eyarth Rocks reserve on 15th May (9 counted), then 2 on 16th and 4 on 17th. Anyone dropped a butterfly book there?

The Ceredigion sites showed some interesting results (13th May):
<>Llangrannog (Behind Church): 3 PBF in 20 mins
Llangrannog (Along footpath): 0 in 24mins
 Cwm Tudu: 0 in 24 mins
Cwm Soden: 12 in 72mins. (+10 in 35 minutes on 18th May)
Russel Hobson (BC Wales Senior conservation officer) commented that "numbers are low at all the Wales sites this year because of last year’s poor summer so these are reasonable counts.

Cwm Soden management work looked excellent, as did the work above the footpath at Llangrannog."

Small Pearl- bordered Frits

Does nobody care about SPBF!
Apart from Bob Haycock, noting a few at Castlemartin on 31 May, I've only my own sightings in Alun valley (Vale) to contribute on this species: sightings of quite small numbers (<5) on this bracken/dog violet site on every visit in last 4 weeks. Best count was yesterday, with 7 in 15 minutes on top of south facing slope. 3 were freshly emerged, with a couple now looking distinctly worn.
They must now be out on some of the PBF sites?
More reports would be useful, particularly from any rhos pasture (marsh violet) locations!

Marsh Frits.

Helen Bantock sent me a photo of an MF pupa, a rare and beautiful find indeed (13th May, Harlech). Helen, you are privileged!

Barbara Williams reports her first (2) adult MFs this year at a site in Tonyrefail on 18th May.

Richard Smith's timed counts from Tonyrefail sites on 21st May:
- PE     0 in 20 mins.                  - MA    0 in 20 mins.                   - W       0 in 30 mins.
- PR1   2 in 20 mins.                 - CY2   1 in 15 mins.                    - ID      0 in 15 mins.
- PR2   7 in 10 mins.                - CY3   0 in 10 mins.

Rhos Llawr Cwrt (Ceredigion), David Woolley reports: "First Marsh Frits at Rhos Llawrcwrt were on 25th May when 2 were seen on transect. This has inproved to 16 today (31st May) but it is the worst start to the season since 1986 and 1988".

Aberbargoed Grasslands (Caerphilly): Mark Allan reports: 6 MFs (3 m, 3f) on 29th May, then 16 MFs on 2nd June, but no SPBFs as yet.

Castlemartin (Pembs): Well the photo sent in by Bob Haycock says quite a lot......have we seen anything like this in Wales before!?

Once again, I'm copying Bob's e-mail in full:

"With help from the Cokers we did marsh frit timed-counts yesterday within Castlemartin Range. Seven locations were sampled along a 5 km stretch of coast, where we did between 10 mins and 20 mins counts in each location. More than 2000 marsh frit butterflies were actually recorded though this number is probably rather irrelevant. They were pretty well all along the coast from the car park to Linney Head. At two particularly good/core areas about 2-2.5 km apart we recorded an average of 272 butterflies in 20 mins at one location and 464 in 15 mins at the other. 

To my eye, numbers overall, may be a bit lower this year than last. Never-the-less it is still quite impressive to see so many nectaring on thyme covered anthills where ever they occur in reasonable condition. See attached image - there had been up to c. 50 here but numbers had declined by the time I got the camera out."

Intending to check/visit a site?  For other actual or potential MF sites, I suspect that visits this week (or possibly early next) would be the most useful, if your time is in really short supply.

Dark- Green Frits.

Mike Clark found one DGF larva in the Alun valley, whilst searching for HBF larva on 18th May.

2 adults (1 a definite fresh male) were on the wing on 2nd June in Alun Valley (Vale).   

High Brown Frits.

10 HBF larvae have now been found this year in the Alun valley (Vale), mainly thanks to Mike Clark for several days spent diligently searching. The photo attached is of one found by Paul Dunn on 20th May, which was quite early in its development. Those found by Mike last weekend (1st June) were more developed, measuring 24 to 28mm and probably in penultimate instar. Once again dog violet is rampant throughout recently managed areas.

Visit to Alun valley? If anyone would like to visit (no public access) let me know. From mid June to mid July looks likely best time period at the moment.

Silver-Washed Frits.

Mike Clark has been looking for larva in Alun valley (Vale), but without success, so far.
Keep reports coming in. This year numbers may be small (following last summer's weather), so more intelligence makes more effective visiting!
Best wishes, Richard Smith (if you'd like to contact Richard e-mail info@northwalesbutterflies.org.uk )

 

3rd. June Returned to the same place on the cliff path in Morfa Nefyn, this time I went into the field and saw a few male Common Blue with one female.  I would say a butterflies paradise. Short grass with plenty of flowers mostly white clover, birds foot and dandelions. The date 3rd June. From Shirley

 

31st MaySet off on Saturday , to carry out what we hoped to be a peak count of PB Frits at Eyarth. The day was sunny and warm,but a quick walk about on the reserve suggested we were too late to carry out our task. In a morning survey from 11am to 12-30pmwe made a count of just 17 individuals. A similar count, of the whole reserve,in the afternoon yielded an even poorer 13 butterflies.It seemed pretty clear we had missed the peak count by some days,if not a week or more,cheers David.

a count done by Tom Knight on 24th May of only 15 individuals in 2 hours.

Russel also did a count on May 17th and got just 2 pbfs, so I think we have covered the flight period pretty well, but that they must just have suffered in the poor summer last year? Jan

31st. May Along the cliff path in Morfa Nefyn just passed the Cliffs Inn, three Common Blue butterflies in long grass and Bird's Foot yellow flowers in bunches on the bank.  Very difficult to get a good photo but at last got the wings. Shirley. The date 31st May.

 

I've added put a few more photos if it got any nectar I'm not sure.  We have a lane at the top of the road were we live and its covered with wild flowers masses of Birds Foot and of course these foxgloves are now coming out.  Its actually the great search for the common blue, its a funny thing really when I did see the blue last week I had a friend with me and we take the dogs for a walk in the hay and when I said that how silly I was to not bring my camera, her reply was never mind seeing it is a Common Blue you bound to see another!  Shirley

 

Amazing! I’m always telling people Foxgloves are good for Bumblebees but not for butterflies because they can’t get their wings inside!

Did you observe it actually getting any nectar? Thanks, Jan

 

24th May I saw one Common Blue (Male) in Nefyn, (Lleyn penninsula) I have a hay field and it was on a stem of grass, no photo because I didn't take the camera.

Also seen was an Orange Tip on Lady's Smock in my pond and a Red Admiral in the garden.

  Very strong wind to-day. From Shirley Roulston

 

21st. May On the Calypso site today (Wrexham Industrial estate);

 

Grizzled Skipper            7

Dingy Skipper                9

Small Heath                  2

Orange Tip                    2 M

                                    1 F

Common Blue                1

Small White                  1

Burnet Companion         2 (beware all Dingy spotters!)

 

I went a lot further down the path, where it appears to turn into scrub. Most Grizzleds and Dingys were seen there, on and around the path which in most places is only

18” wide max. Regards Mark Taylor, PS Late back at work!! Oh well…..

 

18th & 19th. May we had two great days at Eyarth yesterday saw about 5 Pearl Bordered fritillaries

and today went back and saw 4 more I I enclose a piccy

also found a dropped butterfly book on the path today if you hear that anyone has lost a book at Eyarth just let me know

cheers Pete Heywood (e-mail info@northwalesbutterflies.org.uk if you think the book might be yours)

 

17th & 15th. May The attached photo's were taken at Eyarth Rocks Reserve. The first photo was one of about 9 fritillarys Les, Huw and I had on 15.05, in an hours walk around the reserve. The other two photo's are of one roosting that we found on 17/05. We spent about two hours looking, but as the weather was not in our favour, it was the only one we could find. Mel Bellingham

 

15th. May Mark Taylor who works on the Wrexham industrial estate sends;

A productive lunchtime today! Again, in scrubland adjacent to my factory:

1 Dingy Skipper

1 Small Heath

Both within 20 ft of each other.

2 Orange Tip (F)

1 Speckled Wood

and Lindy Moore says; From my garden (north facing) in Carmel, near Holywell:.

1 or 2 Speckled Woods 7, 11 and 15 May

1 or 2 Orange Tips, 7, 11, 12, 15 May

1 Small Tortoiseshell 12 May

1 or 2 Holly Blues 12, 14, 15 May

Plus a sprinkling of 'whites', mainly small white I think (1 confirmed15 May)

 

14th. May PBFs at Eyarth ; my wife and I visited eyarth rocks reserve today.we are primarily bird watchers but have a

growing side interest in butterflies.in about one hour we saw

probably 6 different individual pearl bordered fritillaries although we saw them repeatedly.we saw s.p.b.f's at arnside last year but the p.b.f's are a first for us.

                       leon and margaret castell

This is good news from our only reserve in North Wales where we are having an open day this Saturday(17th)!

still a few places left - meeting at the White Horse pub in Llanfair DC 10.30 for talk, lunch then guided trip to Eyarth Rocks reserve.

e-mail info@northwalesbutterflies.org.uk if you'd like to come!

 

Les Coley recorded marsh frits at Cors Erddreiniog on Anglesey - for the first time in several years and the Lleyn Fen sites had good populations on 3 sites (2 of which are designated). Andrew Graham estimated 1000+ at Cors y Wlad last June - trip planned for the 14th June-see Events page

 A new dingy skipper site in Caernarvonshire last week - so there are some survivors and many new green hairstreak sites around Lleyn Padarn last year. Dingy skippers flying at the Dee Estuary last Wednesday SJ206 772- David Thorpe.

Peter Rathbone, Llanarmon in Ial (near Mold/Ruthin) ;Have had just a trickle of butterflies through the garden so far the highlight being a male brimstone on May 5 nectaring on aubretia. Moths were poor in April with many frosty nights but there is an improvement this month although not as marked as I would have hoped in view of the hot days and warmish nights.

 

14th. May Betty Smith in Rhyl sends; I have been seeing lots of blue butterflies round my garden over the last couple of weeks I think they are Holly Blues but they move so fast that it is difficult to check the colour on the underside of the wings.  I've never seen so many !!  I even saw one in Morley Road car park in Rhyl today

(the great thing about living in North Wales is that you can be sure that any blue butterflies you see at this time of year

must be Holly Blues because that is the only Blue species that flies at this time of year. check the flight-period table in the online

ID workshop to find out which species fly at which time of year. Cold springs often mean that the parasites that attack many species

of caterpillars are out of synch with the butterflies' life cycles.)

12th. May We have also seen more Holly Blues in our Conwy garden this year...saw 3 yesterday, one of which was egg laying. Lots of orange tips too although very few green veined whites. Today also saw 1 tortoiseshell and 1 speckled wood. Incidentally we too had a broad bodied chaser (female) yesterday and again today. Aso spotted a red, black and white caterpillar yesterday which we've tentatively identified as a yellow tail. Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday.

Best Wishes, Jill Tattershall and Mark

 

12th. May I went to Calypso site at Wrexham today and saw 5 Grizzled and 2 Dingy Skippers Peter Heywood

also 2 fresh Dingy Skippers seen at Rhydymwyn Valley site today (J.Miller)

 

12th. May John Smith sends; Yes we have seen many more Holly Blues than usual, about 8 in the garden over the last week, and a couple at Pen y Cae Reservoirs yesterday, along with about 30 Orange Tip, Green Veined White and Large White.

I also visited Wxm. Ind. Est. today and saw 2 Grizzled Sk's, 8 Orange Tip, and a Peacock and quite a frew very small Damseflies most of which did not seem to be fully coloured up. Also saw a Pyrausta Aurata moth at WIE. Yesterday and again today we had a Cinnabar in the garden.

