Branch Sightings
Sightings in (and near) North Wales for 2008
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
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 white
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