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BS: Butterfly watching challenge
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Subject: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Liz the Squeak Date: 29 Jul 06 - 05:01 AM I'm so chuffed (UK speak for pleased, happy, proud, excited, amazed and stunned all at once) with my latest sightings that I thought we could share. I have a white buddliea bush which attracts moths as well as butterflies but this week I've been stunned at the sheer numbers of butterflies visiting it. For instance, today (Saturday, warm, sunny) there were, at the same time: 1 Red Admiral 2 Cabbage Whites 12 Painted Ladies Here is a good site showing a dozen of the most common in the UK/Europe. The Painted Lady is a migratory butterfly living in Europe most of the time. Although I've seen a few in Britain before, never have I seen them in such numbers at one time - and on one plant! LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Firecat Date: 29 Jul 06 - 08:47 AM Oh, wow! You are so lucky! Jealousjealousjealousjealousjealous. All we get round here are Cabbage Whites, Red Admirals and Peacocks, and there's not been many around that I've seen. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: skipy Date: 29 Jul 06 - 12:58 PM I saw a red admiral once, we where on a canal trip and he got sun stroke. Skipy |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: harpmaker Date: 29 Jul 06 - 01:19 PM And of course the budlia bush is also known as the butterfly bush. We also have loads of butterflies Liz, but I did notice early on in spring seeing cabbage whites, and I thought it a bit strange as we only usualy see them from mid summer on. But this year is very different. We also have load and loads of moths, Quite extrordinary, must be down to the weather. Climate change? John in Beverley.UK |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Rumncoke Date: 29 Jul 06 - 01:24 PM I have been turning off the fly zapper for several weeks as it had been zapping so many lepidops whenever I open the kitchen window. The first Painted Lady I saw a little while ago has now been joined by lots more. I notice that unlike our native species they take fright very quickly. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 29 Jul 06 - 11:53 PM THIS WEEK:
A bushel full of cabbage whites with a cluster of sulphers.
Three Tiger-swallowtail
Four Vicerory
Several dozen Monarch (there is a difference)
Several dozen Morning Cloak
Four Painted Ladies
Two peculiar, unidentified baby-blues
Sincerely,
Do you want to capture, kill and swap? Will trade a Morarch for one of your Red Admirals. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: GUEST,Jon Date: 30 Jul 06 - 12:07 AM Saw a peacock on our buddleia today. First one I've seen this year. Also a couple of small blue ones, a few small tortoiseshells and a lot of cabbage whites. Haven't seen any Red Admirals this year. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Ferrara Date: 30 Jul 06 - 12:16 AM Jon, where do you live? All I remember noticing so far in our yard (Maryland) are cabbage whites, a few sulphurs (not sure which ones), skippers, and lots of tiger swallowtails. There was one lovely black-colored swallowtail but it may have been a melanistic female tiger swallowtail (the mimic the pipevine swallowtails which are poisonous.) Every year the tiger swallowtails practically patrol the butterfly bushes to keep off other large butterflies. Sigh.... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: GUEST,Jon Date: 30 Jul 06 - 12:24 AM Norfolk, UK Ferrara. As far as I know, we only have this swallowtail in the UK. They can be found on the Norfolk Broads - not that far from me - all have to go and look one year as I've never seen a live one. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: GUEST, Topsie Date: 30 Jul 06 - 05:45 AM Spotted a large, pale butterfly/moth (too far away to identify) flying away from the London Butterfly House recently. If it lands on someone's buddleia they may get a nice surprise. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Liz the Squeak Date: 30 Jul 06 - 06:47 AM There's a London Butterfly house??? Why have I never heard of this? I love butterflies and am desperate for things to do with the child (other than throwing her off Tower Bridge or into the lion cage at the zoo) this summer.... I shall instigate a search pronto! LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Liz the Squeak Date: 30 Jul 06 - 06:50 AM Damnation.. no sooner do I find a place than this happens.... But we will be visiting some time this summer. LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Liz the Squeak Date: 30 Jul 06 - 07:10 AM Todays' score is down on the Painted Ladies but they've been joined by 2 Red Admirals... obviously word gets round! LTS Garg... this is a Watching challenge, not a Catching challenge.. I know most of the letters are the same but I like my butterflies flying freely, not pinned to a piece of card. Should I find one deceased of natural causes then maybe I'll reconsider. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Jos Date: 30 Jul 06 - 07:35 AM You'll love it Liz. I discovered it more than twenty years ago and was very upset recently to find it is likely to close. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Nigel Parsons Date: 30 Jul 06 - 08:30 AM From Cardiff (South Wales), seen in the garden this week: Peacock; Cabbage White; Large White. Seen out on the hills above Cardiff this week: Hedge Brown; Brimstone CHEERS Nigel |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: GUEST,Jon Date: 30 Jul 06 - 09:08 AM Just been outside towards the "butterfly bush". Seen 3 red admiral, 3 peacock, 2 painted lady, 1 unknown - small brown. I can't count the whites there are loads around and have been for some time. Always are here but at least we've done a better job of netting the brassica this year... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Firecat Date: 30 Jul 06 - 11:57 AM Must talk parentals into letting me go to Butterfly House. Or the one at Roundhay (if it's still there). I didn't get called Miss Butterfly by a kid who couldn't remember my name for nothing! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: GUEST,Guest Date: 30 Jul 06 - 02:29 PM Today; Numerous Red admirals; 1 Painted Lady; 3 Speckled Wood; Numerous Peacock and one very beautiful Brimstone on runner bean flowers-- one Hummingbird Hawk Moth and all in sunny Cheshire. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: greg stephens Date: 30 Jul 06 - 02:49 PM Stoke, England. An excellent year, all the usual suspects(Tortoiseshells,Red Admirals, Peacocks). Plus loads of painted Ladies. And most unusually, just before the others all appeared, a very large number indeed of Commas. these were unusual here five years ago, but have incresed hugely and this year easily outnumbered red Admirals and Tortoiseshells. peacocks have been the commonest on the buddleia, though overall in the garden this year the Speckled Woods have been the most generally common, over the whole summer. They arent interested in the buddleias, for some reason. A few Blues, not a lot this year. A few years back we had a Whiteletter Hairstreak in the garden, only spotted that the once. Out in the country, of course, there are loads of other ones, which we saw at the weekend. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: open mike Date: 30 Jul 06 - 05:16 PM i have buddileas too and have seen Monarch, Tiger Swallowtail, Zebra Swallowtail,. (is that what the yellow and the white varieties are called?) also sulphur, mourning cloak, checkered, and others. also have been seeing a moth with black wings, blue and black striped body and orange marks on wings.. for the next challenge let's have a slug and snail watching challenge the hard part woudl be to sit still long enough to watch them. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: GUEST, Topsie Date: 30 Jul 06 - 06:16 PM The little slugs in my garden go pretty fast - I reckon you could use them as racing slugs. And the big ones are veritable houdinis. I collected some up and put them in a bucket, thinking I would take them and release them somewhere a long way from my beans and potatoes. I put a sieve over the top to (as I thought) keep them in. When I came back one was half way through one of the sieve holes - big fat slug fore and aft, and a very thin, moving, waist. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Liz the Squeak Date: 31 Jul 06 - 04:33 AM I live on a migratory trail for snails so I have no problem. Just wait for the rain and they come out in their dozens! Oddly enough.. I've not seen a single small Tortoishell this year.... one of the commonest butterflies and I've not seen one. Should see plenty of other species today though, we're off to the butterfly house as mentioned above! LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Divis Sweeney Date: 31 Jul 06 - 10:40 AM Hasn't been great so far over here yet. Speckled woods, Ringlets and Meadow Browns along with the Whites, Large and small. Never saw one Orange Tip this Spring. I prefer Moths, great selection so far this year. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: GUEST,Jon Date: 31 Jul 06 - 10:46 AM Seen less today, a couple of painted ladies and 1 peacock. The whites still around of course. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Divis Sweeney Date: 31 Jul 06 - 10:51 AM We tend to get the Peacocks and Admirals in September for the Apple harvest. Painted Ladies rare. Great selection of Butterflies found in the Burren here in Ireland. Saw many fritillaries here. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: harpmaker Date: 06 Aug 06 - 03:57 AM Theres just been a bloke on the news this morning from the London butterfly house, he said the reason for the large numbers is three months of continual warm weather. Ideal conditions for breeding and feeding. He went on to say; "butterfly numbers have been in decline for many years" |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: bfdk Date: 06 Aug 06 - 04:32 AM We've plenty of Cabbage Whites around here at present, mainly the small and big whites, but also the green-veined whites. I see a fair number of Peacocks (Inachis Io), and I've seen Painted Ladies (Vanessa Cardui) and Admirals (Vanessa Atalanta). I've seen a few Small Tortoiseshells (Aglais urticae), but there ought to be plenty, because a few weeks ago there were bundles of their larvae crawling on nettles all over the place. I've seen one single Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines) male. I've seen a few of the small blues, but I've no idea which subspecies they were. Now, I'm looking forward to seeing which species I shall come across in the USA :-) Best wishes, Bente |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Liz the Squeak Date: 06 Aug 06 - 12:34 PM There was a small blue one flitting around today, but the painted ladies don't like the cooler, rainy weather we've had recently. Just wish I could find my butterfly book now.... LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Mo the caller Date: 07 Aug 06 - 08:18 AM We get the little blue ones (holly blue?) too. In Cheshire |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Divis Sweeney Date: 07 Aug 06 - 08:47 AM North of Ireland Sightings for August 2006 Date Species Location 02/08/2006 Large White (10) Crossgar, Co. Down 02/08/2006 Common Blue (1) Crossgar, Co. Down 02/08/2006 Green-veined White (4) Crossgar, Co. Down 02/08/2006 Ringlet (2) Crossgar, Co. Down 02/08/2006 Meadow Brown (3) Crossgar, Co. Down 02/08/2006 Speckled Wood (1) Crossgar, Co. Down 02/08/2006 Small Tortoiseshell (5) Crossgar, Co. Down 02/08/2006 Red Admiral (12) Crossgar, Co. Down 02/08/2006 Peacock (19) Crossgar, Co. Down 03/08/2006 Meadow Brown (203) Murlough Co. Down 03/08/2006 Grayling (6) Murlough Co. Down 03/08/2006 Small Copper (4) Murlough Co. Down 03/08/2006 Common Blue (18) Murlough Co. Down 03/08/2006 Red Admiral (16) Murlough Co. Down 03/08/2006 Peacock (25) Murlough Co. Down 03/08/2006 Dark Green Fritillary (4Murlough Co. Down 03/08/2006 Small White (7) Murlough Co. Down 03/08/2006 Small White (12) St. John's Pt., Co. Down 03/08/2006 Scarce Silver Y (1) Murlough Co. Down 03/08/2006 Silver Y (3) Murlough Co. Down 03/08/2006 Speckled Wood (4) Murlough NNR, Co. Down 03/08/2006 Clouded Yellow (1) St. John's Pt., Co. Down 03/08/2006 Large White (13) St. John's Pt., Co. Down 03/08/2006 Painted Lady (9) Tyrella House, Co. Down 03/08/2006 Small Tortoiseshell (7) Murlough Co. Down 03/08/2006 Painted Lady (12) Murlough Co. Down 03/08/2006 Ringlet (2) Murlough Co. Down 03/08/2006 Small Heath (47) Murlough Co. Down 03/08/2006 Six-spot Burnet (192) Murlough Co. Down 05/08/2006 Silver-washed Fritillary (2) Trassey Road, Co. Down 05/08/2006 Silver Y (28) Bohill Forest Co. Down 05/08/2006 Painted Lady (9) Bohill Forest NNR, Co. Down 05/08/2006 Peacock (30) Bohill Forest Co. Down 05/08/2006 Small Copper (14) Bohill Forest Co. Down including 2 of the blue sotted form |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: sian, west wales Date: 07 Aug 06 - 03:18 PM I'm not good at moths and butterflies, but I had one in the bathroom a few weeks ago which was lovely. I don't know what it is though. If I've done it right, there's a photo of it here . There's a butterfly place in Menai Bridge, Anglesey, but I've never been. It's called Pili Palas as a Welsh/English play on words. "Pilipala" is one Welsh word for butterfly. sian |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Liz the Squeak Date: 07 Aug 06 - 03:38 PM Sian - your file is coming up as inaccessible... any chance of a written description? LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Divis Sweeney Date: 07 Aug 06 - 03:48 PM Same for me Liz, can't see it and now I am nosey to see it ! Please Sian can you describe it thanks. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: GUEST,Jon Date: 07 Aug 06 - 04:18 PM Sian, in North Wales, there also a a butterfly place in Conwy. Started by a morris dancer even! I've not seen much over the last few days, couple of peacocks and painted ladies plus a few whites. Drifting way OT, but the most interesting "flying creature" to me I saw this weekend was a brown long eared bat. Pip found it on the ground in daytime. It had no obvious signs of injury and we hoped for a night-time release but the poor thing died. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: sian, west wales Date: 07 Aug 06 - 05:44 PM OK - it's basic wing colour is white, but with an orange-yellow top half of the central body. At rest, it holds it's wings out flat. It has remarkable black markings. If you can picture it, the very edges of the wings are black, then its as though there are black spots touching the black edge, almost giving a scalloped effect. Then above the scallop is a second row of black spots which follows the line of the wings' edges, but not touching the second row of spots. Oh heck. If anyone has an email they can PM me, I'll send the jpeg! sian |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: EBarnacle Date: 07 Aug 06 - 09:31 PM This has been a great year for flutterbyes in the New York City area. I have not seen so many in years. I don't worry about what they are as long as they can make the right matchup on their own. I just enjoy their beauty. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: GUEST, Topsie Date: 08 Aug 06 - 05:16 AM Not strictly butterflies, but I've been seeing some spectacular dragonflies recently. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: sian, west wales Date: 08 Aug 06 - 05:32 AM I've sent Divis a photo of 'my' example. Don't expect it to be any great rarity, but I hope he can identify it, just to assuage my curiosity. Otherwise, I haven't seen a vast number around here although there's a lot of buddliea around. (Why do they sell this stuff in nurseries? It's a weed here and grows out of every loose roof tile and crack in the pavement. Pretty, though.) sian |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Divis Sweeney Date: 08 Aug 06 - 06:22 AM Just replied to your email sian, it's a Magpie Moth, (Eurrhypara hortulata). Wingspan 24-28 mm. This is one of the most familiar of the Pyralidae, with its yellowish body parts and black-and-white patterned wings. It is very common in the southern half of Britain, becoming less so further north, and flies in June and July. Little beauty, thanks for sharing this with us. Divis. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: GUEST,Jon Date: 08 Aug 06 - 06:38 AM Interesting pretty looking thing. I only know about 6 butterflies and as far as moths are concerned, I never get further than "it's a moth" with anything I've ever seen. The only exception was one we found last year or the year before. Looked it up because it was so big. Turned out to be a Privet hawk moth |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Divis Sweeney Date: 08 Aug 06 - 07:01 AM Nice find Jon. Really I find that moths are a lot more interesting. I have a very old collection of both displayed in frames. Yes you may say this is horrible, but they date back to 1918 onwards. A display like this developes peoples awareness of both. I bought them at auction a lifetime ago. If you are as sad as me, sometime leave an outside light on after 10pm for a few hours and inspect the area around it to see the beauty it can attract. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: sian, west wales Date: 08 Aug 06 - 07:59 AM Thanks Divis. I did think it was lovely. The wing pattern was remarkable - looked like a frilly lace skirt. sian |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: GUEST,Jon Date: 08 Aug 06 - 09:46 AM I'll give that a try one evening this week, DS. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Joybell Date: 09 Aug 06 - 07:57 PM It's not quite butterfly and moth time here yet. A few cabbage whites have been hovering hopefully around the vegie patch. We get some lovely moths and some big interesting ones like the Bogong Moth that migrates hundreds of miles across the state to Mount Bogong. Many of the Australian moths have yet to be named. Anyone can get their name attached to them. That would be fun. It's a matter of going through the routine. Cheers, Joy |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Divis Sweeney Date: 09 Aug 06 - 07:59 PM Your country was some of the most beautiful moths Joybell. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: Mo the caller Date: 10 Aug 06 - 02:50 PM We used to find a lot of the Privet Hawk Moth caterpillars in my London childhood, not seen any in Cheshire, but maybe I haven't been looking (I used to walk home from school past streets of privet hedged gardens). That Magpie Moth does look pretty but is caterpiilars can strip gooseberry bushes completely bare of all leaves. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Butterfly watching challenge From: SINSULL Date: 10 Aug 06 - 02:52 PM We had some pretty yellow butterflies in NYC who would land on anything red. It was fun to sit outside in a red shirt and count how many landed. Sometimes 8-10 at a time. |