 

11th. May Grizzled Skipper also out at Loggerheads (near Mold) today in what seems to be a late season for them,cheers David Hinde
 

11th. May One really fresh Grizzled Skipper at Calypso site, Wrexham Industrial estate, J. Miller

also Dingy Skippers reported at this site by Peter and Lorraine Heywood today.

11th. May Today I had two Dingy Skippers at Bryn Euryn.  Also Small Heath, Red Admiral, Orange Tip, Large White and lots of Speckled Wood.
 At the Calypso site I only saw Orange Tip and Broad Bodied Chaser. Cheers Martin Penell

Richard Smith sends a summary from South Wales (on 15th May, but referring to earlier dates)

After nearly two weeks of warm weather and following 2007's wet summer, dare we go out to look? Should we just bury our heads? Well, of course not: we're made of more robust stuff. So how are our fritillary butterflies in Wales, so far in 2008? It is after all mid May.

As always, YOU tell me/us your thoughts, but for what it is worth, a couple of mine to start us off. In vegetation & general terms the natural world season, in south Wales at least, seemed to have been running about 2 weeks late at start of this month. Two weeks into May, we seem to have recovered most of that lost ground. But compared to what? Spring 2008 so far seems to be the reverse of 2007. Remember last year from late March to early May, we had 6 weeks of sunny, dry (if breezy at times) weather, followed by (4/5th May onwards) cooler wetter conditions, which then seemed to continue unabated into "summer". Those 6 weeks may have brought early sightings of PBF and perhaps greater numbers of HBF larvae, but they were fairly disatrous for MFs which had emerged as early as first few days of May at many sites, only to be knocked back by poor subsequent conditions (later reflected in often dramatically poor larval web counts). A crucial question for all species will be "Did enough survive 2007 to give us populations in 2008, particularly where fragmented habitat patches made local populations vulnerable anyway?" Crucially, will there be local populations to "re-populate" marginal habitat patches and if so how many years will it take. It is a good job that we now recognise and prioritise the most viable metapopulations, otherwise we could all get too easily concerned about individual sites. Anyway, enough of this conjecture.

Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Earliest UK 2008 sighting (BC web site) = Devon on 22nd April.

The first records in Wales which came my way were Simon Spencer's from Monts. At Y Golfa on 6th May, a timed count notched up 9 fresh males in 30 minutes. A second count on 9th produced the same overall numbers but with two females in the mix. I've received no other info for PBF within Wales, but Ewyas Harold Common (just 2kms into Herefordshire), where there is an ongoing management program shows some interesting short run trends:
7th May.  RGS visit: 7 PBFs (all semingly fresh males) in 3 hours
9th May.  Paul Dunn: about 20 PBFs (including at least one fresh female) in 3 hours
12th May. Ian Hart: 72 individuals (in 12 discrete habitat patches) time not given.(But "today" count & e-mail sent mid am!)

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Earliest UK 2008 sighting (BC web site) = Cornwall on 3rd May.

A solitary adult sighting by Mike Clark in Alun valley (Vale) on 7th May seemed exceptionally early (particularly as last year earliest on same site was 20th May). However, Paul Dunn then recorded 8 adults on 11th May at same site. I've no other info from Wales on this species. I can't explain earliness this year in Alun valley (or is it lateness in 2007?): although we've created increased amounts of warm microhabitat for violet feeding frits generally here, why so different to 2007?

Marsh Fritillary

Earliest UK 2008 sighting (BC web site) = Dorset on 7th May.

After searching for an hour, Mike Clark & RGS recorded 3 fresh males on Welsh Moor (Gower) yesterday (14th May). Later in day, in 2 hours we recorded 7 fresh males on Pengwern Common (Gower)(and eventually 3 male narrow bordered bee hawk moths). I have no other info on this species in Wales for 2008. Second week of May is about usual for first fresh male MFs at these two Gower Commons (although in 2007 it was 19th May!).

Feedback.
Do let me have some feedback. Do share your experiences. Do ask questions. I'm hoping that now I'm on broad band, I can send this e-mail to all recipents in one go. Reply however you wish.
I do hope it is useful and that it will encourage, inform & stimulate!
Best wishes, Richard Smith,  South Wales Branch
 

11th. May Holly Blue in the garden today and on a quick visit to Greenfield Valley after lunch we saw the following: -

Orange Tips-15

Green-Veined White-3

Small White-2

Large White-2

Comma-1

Small Tortoiseshell-3

Peacock-4

Holly Blue-1

Brian Roberts

 

6th. May 9 Pearl-bordered Fritillaries in 30 mins today at Y Golfa.  All fresh. Only males in sample caught.Simon Spencer

6th. May John Smith had Brimstones in his garden in Gresford, near Wrexham, where he has grown Buckthorn for many years.

[It is thought Brimstone are scarce in North Wales simply because their larval foodplant

(Purging Buckthorn (Rhamnus catharticus) on lime or Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus) on acid soils) were not traditionally

 used as hedging here, as they are in the south of England. You can buy one of these plants from us to grow

in your garden and help us draw this beautiful butterfly across the border!

Brimstone butterfly, photo Janet Graham

Buckthorn and other wildlife-plants from www.7wells.co.uk

 

6th. May Brian and Sue Roberts undertook their Transect Walks near Holywell today as follows:-

Pen-y-Gelli 1 Peacock only

Greenfield Valley-far better: -

Large White-2

Small White-5

Green-Veined White-2

Orange Tips-23 (a new record for the valley)

Peacock- 13

Speckled Wood- 15

Best Wishes, Brian and Sue

6th. May first Green-veined Whites at Saithffynnon also. J. Miller

5th. May first Speckled Wood of the year at Saithffynnon near Holywell. J. Miller

5th. May Peter Rathbone (near Ruthin) had a male brimstone on May 5 nectaring on aubretia

4th. May Today I managed to photograph this Green Veined White at home at Ty'n y Coed, Llanfairynghornwy, Anglesey. Also seen here today were one Tortoise Shell and three male Orange Tips. And all this whilst mowing the lawn. Best wishes, John Baker

 

3rd. May Ian Gorton reports Orange Tip, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell at Traeth Lavan (Spinnies) near Bangor

2nd. May Orange Tip, Holly Blue, several Peacocks, one Sm.Tort, Large White seen at Rydymwyn today, (North-east Wales) J. Miller

27th April.  Having made a Butterfly Garden with lots of flowers in bloom at the moment I was delighted to see two Holly Blue Butterflies but only managed to get the single photo. plus Speckled Wood and Small Tortoiseshell.    A very tatty Peacock was warming itself on the bark I've put down as a path.  May be this year will be better if perhaps we can get a bit of sun. Kind Regards Shirley Roulston Nefyn on the Lleyn Peninsula.

To find all the plants you need to make your own butterfly garden click; www.7wells.co.uk -profits go towards our work in North Wales.

27th April First Speckled Wood of the year here at Ty'n y Coed, Llanfairynghornwy, Anglesey, today.

Best wishes, John Baker

 

26th April at the meeting at Pensychnant today, Helen Bantock had brought a freshly emerged female Emperor moth in a netting cage

and put it on the lawn. within about half an hour ( in broad daylight) a male was seen fluttering around her. Julian, who has lived and trapped moths in the garden

for 16 years had never seen Emperor moths there before! the power of pheromones!

male Emperor moth-Helen Bantock

25th April Having just returned from S. Africa to a cold April here I was delighted to see 3 Orange Tips, 1 male, and a couple of  Small Tortoiseshells here in Llanfairynghornwy today.

Best wishes, John Baker

 

April 24th;

What a dreadful early spring - I have still only seen one butterfly in my garden (Speckled wood), none of the usual orange tips, peacocks, tortoishells.
 Best regards, John Good, Penmaemawr.
 

April 24th; 1 x Male Orange Tip,1 x Peacock,on Wrexham Industrial Estate,Regards Mark Taylor.

 Holly blue today in Llanfairfechan.Geoff Gibbs.

Richard Smith sends news from South Wales; My first butterfly emerged this year, seen just a few minutes ago: a fresh male holly blue in the garden (Llantwit Major).

 Loads of peacocks in Alun valley yesterday.

Jan Miller only saw 2 peacocks at Rhydymwyn Valley site. no Orange tips or Holly Blues reported in North-east Wales yet.

24 April  Holly blue in my garden in Conwy,flying along the hedge.Ian Fraser

 

April 23rd.

23 April  Comma,orange tip,several peacocks at Coed Parc Mawr near Rowen -Ian Fraser

Christine Curtis has seen a small blue butterfly today, believed to be a Holly Blue.

Also a Small White and a Small Tortoiseshell today in Old Colwyn

Holly Blue, Orange Tip and Peacock in Tanat Valley 23/4 Simon Spencer

 John Smith saw a Brimstone and a male Orange-tip, Sm. Tort. at Bill Devereux's (Wrexham?) - 23rd.

23 April  Comma,orange tip,several peacocks at Coed Parc Mawr near Rowen. Ian Fraser

 

April 22nd. 2 Peacocks reported on Wrexham Industrial estate by Mark Taylor.

Jill Tattershall in Conwy saw - 1 male orange tip...flying to and fro!

J. Miller also saw only the first butterflies this year near Whitford - Small Tortoiseshell and a peacock.

4 peacocks on our Llanfairfechan Butterfly transect and Holly blue  Llangefni ,

Geoff Gibbs

 

First sightings for 2008 in Lindy Moore's garden, Carmel, near Holywell, were a Peacock in mid April, and a Red Admiral 22 April

 

 April 21st.- after an exceptionally cold Spring we had no reports of any butterflies in north-east Wales until today; Brian and Sue Roberts report; we were coming back from walking around the valley this morning and as we were coming up the path from Greenfield Road (Holywell, Flintshire) to our cul-de-sac we saw a Comma-first species this year in North Wales.

John Smith saw a Painted Lady at Farndon at 9.30am. on Monday 21st. Apr.

April 17th;  Saw this female Emperor moth - newly emerged, wings still crumpled - on Halkyn common 17-04-08, on pond-side grass/ juncus vegetation, (larval foodplant incl. Meadow sweet?), SJ 206 692. Beautiful but fairly common on heath I suppose? Must've been a shock it was bitter cold up there this morning!

        Best Wishes, Kylie Jones

 

Conwy - Jill Tattershall sends records from her garden;

5th April - 2 tortoiseshells (one very tatty!) nectaring on dandelions.

 

7th April - 1 peacock (again on dandelion). It was a cool, breezy day, but was in a sheltered spot.

 

17th April - 1 green-veined white....on aubretia.

 

Isn't it lovely seeing them again? They give so much pleasure.

 

Sightings in (and near) North Wales for 2007

 

October 11th.Samantha Humberstone at Conwy Butterfly Jungle reports a Hummingbird Hawkmoth outside in the new butterfly garden we made there this year (see News page for photo of Iolo at opening) - That must be about the only one reported this year since the early sighting in Feb.

Sam also says;

Eileen who works with us part time initially spotted it and was very pleased as it's the first she's ever seen!

Garden is looking fairly good thank you, we close for the winter on 4th. November.

Busy with planning our new Learning/Education room and work over the winter

October 4th, Shirley Roulston on the Lleyn says; I sighted a Small Copper, also many Red Admirals on flowering ivy, two Comma's and one Small Tortoiseshell. I have an old avairy where the ivy has grown over it and formed a basin, when the sun shines that area gets very hot so that,s where I saw all but the Small Copper.

 

September 14th

Nigel Brown, curator of Treborth Botanical Garden,who has been trapping moths

and hosting moth-meetings for us for many years, while Bangor university have been trying to

downsize the gardens and close the greenhouses, has been in the news this week with a

giant Agave flower that burst through the greenhouse roof ! Nigel says; I have

never known such a response to a garden event and the last two days

 have been constantly busy with visitors and media,

So perhaps we can afford to look ahead more optimistically.

 Plenty of insects coming to the Agave, incl quite a

 few buterflies, mainly Nymphalids;

Disaster struck last night - the Agave's fine flower stalk snapped and it now lies forlornly

on the glasshouse roof, the bees and wasps still busying themselves around its flowers -

I'll have to manhandle it down and stick what's left in a very big bucket of water!

best wishes,Nigel

 

September 11th. two worn Common Blues and two Small Coppers seen at Rhydymwyn, J. Miller

 

September 4th; Shirley Roulston from the Lleyn says; Thought I'd send you a photo of a sighting of a Small Copper in the garden on the last few bramble flowers, that was the 4th September.Lots of specked woods about, the ivy flowers are just about to open so that should bring in more. Shirley

Shirley has made a calendar of her photos of local butterflies

and is kindly donating £1 from every sale to our Branch funds - see publications page for details.

Shirley Roulston also asks; Has anyone seen any painted lady butterflies?, last year there were loads and so far not one to be seen. Went to Conwy Butterfly yesterday and was very impressed, pity though they don't have any British ones there, may be to warm. Shirley.

[I've had the occasional PL in my garden this year - including one 2 days ago. Did you see the interpretation panel for native butterflies in

the garden I made for them outside the Conwy Butterfly House? see News page for photo of Iolo opening it in July - J. Miller]

 

September 3rd. Tina Mealor sends from Colwyn Bay ; Whilst convalescing in my garden the other p.m. two wonderfully large Dragonflies flew in gazed at me and flew off - I forgot to stick my fingers in the air - as, when we were holidaying in France one summer the girls did this (and so did I) and guess what they landed on our fingers.

 

September 1st. Peter Rathbone sends; In common with a few other moth enthusiasts in North Wales,

I have been lucky enough to trap two separate Great Brocades(photo below)on August24 and August 26, both to my 125W MV Robinson trap. The second individual was much greyer and less boldly marked than the first indicating that it may have been of Scandinavian origin. There has been quite an influx of this species during the latter part of August across the whole of the southern UK and it will be interesting to hear what the experts have to say eventually, regarding the origin of this invasion. There is a breeding population in Scotland and after northerly winds during the period in question maybe some of them are from just across the border.

Butterflies have been virtually absent from my garden all summer but recently one or two Peacocks, Red Admirals and Tortoiseshells have put in an appearance with the first Speckled Wood since April arriving today, September 1.

 

August 21st. David Thorpe, from south of Caernarfon,sends; Rubbish summer for butterflys over here. A few gatekeepers and meadow browns and vanessids around.

 

August 2nd.  New member Shirley Roulston, who has made a calendar of butterflies for next year (see next newsletter) 

wants to contact other members nearer her home; she says; The butterflies are out in force at last, the Holly Blue keeps making a dash across the garden and its really difficult to get a really good photo but I've one or two.  The speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Admiral, Peacock, Comma, Green Veined White, Small Copper,Small White, Large White, Meadow Brown they are all out.  Not as yet have a seen a Common Blue, last year I saw them on the cliffs in Nefyn but not as yet have I seen one. I've join the Butterfly Conservation Branch last week.  I've noticed all the activity is around Holywell with the North Wales Society.[ It's not! it's just those are the people who send in a lot of reports to this page-- any volunteers to run events on the Lleyn gratefully received! send to info@northwalesbutterflies.org.uk ]

 Do you know of anyone on the Lleyn Peninsular that is in the same Branch.

I'm sending a photo of the Holly Blue taken on the 2nd August at Nefyn. Many thanks, Shirley Roulston.

 

July 19th.White-letter Hairstreak nectaring on Hebe salicifolia  in Old Colwyn butterfly garden again today -

 just in time to be shown to visiting Prince Edward and Countess of Wessex! by Jan Miller, as part of their visit to Wynn Gardens. Jan explained why it is rare and how it is there because of  ornamental weeping elm present in the park - Prince Edward said "you don't want too many of them then, or you won't have any elms left!"

thereby somewhat missing the point!

July 18th.

Sue and Brian Roberts; undertook our Transect Walk today in the Greenfield valley (Holywell, Flintshire)

and we saw 6 White-Letter Hairstreaks and 1 Purple Hairstreak, 5 of the WLH's were at the top of a sycamore

 and the sixth was nectaring of some flowering Hemp Agrimony.The WLH total was the highest we have ever acheived in the valley and Sue is delighted.

 Lots of Small White Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers out and 2 Common Blues and a Small Copper.

[Brian and Sue are taking a guided walk in this valley next week - see Events list for more information.

and you can buy Hemp Agrimony plants from us at www.7wells.co.uk ]

 

July 16th.Rhun Jones spotted a Grayling on the cliffs of Loggerheads (near Mold)-

the first that I've seen here for four years. Oh for some more weather!

 

July 14th. after 2 months of cool, cloudy conditions and frequent rain, Sue and Brian Roberts made three visits to the valley today an inordinate number of Commas flying, we did see 2 Purple Hairstreaks in an area we have not seen them before but alas no White-Letter Hairstreaks we looked everywhere for the WLH's but i did notice that the Hemp Agrimony was not yet out and we usually see them nectaring on this, we will keep you informed.

July 9th. 2007 Red-veined Darter (Dragonflies) in north WalesWe have more exciting news early this month with Andy Harmer’s netting of a final instar nymph of Sympetrum fonscolombii (Red-veined Darter) at a pond just outside Mold.  The species is southern European in distribution but vagrants are being found more frequently farther north across Europe in the warmer months. Iris Cotgrove found one at Criccieth in June 2002 and Steven Stansfield discovered a female on Bardsey Island last September. Breeding populations have been sustained for a few years at, for example Kenfig in south Wales, but in north Wales there has only been one other known breeding attempt. This was evidenced by the netting of a mature nymph by Ian Wallace (of Liverpool Museum) at a pond at Point of Ayr Colliery (now the BHC gas terminal) in February 2001. The significance of Andy’s discovery is that the species could, and probably is, breeding at more ponds in our area and the adults may be seen on the wing later in the summer, assuming of course that we get one this year. So please be on the look out for Red-veined Darters in the next month or two. Allan Brandon, North Wales Dragonfly Recorder (if you'd like to send your Dragonfly records to him please send them to info@northwalesbutterflies in the first instance)

July 7th Brian and Sue were in Greenfield valley this afternoon and saw the first Gatekeepers of the year(2).

July 5th. John Smith reports first gatekeeper in Marford, near Wrexham

June 26th.Sue and Brian Roberts went for a quick walk in the Greenfield valley (Flintshire) and saw the first

 Small Skippers of the year(3) also very fresh Comma, Red Admirals and Small Tortoiseshell and an extremely fresh Small Copper.

We saw the first Small Skipper in the valley a day earlier last year-what however is interesting is the Small Copper, what appears to be a second brood -due to its pristine condition, is very very early we only saw a second brood Small Copper last year on 23rd July!!!!!!

 

June 24th. First Meadow Browns of the year at Whitford (Flintshire), along with hundreds of huge Peacock caterpillars on the nettles.

several Large Skipper and a couple of Small Tortoiseshells and Painted Ladies. J. Miller

June 20th. plenty of silver studded blues - when I did the transect yesterday I saw 1401 within approx 1km!

Sally Pidcock, Great Orme Country Park Warden

 

June 20th.

Keep looking for day flying moths when the sun shines-especially in flower rich, grassy areas.

These three:Forester (larval foodplant Sorrel),      Opsibotys fusclis( Cinereous Pearl-larval foodplant Yellow Rattle)

 

and Chimney Sweeper (Pignut) have all been seen flying this summer on Morfa Harlech .Helen Bantock

 

June 19th. David Thorpe sends;Marsh frits still on the wing in Caernarfonshire - attached pic taken yesterday at Cors Grianog, on the wing again today at the same site.SPBFs still abundant on the site (100+ last week and a single DGFrit yesterday).

 

June 16th. I have just returned from a few days walking and lepidoptering in Snowdonia and thought you might like these records. The moths are from the caravan site at Betwys Garmon; Dark Brocade was a first for me , they have disappeared from southern England. As I recieve a lot of holiday records from "northerners" they are often surprised not to see their regular species, so maybe the list does contain something unusual for your area.

 (If you would like to see the whole list e-mail info@northwalesbutterflies.org.uk )

I was also delighted to see so many Small Pearl Bordered Fritillaries, especially in a little sheltered wet mire where 30 or so were out in dull weather. The aberration, which from e-viewing the Cockayne collection seems to be ab.extenuata is something I have never seen and was in one of the droves within Beddgellert Forest, Are they known from there?

All the best Paul Butter Dorset Branch chairman & Moth Co-ordinator.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary  ab.extenuata - photo taken near Beddgelert by Paul Butter

David Thorpe, Recorder for Caernarfonshire, replies; SPBFrits have been recorded for several years in good numbers fron Beddgelert Forset - by myself and a colleague. They are quite widespread in suitable habitat in Caernarfonshire mostly in wet rush pasture on marsh violet but also in some dry bracken sites and on dunes too - where they have a second brood in August - a notably smaller butterfly. Thanks for the picture - I've looked at many and never seen this aberration.

June 14th. Sam Humberstone reports a Lime Hawk moth brought into Conwy Butterfly Jungle

 by a visitor from Prestatyn (found in Foxes (Cross Foxes pub?) beer garden) for ID.Lime Hawkmoths mating -photo- Jack Mather

 

June 13th.Attached are a couple of images of silver studded blue at Graig Fawr, near Prestatyn,taken yesterday. We saw 10 to 15 individuals in about half a minutes walking just above the erosion scar at ca. SJ059802. The most that I had seen before was one or two individuals at a time. Neil Smith

June 6th. David Thorpe sends; 17 marsh frits on the wing at Cors Grianog (Lleyn peninsula) yesterday afternoon.we looked for half an hour in only a small fraction of the site) 100+ SPBfrits (gave up counting). They'll be flying now and for the next several days - the site is CROW access land and easy to get to off the A487.

June 6th. Sam Humberstone reports a number of Poplar Hawkmoths being brought by visitors to her Conwy 'Butterfly Jungle' -she asks for a photo here so that she can refer queries to us!

this photo of a Poplar Hawkmoth is from the excellent website; http://www.ukmoths.org.uk where you can find photos of many British moths and their larvae.

 

June 2nd. Dear Jan, Just thought you might be interested - I bought two Purging Buckthorn plants from you at the volunteers' seminar nr Newtown. A few weeks ago I saw a Brimstone egg laying and now I have about 15 larvae !     I hope the plants survive !

 Best wishes, John Sherwood

Richard Smith (RGS) sends a 'Frits about' circular; Will April & June, save us from May? At 1st June,  I've had a dozen or so reports to share since the last (10th May) "Frits About". As usual, more reports are welcome and don't forget records to county recorders as well!

Pearl-bordered Fritillary

I've heard nothing further since early May. Jan Miller advised fresh PBF at Eyarth Rocks during w/c 7th May.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

9th May.  Caroline Moscrop saw a SPBF at Llymwynt Brook Pastures SSSI (SO103770).
15th May. David Thorpe saw his first SPBF of the year at Aberffraw dunes, Anglesey.
19th May. RGS failed to find any SPBF on Welsh Moor or Pengwern Common.
20th May. RGS recorded 7 SPBF in Alun valley: all fresh males.
21st May.   Pat Owen recorded 3 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries in Pembrey Forest, Carms.
21st May. Graham Motley saw a single small pearl-bordered at Plas y Gors SSSI (SN921155).
21st May. Scott Hand saw a single small pearl-bordered at Treboeth, Tonyrefail.
23rd May. RGS recorded 4 SPBF, one each on four different managed (for MF) sites in Tonyrefail.   
25th May. RGS recorded 1 SPBF on Waun, Tonyrefail. 
1st June.   RGS recorded 2 SPBF in Alun valley: one fresh & one well worn. 

Curiously those S E Wales sites where SPBF uses dog violets in bracken were pretty much on time this year, usual emergence time being around 20th May. Not sure about the 9th & 15th records above, but certainly the early May (see last edition) SPBF records from Tonyrefail were all (believed to be) marsh violet sites in rhos pasture. Most years such sites are later, usually early June continuing well into July, particularly on upland sites.

Marsh Fritillary

14th May. Helen Bantock came across 1 very early MF at Cerrig y gwaenyd ( the farm in Harlech that has just entered a management agreement for Marsh Fritillary)
 

14th May. Mark Allen from Aberbargoed Grasslands, saw a Marsh Frit.

15th May. BC staff & RGS, found 1 fresh male at each of Caeau Ffos Fach and another nearby site at Cross Hands & 1 egg laying female at Cae Lotwen, Cross Hands.   
19th May. RGS recorded 6 fresh males on Welsh Moor and 5 fresh males on Pengwern Common, Gower.
21st May. Scott Hand saw a single MF at Treboeth, Tonyrefail.
23rd May. RGS found only 2 worn specimens on visits to three of the Tonyrefail sites.
25th May.  RGS found only 1 worn specimen on a brief visit to another Tonyrefail site.
Late May.  Deborah Sazer found 3 MFs at Caeau Ffos Fach reserve.
31st May.  Graham Motley spotted a single marsh frit at Woodland Park this afternoon at (c.SN94720765). "But even better, one of our team, Graham Cowden, pointed out a singleton on our land at Cwm Cadlan SSSI at SN95280959 - our first record from this site". RGS: "Brilliant news - metapopulation theory in action. The huge numbers at Cors Bryn y Gaer last year (507 webs) probably led to its spread to Cwm Cadlan (an SSSI now with copious suitable habitat 2kms away) as well as the new site south of A465 at Hirwaun reported late last June by Richard Wistow".

Curiously, the Tonyrefail sightings in very early May (last edition) were about 2 weeks early, whereas the Gower sightings of fresh males on 19th May were probably slightly late, with 12th to 15th being typical past first emergence times. It is difficult to speculate, but in Glamorgan late April sunny days were often accompanied by chilly NE winds, so that more sheltered locations (e.g. Tonyrefail) might have benefitted, whereas Gower sites may have been retarded by lack of shelter. This does nothing to explain Castlemartin ("Thousands" on 3rd May as reported in last edition, but no reports since).

Dark-Green Fritillary

15th May. Paul Dunn found a very advanced larvae in Alun Valley.
24th May. The first and only report of adult DGFs for May, was again from Paul of 4 fresh individuals in Alun Valley.
1st June.   RGS recorded 2 DGFs + 5 unid large frits in Alun Valley.
2nd June.  RGS recorded 3 DGFs + 24 unid large frits in Alun Valley. 

From RGS's memory earliest DGF report in last 25 years in Glamorgan was around 15th May, early 1990s. 


High Brown Fritillary

15th May. Paul Dunn found 3 HBF larvae in Alan Valley, two on a managed sub site where breeding not previously recorded.
26th May. Paul Dunn found 2 more HBF mature larvae in Alan Valley, on a NW facing managed sub site.
1st June.   RGS recorded 3 definite HBF adults on wing, plus 5 unid large frits in Alun Valley managed sub sites.
2nd June.  RGS recorded 3 definite HBF adults on wing, plus 24 unid large frits in Alun Valley managed sub sites.

From RGS's memory earliest HBF report in last 25 years in Glamorgan was also 1st June, early 1990s. 
This is a week earlier than last year's first adult record.

Silver-Washed Fritillary

mid May. Sue Westwood showed me a photo of a SWF larva, which she found in Wye Valley woods (known site).

I'll do another circular in a fortnight & then end of month.

Meanwhile, do keep sending in individual reports please: particularly of MFs. It will be interesting to see if reasonable (or any) numbers emerge this coming week, after disappointing & faltering early emergences first week of May. If so, please advise as it may then be worth visiting as other suitable sites to gauge any new "colonisations" or movements.
Best wishes, Richard

 

May 29th John Smith saw 2 Silver-studded Blue on the great Orme.

 

May 29th. David Evans sends; A male Brimstone in my garden at Llangoed today - 21st May, 2007.

 My first sighting since I came to Anglesey 37 years ago.

May 29th. David Thorpe says; Small pearl bordered frits have been on the wing on the Anglesey dunes (Aberffraw and Newborough) and Caernarfonshire bogs for several weeks. Common blue, wall and small heath are around too when the sun shines!

May 24th.Rhun Jones, Ranger at Loggerheads Country Park, near Mold, says; Grizzled Skips seem to be a tad sporadic in their numbers this year, Ruth and I haven't seen more than 3 at any one time, although Ian Hughes from CCW, has seen a maximum of 9.

May 12th Members' Day at Wrexham to see the Grizzled Skipper was not favoured with the best weather, however, people who stayed on longest were rewarded with seeing one Grizzled and one Dingy Skipper sheltering from the wind and rain! This Brownfield site is well worth another visit in better weather, however.

May 11th.Sue and Brian Roberts were walking back from the Greenfield Valley (Flintshire) and up the path by our cul-de-sac there it was perched

`A Large Skipper` Sue and I could not believe our eyes at first we watched it for about ten minutes and it landed several times and we got good looks at it definitely a Large Skipper-QUITE EARLY we saw our first Large Skipper last year on 14th June at Pen-y-Gelli and Greenfield Valley-everything is so early this year!

May 11th.Richard Smith (South Wales) sends; Pearl-bordered Fritillary Simon Spencer tells me that good numbers in April/early May on known mid Wales sites, plus two more previously unknown sites found to be occupied near Llanymynach Rocks (just on the English site of the border, but important for the local cross border populations). On most sites, PBF now finished and SPBF taking over. (not at Eyarth- see below)
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary; 2 SPBF netted at Llanymynach by Simon on 30th April.
1 SPBF seen at Tylcha Ganol, Tonyrefail by Barbara Williams early May.
(Several recorded in Haddon valley, Devon by Paul Dunn, Richard Smith etc on 23rd April!)
"Few Small PB Frits freshly emerged seen over the weekend 95th/6th May) at Castlemartin" - Bob Haycock.
Marsh Fritillary; 1 MF recorded by Julian Woodman in northern Tonyrefail, 3rd May.
1 MF recorded by RGS at Parc Eirin, Tonyrefail, 3rd May.
1 MF recorded by RGS at Waun, Tonyrefail, 3rd May.
3 MF recorded by Barbara Williams at Penrhiwfer Road, Tonyrefail, early May.
"Early marsh Frits at Castlemartin on the wing since 1st May,
abundant (thousands out by 7th May. Colony extends well inland from the
coast. Spring Squill is the main nectar source - simply covered in marsh
Frits in places". Bob Haycock.

May 9th. Just been up to Eyarth Rocks reserve this morning, wasn’t the best weather conds. (20 degrees C, wind 2 to 3, overcast 40% or more at times) – and we only saw 5 PBF in about 2 hours. But they were all very fresh so I think we could still see more in the next couple of weeks if we get the right weather.Jan Miller.

4th. May 6 Dingy Skipper and 2 Common Blue at Rhydymwyn Nature reserve, near Mold. J. Miller

 

2nd. May Brian and Sue saw;

PEN-Y-GELLI (Lloc, near Holywell, Flintshire)

DINGY SKIPPER-17 (The largest number we have ever recorded since starting recording the site in 2004)

LARGE WHITE-4

SMALL WHITE-9

GREEN-VEINED WHITE-1

COMMON BLUE-7 (Very Early for this site)

HOLLY BLUE-2

PEACOCK-5

WALL BROWN-1 (21 DAYS EARLIER THAN LAST YEAR)

TOTAL -46

 GREENFIELD VALLEY (Holywell, Flintshire)

LARGE WHITE-3

SMALL WHITE-17

GREEN-VEINED WHITE-3

ORANGE TIP-10

SMALL COPPER-1

HOLLY BLUE-3

SMALL TORTOISESHELL-1

PEACOCK-3

SPECKLED WOOD-20

 TOTAL -61

 

 

2nd. May Common Blue sighted near Conwy - Gill Tattershall.

 

1st.May John Good reports from Penmaenmawr: "what a wonderful day it was for butterflies and other things in our garden today. We saw the first brimstone (male) ever in our garden, plus several holly blues (more this spring than for ages), large and small whites, red admiral, peacock, speckled wood and orange tip (male). Then, to cap it all we heard our first cuckoo of the year, just as we were bemoaning the fact that we had not heard one! And then we had a barbecue! Worrying as climate change is, it has its advantages, at least in the short term!"

 

30th. April,  Richard Smith, South Wales sends;  most years' "fritillary sightings" would at this stage consist of the odd early PBF on the wing or reports of basking Marsh Fritillary larvae or perhaps an exceptional keen observer finds a Dark Green Fritillary or High Brown Frit. larva.

Hold on though, it's 2007 and Pearl-bordered Fritillary has been on the wing since at least 12th April in Wales and Simon Spencer tells me that most are now looking past their best in mid Wales. Paul Dunn advises of good numbers on Ewyas Harold Common on Monmouth/Hereford border on 27th April. Several of us were in Devon last week looking at management techniques across a dozen or so bracken/violet sites. We were amazed that Small PBF was freshly on the wing on Wednesday in 3 sites on west Exmoor!

Violets in Devon are about 2/3 weeks ahead of ours in coastal South Wales, so if frits follow a similar pattern, then we could start to see MFs on Gower later this week (NT advised today: none yet) and Small Pearl-bordred Frits early next week!!

Keep your eyes skinned and do please send in your reports as & when,

April 29th David Thorpe, near Caernarfon;  Lots of green hairstreaks around since last Saturday (28th) up here. I've found some really good new sites (new to me anyway - although Paul Whaley mentions the hills around Lyn Padarn - he never specifies which hills). An excellent colony on the flanks of Moel Eilio (SH559 598) covered by bilberry and by hairstreaks - 36 adults counted in 10 minutes of walking on Sunday - with numerous sites with one or 2 lower down. I'm going to look at similar slopes closer to Snowdon and on Carnedd y Filiest above Bethesda. What puzzles me is other large areas of bilberry on the carneddau and on local hill with no visible hairstreaks. The colony behind our field still has adults - on habitat I'd think should be really poor - small stunted grazed bilberry. Yet we've seen adults for 10 years with other patches of lush bilberry having no hairstreaks... Lots of orange tips around too - I'm trying to note them all on my cycle trips to and from work, along with peacocks, small tort, red admirals (less numerous) holly blues, small and green veined white, commas and a single large white and small copper in our field. Everything is early. I must get down the Lyn to check for frits at Llanbedrog and hairstreaks on many of the hills.

April  28th. John Smith visited the Wrexham site where we are having our Members' Day field trip on 12th May.

at midday and found 2 Grizzled Skipper, plenty of Orange Tip, Peacock, and Speckled Wood. Also a Large Red Damselfly was seen. We also went on Thurs. about 4pm., but went on the other site - Oaks Road That gets more overgrown every year, and we found no Skippers, but it was probably too late in the day. Bryan Formstone visited this site last Friday and reports 2 Grizzled Skipper.

 

April  28th.Tom Knight did a timed count at Eyarth Rocks of 54 Pearl-bordered Fritillaries. Count lower than when Rob did it as he covered the whole reserve with help of others. Tom is intending to do another timed count if he can get out and Jan is hoping to try to repeat the Rob method.

 

April 27th.  One fresh Small Copper seen on my Transect at Rhydymwyn Nature Reserve. J. Miller

 

April 26th.

Holywell, Flintshire - Greenfield Valley, the Battery Pool area we saw the following: -

1      HOLLY BLUE

2      SPECKLED WOOD

4      PEACOCK

2     SMALL WHITE

7     ORANGE TIP

2     SMALL WHITE

1     SMALL COPPER- We had three good sightings of it perched-it is 37 days earlier in the valley than last year!!!!

Best Wishes; Brian and Sue Roberts

 

April 23rd.  I saw a holly blue butterfly in my garden 2 days ago flying round an ivy hedge.

 Best wishes, Jean Green, St. Asaph
 

April 20th. Pen-y-Gelli (near Holywell) 1 Dingy Skipper 19 days earlier than last year!!

Greenfield Valley 83 butterflies seen as follows:-

LARGE WHITE-1

SMALL WHITE  17

ORANGE TIP    14 (Record for the valley)

HOLLY BLUE     2 (12 Days earlier than last year)

RED ADMIRAL   2

PEACOCK         16

COMMA             1

SPECKLED WOOD  30

This was a wonderful walk today-so many Speckled Woods.And a possible Brimstone flying fast.

 Best Wishes Brian and Sue  

 

April  19th. Brimstone sighted twice at Rhydymwyn Nature Reserve (near Mold)., J. Miller

April  19th.David Thorpe reports; Good range of species out and about in North-West Wales at present including peacocks, small tortoishell, orange tip, speckled wood, comma, holly blue, small white and green veined white. I'm hoping for green hairstreak soon.

 

April 15th. Jan Miller had the first Holly Blue of the year in her garden near Whitford, Holywell,

and Brian and Sue Roberts, also near Holywell, Flintshire say ; we did both our Transect Walks today

Pen-y-Gelli was quite disapointing only 1 Orange Tip and 2 Peacocks

Greenfield Valley was somewhat better:-

4 Small White

1 Green-Veined White

8 Orange Tip

2 Small Tortoiseshell

9 Peacocks

2 Commas

6 Speckled Wood

I have just looked at the five species that Sue and I have seen this year and on average they are appearing 16 days earlier than last year-possibly the weather is better this year but it is interesting.

 

April 14th I've managed to get up to the glades at Loggerheads (near Mold) on two occasions now and saw my first Brimstone last week.

Rhun Jones Warden Partneriaeth/ Partnership Warden, Loggerheads Country Park.

 

summary to April 13th from Peter Rathbone, at Llanarmon yn Ial, near Ruthin

The season started here on March 13 with 2 Peacocks and a Comma showing interest in some early dandelion flowers. Since then, apart from a few Peacocks, nothing significant happened until April 6 when the first Small Tortoiseshell appeared together with a Speckled Wood and two unidentified whites which kept going at a fast pace defying all attempts to name them. On April 8, the first Orange Tip (male) was seen on aubrietia flowers and over the next few days, Small Whites, Speckled Woods and more Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells have been noted plus more Orange Tips both male & female. Today. Friday, April 13, a female Brimstone graced us with her presence also nectaring on aubrietia flowers. A lucky day after all.

 Nothing spectacular on the moth front so far, the best night being April 8 when 56 individuals were trapped of 12 different species including an Early Thorn, a Tawny Pinion and a Double Striped Pug. The most interesting species to date was a Pale Pinion on April 11.

April 13th Russel Hobson (Conservation Officer, BC Wales office) reports that

 Pearl-bordered Fritillaries are flying in Montgomeryshire, but this is usually two or three weeks earlier than at Eyarth Rocks.

 

April 7, 8th. Butterfly Sightings Pat and Jim Clark. Mostly on Anglesey.

We’ve both seen plenty of Peacocks in the last couple of weeks. At our home near Llyn Traffwll, at Llyn Alaw and Llyn Cefni. In Gwynedd Peacocks were active at Beddgelert Forest. Small Tortoiseshells are less obvious but have been at Llyn Alaw and Llyn Cefni regularly.

Pat saw a single Holly Blue in our garden on 7th April only our second record in 27 years. Jim saw 2 Green-veined Whites near Llyn Alaw on 6th and one on the 8th April and a single Speckled Wood at Llyn Alaw on the 8th. Pat Clark.

April 8th. Sue and I have undertaken transect walks at both our sites today ;-

Pen-y-Gelli; 6 Peacocks seen

Greenfield Valley; 16 Peacocks, 4 Commas, 3 Small Tortoiseshells and 1 Large White(which is 17 days earlier than it appeared last year!!!)

Brian and Sue Roberts

April 8th.Richard Miller saw Orange Tip in garden near Whitford, Holywell.

 

April 2nd. I would like to report a Brimstone butterfly sighting in my fields in Llanarmon-yn-ial on 2nd April.

The map reference is SJ 194 563. I spotted it on the south facing sunny bank in front of the cave, it was chased off by tortoiseshells and peacocks that were displaying/having disputes there. I did not see it feed. There are coltsfoot, dandelion and gooseberry bushes in the field and aubretia in the adjoining garden area. I would really like to plant some alder buckthorn before it gets too dry, do you know where i can get some in the area?Thanks,Remani Jones

 

 

April 1st. we have just completed the first Transect Walk of 2007 at Greenfield:(Holywell, Flintshire)

- 6 Commas and 11 Peacocks-so the season has really started now. 

Best Wishes, Brian and Sue

April 1st. Jan Miller had first Speckled Wood of the year at Whitford (also near Holywell), plus 2 Small Tortoiseshells and a Peacock.

March 27th.  Jan Morgan reports from Corris; out walking yesterday afternoon the crowning of a wonderful spring day was walking through a sheep field to find 4 - 6 peacock butterflies alternately chasing in twos and threes and feeding on the just opened blackthorn blossom, always angled to the sun.

March 26th. several Small Tortoiseshells, Commas and Peacocks nectaring on escaped Rape-seed plants in Bruton Park, Rhyl.- Jan Miller

March 14th just to let you know we had a Comma in the Garden at lunchtime.

The season has started- Brian and Sue Roberts

March 12th Single Comma seen to-day by Jim Clark at Llyn Cefni, Anglesey, SH 452782. Active and in good condition.

February 18th.Pat Clark reports a Peacock seen Llyn Penrhyn area, Valley Lakes, Anglesey. SH 308 768. Warm sunny day. Butterfly active and in good condition.

February 18th.

This is a picture of our first Hummingbird Hawk Moth this year, I took it at 1.30pm today Sunday 18th February.

I though that you would like to see it. Regards David Curtis, Old Colwyn

 

February 4th. Members at the all-Wales volunteer conference in Newtown were surprised by a flying Red Admiral in bright sunny weather after a hard frost the night before, as they left for home!

 

February 3rd. 2007, on a warm sunny day at Beddgelert Forest. SH 570550. single Peacock and single Comma. Both active and in good condition.

Pat and Jim Clark. 

 

 

Sightings in North Wales (and adjacent areas) for 2006

 

 

November 6th. I saw a single tortoiseshell near the top of Crib Goch mountain (say, 2900 feet above sea level) in Snowdonia on Monday 6th November. It looked happy enough and alighted on the bare rock up there.

 I appreciate that they over-winter and I don't know if this is unusual or not, but it looked it!

 Andy Reynolds

 

October; Peter Rathbone sends this message with the photos below; we have enjoyed a very successful year with 20 species of butterflies in the garden including a Ringlet on July 11 and a Dark Green Fritillary on July 18. Moths have also been excellent with over 150 species including Clay Triple-lines on August 23, Hummingbird Hawk-moth on September 7, a Sprawler on October 11 and a very rare Pyralid immigrant, Hymenia recurvalis on October 16. Also of note were 5 garden Tigers in the trap on June 2.

 

 

 

September 17th  Michal Drewenski says; We spotted a Hummingbird Hawkmoth on Sunday in our back garden feeding on a lavender bush. We live in Llanbedrog nr. Pwllheli. It was there for approx. 10 min. then flew off.

 

September 16th John Smith sends; I photographed this Convolvulus Hawkmoth at Talacre (Point of Ayr) on Sat.  Rob Whitehead says it is first record for Flintshire for over 100 years. [another migrant from the continent]

September 13th Sam Humberstone at the Conwy Butterfly Jungle says; we had visitors from Cheshire (knowledgeable on native butterflies) this weekend who spotted several Clouded Yellow on the Great Orme, the latter part of last week (it was the first time they had seen them - exceptionally pleased with their sightings). We also had a couple from Llandudno who wanted this caterpillar identified - [looks like a Puss Moth]

 

September 12th. I've heard of lots of humming bird hawk moths around this year, but only seen three.

On Monday 4.9 there was one in Machynlleth Co-op (investigating the 2 litre bottles of dandelion and burdock).

The following day and 12.9 one was hovering in front of fuschia flowers in the centre of Corris.

Do they normally fly high? On leaving the fuschias today it flew directly three stories up over a house.

Jan Morgan

[There have indeed been a lot of reports of these, as well as fellow migrants from the continent, Silver-Y moths,

 this summer -]

 

 

September 10th. We have been trapping this year at Tywyn and got a Scarce Bordered Straw this weekend. Is there anyone who would be interested in our records? We are relatively new to moth-ing but are used to logging bird reports so wondered if there is a similar scheme for moths.

Regards Ann & Mike Ribbands [-yes please do send any records in to the Moth or Butterfly Recorder covering the area where the species was found

find them on this page; Recorders. If you think the species might be rare, please try to photograph or keep the live specimen in a container in the fridge for a couple of days and telephone the Recorder.]

 

September 8th. CLOUDED YELLOW BUTTERFLY I thought you might like to record that I have seen the above butterfly today in our garden. Our postcode is LL21 9BY. It is the first time I have ever seen one, it was beautiful. Have there been many sightings of these in Denbighshire this year, or have I been extremely lucky? Best regards, Hazel Hughes

September 6th. [although this sighting turned out to be in Warwickshire, John Carter sent it to our website as the most user-friendly one he found!]

 I have seen a butterfly in my garden today. Very small (common blue size)

Similar shape to blue but light coppery brown with one black spot at bottom of lower wings and small 'tail' from each spot.

I cannot find it in my books, any ideas? Kind Regards, John Carter

Rob Whitehead replied;

Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli)  

This species is a native of South Africa and has been introduced to Europe with imported Pelargonium cultivars fairly recently. It has become well established in Spain, southern France and Italy and has been recorded in Holland, Belgium and southern England more recently.

Particularly interesting is that your (underside) photo shows this is a female laying an egg !  This probably means there is a colony somewhere 'nearby' for her to have mated with a male (virgin female b'flies rarely lay eggs).

Is the plant one you have had for a while or a recent purchase from a garden centre ?

If you can remember which plant it was you could try photographing the egg(s) and the caterpillar when it hatches in a week or two ! The egg should look like a sea-urchin, the size of a pinhead.

Thanks for the most exciting record of the century !

Rob Whitehead (Butterfly Recorder)

 

 

September 1st.Brian Roberts reports; the Male Clouded Yellow is still in the Greenfield valley today-we saw one and possibly two flying together-it's nice to have it still with us-this is the 33rd day since we first saw on 30th July

September 1st. D. Penney sends; Whilst walking near our home in Llanbrynmair, we saw a very large caterpillar just crossing the main road, it must have a charmed life, at first we thought that it was a small/baby snake as it was some 5'' in length, it was predominatly green with other colouring. I have been unable to identify the creature, and thought that you may be able to help..-probably a Small Elephant Hawkmoth, we often gets queries about this strange monster at this time of year

.

Small Elephant Hawkmoth Larva                                                              and  the adult moth

The caterpillars can reach several inches long and are often found eating hardy garden fuchsias, which come from South America!

Their normal native foodplant here is Rosebay Willowherb that you can see in stands of tall pink airy flowers by our roadsides just now.

If you have this caterpillar its best to leave it to find it's own place to pupate and survive the winter before turning into these glorious

moths next Spring.

.

Rosebay Willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium)(you can buy this and many other butterfly and moth-attracting plants from our Gardening page.)             

August 24th.. Clouded Yellow - suspect that with the hot July there have been plenty, though I have only observed the one lone specimen near Nefyn. (Lleyn Penninsula)  Tim Kirk

August 23rd.

 I saw a clouded yellow up on Mynydd Marian (Colwyn Bay LNR, limestone grassland) just now.  It was down in one of the quarry bits, grid ref: SH892772

Becky Groves (Conwy Biodiversity Officer)
 

August 23rd. Brian and Sue

Undertook the Pen-y-Gelli survey today 2 Wall Browns seen several times during the visit.

 When we got home Sue and I were in the garden and one flew in-that makes the 16th species we have seen in the garden this year-a record for our garden.

 

August 22nd. David Thorpe sends; Numerous sightings of Clouded yellows in the last week on Anglesey - at Aberffraw dunes on the 16th, Malltraeth Marsh on the 17th and Llanfachraeth on the 19th. If the weather improves it'd be worth a visit to see if you can see any. The dunes at Aberfraw are great walking even without butterflies.

 

August 22nd.I undertook the Transect Walk of the Greenfield valley (Holywell, Flintshire) today and saw 124 butterflies-Purple Hairstreak-Small Copper, Holly Blue-lots of Small Whites, Red Admirals, 2 Peacocks,quite a few Common Blue and Speckled Woods and best of all both Clouded Yellows,Male and Female, and again a possible third in an area a little away from where I saw the 2 flying but it may have been one of them so I still don't know whether we have 2 or 3 in the valley but it is still nice to see them. Brian Roberts

 

August 6th.Philip Howson reports seeing grayling today (Sunday) at SJ237432 NE of Llangollen.

 

August 6th.Jan Miller had 4 Small Coppers on the Ragwort in her garden near Holywell (Flintshire)- 2 doing a courtship dance for ages. This is the greatest number of Sm.Coppers I’ve seen together for many years.

 

August 5th; While in Snowdonia  I had good numbers of Wall Brown at Nantmor south of Beddgelert (OS 600458) and Grayling a little further south (OS 599455) 

Francis Gomme

BC Upper Thames Branch

 

August 3rd.

Sue and I have just finished the Transect Walk for the week in Greenfield Valley (Flintshire) -we saw 279 butterflies-but that's not the best part because we saw and photographed two Clouded Yellows mating, on the way back we saw a single Clouded Yellow. And just to finish the afternoon off we saw a Purple Hairstreak on a small Oak Tree. Whatever next!!!!!

Brian and Sue Roberts

August 1st.

Helen Bantock asks if other moth trappers have noticed;

So far this year, all the Scarce/Northern Footman on Morfa Harlech have  again been Northern Footman( f. sericea).

For a long time it was believed the Northern Footman (Eilema sericea) was a separate species found in Northern parts of England, Wales and on the Isle of Man. Nowadays the Northern Footman is considered to be a mere local variety of the Scarce Footman, for there is no difference at all in the genitals. Also the caterpillars are absolutely identical. The main differences are the food of the larvae (mosses) and the darker, greyish hindwing in the adult moths. I have also checked the moths at Plas Tan y Bwlch, which have grey hindwing streaks, as do those further south at Tal y Bont.

Have other members checked their moths to look for the grey streaks on the hindwing ?

Helen Bantock (you can e-mail her at Newsletter@northwalesbutterflies.org.uk )

 

July 30th.

At the walk in Greenfield Valley on 30th July 17 species of butterfly were seen the star being the Clouded Yellow which appeared in the valley for the second year in succession, in addition Small Copper, Purple and White-Letter Hairstreaks were briefly(very briefly seen) as were Wall Brown, Small Skipper. In all 205 butterflies were seen during the walk.

July 30th.Mike Byrne also reports; I have today seen and photographed a clouded yellow male butterfly in Rosset north Wales.

 

July 27th.Nigel Brown (Treborth) reports small skippers abundant on the walk at Brewery Fields, nr CCW Offices just off Penrhos Rd in Bangor - much of it earmarked for development unfortunately. Nigel also says he has a reliable report from Jim Clark, warden at Alaw Resv Anglesey is claiming Grizzled Skipper earlier this summer at Rhosneigr on the W. coast of Anglesey.

 

July 26th. I caught a scarce silver Y last night again after one escaped the other morning before photos!

if anyone wants to see it I will keep until tomorrow night at least.

send me an email or ring me on 0161 355 6919 after 6pm.

Best wishes

Shane Farrell, shane.farrell@ntlworld.com

VC58 Cheshire County Macro-moth Recorder Moth Officer Butterfly Conservation Cheshire & Peak District Branch www.butterfly-conservation.com

 

July 25th.Andrew Graham (Butterfly and Moth Recorder for area around Bala) sends; I hope you are enjoying the summer. Aren't the butterfly numbers amazing! I went for a day walk today near Betws Gwerfil Goch and I honestly think I saw more butterflies than I have ever seen before in one day in Wales. I don't really understand why there should be more butterflies just because it is warmer and drier than usual. Do you? {One hypothesis is that individual butterflies are living for longer).(Jan replies;Yes, everyone’s saying how great the numbers are in the last couple of weeks. I was thinking it was perhaps because of that unusually hot, dry June that helped larval and pupation survival rates after that cold Spring that held back the life cycles of the parasites) - does anyone else have other ideas on this? please e-mail to info@northwalesbutterflies.org.uk

July 23rd. Sue and Brian Roberts undertook their Greenfield Valley transect walk today and only had sun for about 30-40% of the time but did see 292 butterflies, the buddleia bush at the gate by Bryn Celyn Car-Park was bristling with butterflies Peacocks, Commas, Red Admirals, Small Large and Green-veined Whites about 20 butterflies in all.

The 292 is a new record for the valley and if the sun had shone all around the walk then certainly we would have got 300 as the Speckled Woods were down quite a lot compared with a better day last week.

Brian has looked at the statistics for Greenfield Valley for 2005 and 2006( to date), in 2005 (which was a record year) by the end of July we were averaging 41.43 butterflies per Transect Walk, this year with one more walk to go before the end of July we are averaging 66.78!

July 23rd.Allan Brandon reports; The unbelievably good weather has resulted in some southern dragonfly rarities in Wales this month. Paul Triggs reports a male Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) caught in a mistnet at Shotton Steel Works on the 23rd July 06. This is a first for North Wales and there could be others around so please check those Anax out. Also Bob Dennison reports a Yellow-winged Darter (Sympetrum flaveoum) in Radnorshire on the 19th July.

 

 

July 20th Jan Miller saw a White-letter Hairstreak on a hebe in the butterfly garden she planted in Wynn Gardens, Old Colwyn. Plus lots of common species and a Small Skipper - in the middle of town!

July 18th Jan Miller saw two Grayling and several Small Skippers, two Common Blues and some common species on her survey of Rhydymwyn Nature Reserve, near Mold. Considerably lower numbers of everything than last year.

 

July 16th Rob Whitehead sends;

today's records from Eyarth Rocks reserve - 1st Small Skipper since 1999 and I had 4 White-letter Hairstreaks.

 

July 14th; Brian and Sue went into the valley to look at the Small Skippers-they are still there in good numbers-we then went over to the area that CADW wish to mow and there Sue found a White-Letter Hairstreak in virtually the same place as it was last year we watched it at a range of about 2 feet for several minutes-nice to think that last year's sighting wasn't a one-off.

July 12thSue and I went back in the Greenfield Valley (Holywell, Flintshire) this morning to do a systematic check of the Small Skippers at the Battery Pool and we got 22(best yet), we then saw a newly emerged Wall Brown and One Purple Hairstreak and the first of the new brood of Common Blue As we were having lunch outside we saw 9 Small Tortoiseshells on our Buddleia we also had a Small Skipper in the garden on two occasions during lunch-I think they must be on the bank opposite our house. No sign of the Hummingbird Hawk Moth today but one of my friends up the hill has had it in his garden and took 200 photos of it!

July 11th.Sue and Brian Roberts; have just finished our Transect Walk in Greenfield Valley and recorded 151 butterflies, this is the earliest we have ever got over 100 butterflies but best of all the Small Skippers which we have never seen more than 4 on a Transect Walk in the last 3 years today-20,we asked the manager not to mow the Battery Pool area where they are and it certainly has paid off, also lots of Comma, Meadow Browns Gatekeepers and Small Tortoiseshells

 

July 11th Mark Taylor, who works near Wrexham, reports 9 or more White-letter Hairstreak on the small Old English Elms on the Wrexham Industrial estate (the one famous for Grizzled Skipper in the spring) -these WLH were near the Animal Feed factory, just past the Georgia Pacific building.

 

July 5th. I was attending my daughters sports day yesterday at Bryn Hedydd school in Rhyl when a butterfly caught my attention. Fluttering across the grass was a yellow butterfly! I chased after it and it briefly rested on some clover and then flew off. I identified it as a clouded yellow just from the underside, wings were not open, but closed.I found this to be quite remarkable not just that I have been observing butterflies all my life, but to see this species in Rhyl. Incidentally this is my first record of this species in Britain.

Could you inform me if there have been other records elsewhere of this species this year.

Much appreciated

Ian Gorton
 

July 2nd. David Thorpe: I saw marsh fritillaries (6) - for the first time in years, at Cors Griannog near Garddolbenmaen (N of Porthmadog). A Crow access site. 50+ Small Pearl-bordered Frits along with Dark-green frits (2) ringlet, small heath, meadow brown (and golden ringed dragonfly and beautiful demoiselle)! Found another good SPBF site at Cors y Llyn behind Nebo too (30+). Another clouded yellow sighting this time near Llanfairfechan (my brother) and hummingbird hawk moth in our garden again (with SPBF) on Sunday.

 

June 29th Jim Middlemass, one of the rangers at Tegg's Nose Country Park near Macclesfield has discovered a strong colony of Lunar Hornet Moth. they are emerging as he found a pair in cop recently and will be glad to meet with anyone on site to show them where etc.

feel free to visit the park or to email Jim at TEGGS@cheshire.gov.uk

Shane Farrell, VC58 Cheshire County Macro-moth Recorder Moth Officer

Butterfly Conservation Cheshire & Peak District Branch www.butterfly-conservation.com

 

June 29th Brian and Sue Roberts went to Wern-y-Gaer near Rhosesmor today and saw 17 Small Pearl Bordered Frits. also there were about 50 Large Skippers.We also visited Y Parc at Lixwm  and saw 2 Dark Green Fritillaries.

 

June 29th. Jan Miller saw first lone Small Skipper of the year at Rhydymwyn near Mold, together with worn remnant of the Dingy Skippers that were out in force a month ago, plus several Large Skipper. Common Blues and Meadow Browns. Very few Small Tortoiseshells this year - has anyone else noticed this?

June 27th. Peter H Rathbone reports; I have recorded Beautiful Snout Hypena crassalis on both June 24 and June 26 in my MV trap. These were not the same individual as the first specimen unfortunately died the following day. I believe it is a very local species being found in woodland and marshy areas, the larval foodplant being bilberry.

 

June 26th David Thorpe; Dark green fritillaries on the wing in Morfa Dinlle sand dunes (north of Dinas

Dinlle) yesterday. We had 6 good sightings - a minimum of 3 individuals.

Ringlet and Small Copper have now arrived at Clwt y Bont, Small Pearl-bordered frits still flying.

June 24th.Sue and Brian Roberts were in Llandudno today and went to West Shore for the Silver-Studded Blues -they were out, together with 4 Grayling ,1 Meadow Brown, 2 Large Skippers and a Lizard of indeterminate species.

 On the way down back to the road we did a systematic count of the Silver-Studded Blues and we counted over a 100metres we saw 247 S.S.Blues.

 

June 20 A Lime Hawk Moth, Mimas tiliae was the most interesting record overnight, the first of this species to be recorded in my garden over the past two years. Another first was a Lesser Treble Bar, Aplocera efformata.

 Peter H Rathbone

June 18

Peter H Rathbone sends the photo below; 

Amongst almost 50 species in the trap overnight was a very rare local species, Blomer’s Rivulet, Discoloxia blomeri  (photographed) which has only featured on a few occasions in this area. As far as I am aware this is the first record for Denbighshire since the early 1980s.

 

June 18th Sam Dyer took this fabulous photo of a Mullein Moth larva eating cultivated Verbascum in the Snowdonia Garden centre, Glan Conwy

 

June 18th Jennifer Ellis who lives near Derby but was in N Wales at the weekend and saw (maybe) PBF or Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary up Nant Gwynant  gr.ref  SH628 508; past Llyn Dinas , near car park where Snowdon path goes up from. Also saw Wall Brown there.

 Towards Barmouth she saw Wall Brown, Clouded yellow, Common Blue at SH 628 145

 

June 18th Lawrence Lovelady sends this photo and asks;

 

Took these pics this weekend at LLanarmon-yn-Ial. Also spotted a pair of Hummingbird moths hovering around hanging baskets for about 10-15 minutes  at Parc farm caravan park sat 17/06/06. its the first time I've seen them this far north (unfortunately didn't have my camera) The only other place I've seen one was at Hawkshead country park near Shrewsbury last year. are these common in Wales ?.

 (We've had quite a few reports of HBHMoths the last few weeks - and the last 3 years - anyone got a longer memory of them?- send comments and any other species sightings to info@northwalesbutterflies.org.uk)

 

June 17th Brian and Sue;

We went to Ynys Hir yesterday and saw Painted Lady, Large Skipper and our first Meadow Brown of the year, with all the Painted Lady's seen at Pen-y-Gelli Greenfield Valley and now at Ynys Hir it does seem as if it is going to be another good year for them.

 

June 17th Jan Miller had a Brimstone in her garden near Whitford (Flintshire)

June 16th Brian and Sue;

Greenfield Valley (Holywell, Flintshire)

Large Skipper-1

Painted Lady-1

Speckled Woods-31!!!

Common Blue-2

 

Pen-y-Gelli (near Holywell - old quarry)

Large Skipper-1

Common Blue-29

Painted Lady-6

 

June 13th. Paul Roberts reports a Hummingbird Hawkmoth in his garden in Whitford (Flintshire).

A number of local reports of this species are coming in now.

 

June 10th David Thorpe says; Large Skipper at Fedw Fawr on Anglesey along with Dingy Skipper, Small Heath,

Green-veined White, Speckled Wood and an influx of Painted ladies, Red Admirals, Silver Y and Hummingbird Hawkmoths

nearby at Mariandyrys.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries are flying in Caernarfonshire and in good numbers on Aberfraw dunes on

 Anglesey (with Dingy Skipper, Small Heath and Common Blue)

First Clouded Yellow sightings at Foryd Fach and Rhiw both west of Caernarfon on 12th.

(Clouded Yellow also reported from Llanfairfechan on 11th)

 

June 10th. Jan Miller had first Large Skippers of the year near Whitford (Flintshire) and first Painted Lady

 

June 2nd.

Sue and Brian walked up the Greenfield valley to Holywell and saw the following: -

2 Speckled Woods

1 Comma

2 Peacock

2 Common Blues(1st sightings in the valley this year)

1Orange Tip

1 Painted Lady (really pleased about this)

1 Small Copper

 

May 31st. Rob Whitehead; we did the maximum count of Pearl-bordered Fritillary at Eyarth Rocks today;

The final count yesterday was 96 PBFs, with 86 on the Reserve; 9 on Fleming's land; and 1 on Ellis' land to the south.

 

 May 28th Brian and Sue Roberts undertook their Pen-y-Geli (near Holywell, Flintshire)Transect Walk-

 and saw 9 Dingy Skippers (photo) and 2 Wall Browns and our first Common Blues of the year(2).

 

 

May 25th and 26th. Jan Miller saw a maximum of 9 Dingy Skipper at Rhydymwyn Valley site (near Mold) and a few Whites and Peacock, but no Wall Browns as there had been this time last year

 

May 23rd.Brian and Sue; as there was a break in the weather we went to Pen-y-Gelli today, and although the conditions were not ideal we did see 5 Dingy Skippers and 1 Wall Brown-nothing else. 

We then went to Greenfield Valley and just had a look at Section 3 of the Transect and saw another Wall Brown and a Green-veined White.

 

May 14th Rob Whitehead ;

I went up today (very cloudy) but still saw 18+

Pearl-bordered fritillaries on Eyarth Rocks Reserve.

 

May 11th.Rob Whitehead reports;

Two pristine male Pearl-bordered Frits out today on Eyarth Rocks Reserve.

Both at north end of cleared area below the limestone pavement.

(Just in time for Members' Day on 20th May - see Events for more details)

 

May 10th. Brian and Sue Roberts went to

Pen-y-Gelli Nature reserve, near Holywell, Flintshire, today to undertake their B.C.Transect Walk and whilst there  saw 1 Dingy Skipper newly emerged.Also saw 4 Peacocks 2 Orange Tips and a Small White. They  were glad to see the Dingy because they are taking a guided walk there on 21st May - see Events page for details of this and other walks, courses, moth-trapping nights, gardening for butterflies etc.

 Brian and Sue also undertook Greenfield Valley Transect walk today and equalled the record for the most Orange Tips ever seen in the valley 13.

 

May 9th David Thorpe says; Green hairstreaks are back, at least three in our field at Clwyt y Bont and more on the heath beyond. We've also had peacocks and small tortoiseshell since last month, speckled wood, holly blue, orange tip and green veined white. Any records of Green hairsteak in Caernarfonshire (or Anglesey) would be welcome. In Caernarfonshire there are recent records for Moel y Ci, Tregarth, Fachwen, Clwt y Bont and one site south of Clynnog Fawr.Anglesey - I've no records since the 1970s. Anyone wanting to see this stunning little butterfly - give me a ring 01286 871982. (You can e-mail your records to David (Butterfly Recorder for Caernarfonshire and Anglesey) at; david.thorpe@environment-agency.wales.gov.uk - for Recorders of moths and butterflies for other areas, go to County Recorders )

 

May 4th David Hinde says; Belted Beauty season on the three sites went as usual, Meols Common rubbish, Morfa Conwy slightly better and Sunderland Point very good.North Wales Branch, together with Conwy Borough Council have just produced a bilingual,colour guide leaflet to the local rare coastal moths, including the Belted Beauty. These will be free to those attending the Traeth Lafan event on 11th June - see Events page, or e-mail info@northwalesbutterflies.org.uk

 

May 4th.

1 Pearl-bordered Fritillary adult seen today despite late spring. 

at Y Golfa near Welshpool 

Simon Spencer, Powys

 

May 3rd Mel Bellingham and I had a pleasant walk at Loggerheads today. Had 4 Green Hairstreak, 2 Grizzled Skipper and a female Brimstone. Cheers David Hinde

May 3rd.

Sue and I undertook our Transect Walk in the Greenfield valley (Holywell, Flintshire)today and saw the following:-

 Holly Blue-3

Comma-1

Peacock-6

Orange Tip-10

Small Tortoiseshell-1

Small White-1

Speckled Wood-5

Last year the highest number of Orange Tips we saw in the valley was 7-so quite a good start.

 Best Wishes,

Brian and Sue

April 28th. Betty Lee saw 2 Brimstones at Marford Quarry, and hopes to plant Buckthorn for them there. She has already planted several at sites where she has made otter holts. If you would like to plant buckthorn to help Brimstones go to Gardening page.

 

(Photo by Janet Graham)

April 25th.

Have just seen 6 Peacocks, one Tortoiseshell, one Comma, one Red Admiral, 4 Orange Tips and one Green veined White in Harlech forest. Helen Bantock

 

April 23rd. Brian and Sue Roberts send;

In the Greenfield Valley (Holywell) we saw 12 butterflies which included Speckled Wood, Peacock, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell and a very ragged Red Admiral-as we walked down the path near our house to get into the valley we found a Small White perched up.

 

April 18th. Brian and Sue say that they've only seen 1 Comma, 1 Peacock and 2 Small Tortoiseshells seen in Holywell area so far.

 

April 13th.We have enjoyed a few butterflies in the garden so far with the highlight being a brimstone on April 13/15 and 21. Commas and peacocks are the others to feature. Peter Rathbone, Llanarmon yn Ial,(between Mold and Ruthin)

 

April 10th. (still very cold, air temperatures rarely getting into double figures)

David Thorpe says "First few Peacocks that I've seen here in Bangor on the 10th.

Some reported last week too."

March 31st. Rob Whitehead reports a Brimstone at Graigfechan, near Ruthin

March 25th. after a very cold march first sightings were late this year - David Curtis was the first to report one of a sleepy Peacock in Old Colwyn on this date.


Sightings in North Wales for 2005

September 6th. Jan Miller had the first Brimstone in her garden in nearly 20 years of looking, 12 of those with growing Buckthorn! Also had a Hummingbird Hawkmoth with unusually bright black-and-white chequered tail.

[It is thought Brimstone are scarce in North Wales simply because their larval foodplant (Purging Buckthorn (Rhamnus catharticus) on lime or Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus) on acid soils) were not traditionally used as hedging here, as they are in the south of England. You can buy one of these plants from us to grow in your garden and help us draw this beautiful butterfly across the border! click here; gardening/plantlist ]

September 5th.Brian and Sue Roberts: we did our transect walk in Greenfield Valley yesterday and saw 93 butterflies including 3 Purple Hairstreaks in a new location. The Speckled Woods were everywhere we logged 51.This year the

butterflies keep coming and coming; the average number of butterflies seen each transect walk is now up to 72.

September 3rd. David Curtis sends; I saw a Wall Brown butterfly on Tan y Marian (Mynydd Marian, above Colwyn Bay) today basking on a drain lid

 

August 21st. Rob Whitehead; I went up to the Eyarth Rocks reserve on Sunday and saw 14 species -  including one male Grayling.

This is the first record since 1992 ! Looks like our management work is paying dividends.

August 16th. Andrew Clarke sends; Thought I would let you know that I recorded a single Clouded Yellow atop the cliffs at the west side of Port Neigwl near Plas-yn-Rhiw (SH241284) last Tuesday 16th August 2005. It's the first I have seen since the big influx several years ago.

August 8th. David Thorpe reports; Morfa Dinlle dune west of Caernarfon has a second brood of SPBFs - noticeable smaller than the first brood. Along with large numbers of gatekeeper (D) meadow brown (C) and some grayling. A grayling showed up in my garden at Clwt y Bont yesterday, only the second seen there in 7 years. Graylings are also flying at Mariandyrys on Anglesey

 

August 5/6th Rob Whitehead; 

I was wondering if there had been a hatch from early Clouded Yellows or a fesh influx recently. 

I saw one on Wirral on Friday(5th) (from my car) and another near Sealand Rifle Range (Flints/Cheshire border) yesterday(6th).

Yesterday's was a female in a field with lots of clover & vetches so we may have more sightings to come in September.

August 2nd. Brian and Sue;  we decided to call in at Greenfield Valley on the spur of the moment to try and locate the WLH/S again-whilst we were looking for it-Sue shouted at me saying` I don't believe this`-sitting on top of knapweed was a Clouded Yellow-we watched it for about six  minutes as it moved from flower to flower-unfortunately I did not have my camera -there is absolutely no doubt it was a Clouded Yellow we have seen many of them in the South of England and today on two occasions we were able to get within 2-3, feet and watched it feeding. The black edging to the wings was very prominent. We just wonder what next!!!!

July 26th Jan Miller saw over 11 Grayling and 35 Small Skipper at a new site in Rydymwyn, near Mold.

July 26th. Brian and Sue Roberts; we did our Transect Walk in the Greenfield Valley (Holywell) this afternoon and saw 131 butterflies-the highest total ever-what we did see is shown below; I raced home got the camera and thankfully it was still there- a White-Letter Hairstreak -It was nectaring on Hemp Agrimony.

July 19th. Rob Whitehead says; a good reason for not eliminating Ragwort! There were about 12 White-letter Hairstreaks on it at Rhyd y Gaseg (near Ruthin) today

July 12th. from David Hinde; Went with Mel and Les to Cottage Bridge (Denbigh Moors) today 12-07-05 and had 16 Large Heath polydama. Visited Bod Petrual (Clocaenog) on the way back and had 10 Ringlet and  1 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary.

July 10th. "Mad Merve" reports; butterflies have been few and far between in LLangollen town so far , only noticeable are 2 Peacocks ,1 Tortoise a Painted Lady in the garden and a pair of Coppertips (Small Copper?) in the meadow

July 9th. National Moth Night ; see list of moths trapped on Eyarth Rocks reserve plus photos by clicking here; Eyarth Moths

June 21st. David Thorpe; Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries flying on numerous small wetlands around Brynrefail/ Clwt y Bont (near Caernarfon), Waenfawr Parc Dudley, in Beddgelert Forest, Morfa Dinlle dunes etc. Dry bracken site at Llanbedrog headland (20+ flying on June 7th). No DGFs seen yet and I've yet to find SPBFs at highest sites (250m+).

June 10th to 19th. Richard Smith from South Wales Branch sends;

Marsh Fritillaries seem to be approaching end of flight season in Glamorgan and south

of Cross Hands (Carms), most in small numbers with males in particular

now looking quite worn. However, around Ystradgynlais (upper Swansea valley, southern edge of BBNP) they have been emerging more recently, still in good numbers and, on Saturday, many were very fresh looking, including a newly mated female egg laying north of Weaver's Road. 4 new

sites found.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries still around on dry bracken sites in Glamorgan and should be out

now on most lowland wet sites (new records in Merthyr & Caerphilly lastweek), with higher sites presumably starting this week.

Dark green Fritillary & High Brown Fritillary now out in good numbers in Alun Valley. First DGF on 10th, first definite HBF on 13th (surpirsingly, same date as 2004). Yesterday's transect produced 4 HBF, 14 DGF, 47 unid DGF/HBF & 9 SPBF in 2.5 hours of observation time.

Am searching for MF in Ystradgynlais & NPT early this week, then concentrating on SPBF across Carms & Glamorgan. Hope to visit old HBF sites as well.

If anyone wants to see the HBFs or indeed help with targeted searches, would be pleased to hear.

Forester moths out in Carms. Several humming bird hawk moths and clouded yellow reported.

As usual, others observations very welcome (contact Richard via info@northwalesbutterflies.org.uk )

June 7th. David Hinde says; Had the following highlights today on a walk from Cefn-yr-Ogof quarry to Rhyd-y-foel:(near Llanddulas)

Large Skipper 1

Dingy Skipper 26

Silver-Studded Blue 13

Brown Argus 32

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary 17

Small Heath 21

 

June 6th.David Thorpe reports; I was at Talacre Shore Tip again yesterday. Good numbers of common blue

(32) and small heath (7) with a single dingy skipper, large white (3) and the first large skipper I've seen this year (2). I was only there for an hour and the weather although warm was cloudy with a wind.

We have a good colony of Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries next to our house - first seen yesterday (6th). Gwynedd, Clwt y Bont to Fachwen. There were 30+ on June 12th last year.

 

May 29th.along with greater numbers of Pearl-bordered Fritillaries on the Eyarth Rocks Reserve, more common species seem to be responding to the habitat management as well - Rob Whitehead saw on this date; Large White; Green-veined White; Orange Tip; Common Blue; Holly Blue; Peacock; Speckled Wood and Small Heath.

 

May 29th.After terrible weather yesterday so that Saturday's walk there was cancelled,

Brian and Sue Roberts undertook their Transect Walk of Pen-y-Gelli (near Holywell) today and saw the following:-

Dingy Skippers:- 11

Common Blue:- 25

Wall:- 1

Green-Veined White:- 2

Large White:- 3

Small White:- 1

 And also a suspected Broad-Bodied Chaser

 

May 25th.Rob Whitehead reports; We did a Pearl-bordered Fritillary count this p.m.on Eyarth Rocks reserve, in not brilliant weather (sunny/cloudy & windy). Even so, we had 98 on the Reserve and 8 on Eyarth House (Fleming's) land !!!  Most of the PBFs were quite fresh.

 

May 19th; Dave Thorpe sends photo below of female Common Blue and reports; Good day for newly emerged butterflies at Talacre Shore Tip .

My first common blue (1) small copper (5) small heath (10+) and wall (3) along with dingy skipper, large and small white. Windy but warm with shelter behind the railway line at SJ128 831. The tip is mostly EA owned but leased to BHP - but you can get signed in or walk from the bird hide. The Llanasa embankment (SJ124 844) is nettle and dock rich, next to the salt marsh and had coppers, whites, holly blue, orange tips and small tortoiseshell (1).

May 14th David Chandler, chair of BC H&M branch, was on holiday on the Llangollen canal and saw a Green Hairstreak on the canal near the Jack Mydden pub (just past the Fenn & Whixhall Moss NNR reserve)on the SALOP POWYS border.

May 14th/15th. Dave Thorpe sends; "A good weekend for butterflies. My daughter found our first dingy skipper at Newborough Forest and we saw a speckled wood with mis-shapen hind wings at Llangoed on Anglesey. It could still fly and had been in my parents garden for a week."(see photo)

May 14th.Rob Whitehead says;

Went up to Eyarth Rocks Reserve today. From one P-bordered Fritillary seen on Wednesday numbers have increased to 39+, with 35 being on the Reserve itself. Also had a pleasant surprise near the north gate (boundary with Eyarth House) where I saw a Dingy Skipper  -  the first since 1998 .

 

May 12th. Ian Waller from Wigan reports over 40 Grizzled Skippers and over 40 Dingy Skippers on the Wrexham Industrial Estate.

 

May 11th. Rob Whitehead reports from Eyarth Rocks; one Pearl-bordered Fritillary out today, but not on the Reserve; on the lower shelf

May 6th.Simon Spencer says; I saw 2 Pearl-bordered Fritillary flying at Middletown Hill (Powys) today  in cold, windy but sunny conditions.

They are later than usual (or we have got used to them being early).  None seen at Llanynmynech.  None at Y Golfa yesterday. 

May 4th. David Hinde says; Had a reasonably good day at Loggerheads (near Mold) today;

Cliff Top and Limestone Pavement; Grizzled Skipper 2, Green Hairstreak 3.

Butterfly Glades; Grizzled Skipper 5, Green-veined White 2, Green Hairstreak 2.

April 29th  Dave Thorpe saw his first Green hairstreaks on Friday south of Tregarth and at Clwt y Bont(Gwynedd)

April 25th. First Speckled Wood and Large White in Greenfield Valley, Flintshire.

April 22nd Brian and Sue saw their first Green-veined White and Small White in the Greenfield Valley

April 19th Jan Miller saw her first Orange Tip this year near Holywell, Flintshire.

April 15th. I live in Liverpool Merseyside and visit north Wales (Llanarmon-yn-ial Denbighshire) every weekend and thought I would

 share some photos I took of a peacock butterfly, I have spotted this species  quite often at Loggerheads country park.  Could you tell me are

 they attracted to water? as they seem to be drinking from the river when  we see them. Regards Laurence Lovelady.

April 11th Debbie Evans saw her first Orange Tip of the year on Monday while out in a field on Anglesey planting potatoes.

April 10th. Brian and Sue Roberts saw their first Orange-Tip of the year in the Greenfield Valley, Holywell, Flintshire

April 10th We had a Speckled Wood on Sunday, Dave Thorpe, near Caernarfon.

April 4th  First Peacock seen in Whitford, near Holywell

March 20th. First Comma and Small Tortoiseshell of the year near Holywell, Flintshire.

 

Sightings in North Wales for 2004

Some early February sightings included two Painted Ladies in a garden near Waunfawr (Caernarfon) by Mike Hull and a Hummingbird Hawkmoth at Brynteg near Wrexham by Bryan Formstone (which means it successfully over-wintered?)

February 15th. Doug Murray reported a Comma in Newborough Forest, Anglesey. February 18th; Brian and Sue Roberts reported a Small Tortoiseshell flying and settling on their garden path in Holywell, Flintshire, and two more on the 22nd.

March 30th. Gill Tattershall saw a Brimstone at Bryn Pydew , near Llandudno.This butterfly is scarce in North Wales, although common in England; to help us draw them across into Wales we need to plant more Purging Buckthorn or Alder Buckthorn ! (their only larval foodplants) To find out how to get a Buckthorn plant (just £1.00) for your garden hedge go to Plantlist.

 

April 23rd. Brian and Sue Roberts report first sightings of Holly Blue and Orange Tip in Holywell.

 

May 4th. Jack Mather photographed mating Lime Hawk Moths on a garden gate in Old Colwyn

 

 

May - Rob Whitehead reports seeing 65 Pearl-bordered Fritillaries on our Eyarth Rocks Reserve on one day. This is a record for the last 20 years, so it appears management work by volunteers on the reserve is succeeding. Go to Reserves to find out more.

 

July 1st. Helen Bantock reports seeing 5 Large Heath in 30 minutes at Trawsfynnydd and sent these photos of Large Heath and also of these mating Marsh Fritillaries on a site near Harlech which is currently threatened with development.;

 

 

July 23rd. Jan Miller saw her first ever Hummingbird Hawkmoth in her garden near Holywell, despite everyone having seen lots last year!

 

August 28th. We finally got to do a moth-trapping at our Eyarth Rocks Reserve despite the awful weather in July and August (the July 3rd. trapping had to be cancelled due to bad weather.)

It was still a cold night but we trapped many Autumnal Rustics, Feathered Gothic, Rosy Rustic and 10 other species.

See Eyarth Rocks Reserve for more information

 

September - lots of reports of Small Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillars hit the local newspapers and phone lines in Flintshire

October  2nd. Betty Lee saw Commas on the Ice Plant (Sedum spectabile) in her garden near Buckley. This sedum is one of the best autumn flowers for butterflies - if you'd like to buy one from us, or see which other plants are good for butterflies go to Gardening

 

For first sightings for the whole UK see the national website; www.butterfly-conservation.org

2003 summer migrants.

The long hot summer of 2003 saw many late migrant butterflies arriving in North Wales in such numbers that many people reported seeing them in their gardens. Most common of these reports was of the Hummingbird Hawkmoth, so called because it beats its wings very fast while hovering to take nectar from a flower. David Green of the Hampshire branch reports that a flower in his garden that attracted Hummingbird Hawkmoths greatly was Salvia neurepia. (see Hants. website for picture)

The Death's Head Hawkmoth whose caterpillars feed on potato is not often seen in this country. But this summer 3 of its caterpillars were found on potatoes at the University of Bangor trial grounds near Conwy.More details in North Wales Branch Newsletter Spring 2004. See the national website for more detailed information and picture of this spectacular moth; www.butterfly-conservation.org

  News report in Conwy local paper, September 2003
 

More information If you have any unusual sightings, take a photo and send it to us at website@northwalesbutterflies.org.uk and we can put some pictures on here to share with other members.

You can also telephone your local County Recorder with identification queries. Click on County Recorders to find out who your local Recorder is.

If you would like to record the butterflies and moths you see in your garden or on walks, you can get a copy of the North Wales Recording form for butterflies by clicking here;Record Form

Moths trapped on Eyarth Rocks reserve this year, together with many photos, can be seen at Eyarth Moths

 

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