billbedford Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Can anyone help with an identification please? What I saw was a largish butterfly, perhaps a bit bigger than a peacock. The forewings were spotted orange-red/black similar to a tortoiseshell, but the hindwings were a bright, clear, orange-yellow without and darker marking and which seemed to become paler towards the trailing edge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 (edited) Sounds like a painted lady to me. Paler trailing edges might well be the result of wear and tear. Painted ladies migrate to Britain from further south and some of them look very worn when they arrive. Edited July 22, 2015 by chaz 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 A few snaps taken over the last few days whilst I was doing my bit for the Butterfly Count (I hope you are all taking part?). Essex skipper red admiral - not a rarity but I have been waiting a while for a really good full-on shot of a perfect one. This one was very obliging. silver-washed fritillary silver Y dark green fritillary speckled wood gatekeeper Not a brilliant photo - subject too far away, and the insect looks very worn and battered - but it's a white admiral Chaz 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
billbedford Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Sounds like a painted lady to me. Paler trailing edges might well be the result of wear and tear. Painted ladies migrate to Britain from further south and some of them look very worn when they arrive. Not sure, the hind-wings were a distinctly different colour to the fore-wings. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Not sure, the hind-wings were a distinctly different colour to the fore-wings. OK, have a look at the link... http://butterfly-conservation.org/50/identify-a-butterfly.html You should be able to find your insect here. However if it was "a bit bigger than a peacock" then there aren't that many things it could be. One of the larger fritillaries is possible (silver washed or dark green) but doesn't really match your description. My money is still on a painted lady. Hope that's helpful. Chaz Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Downendian Posted July 23, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 23, 2015 Very interesting BBC article on the Purple Emperor - one that has eluded me. Rather interesting tastes in food. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33596341 Neil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Butterfly weather has been in short supply lately but yesterday was warm and sunny so in the afternoon we went down to Pennington Marsh looking for walls. No luck with them but we did find a pair of 2nd brood holly blues, one of which obligingly perched on some ivy. Chaz 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chy Mengrowyn Paul Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Nice. Saw my 1st second brood one today. What happened to the "Painted Lady year" that was promised or are we just not having it down here ?! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adams442T Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Got back from walking Derbyshire this weekend and found this in my new butterfly and bee friendly garden. Seems to be working! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Nice. Saw my 1st second brood one today. What happened to the "Painted Lady year" that was promised or are we just not having it down here ?! I guess it's on hold - the weather has hardly been encouraging to immigrants. I haven't seen any clouded yellows yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted August 8, 2015 Share Posted August 8, 2015 Another warm and sunny day - that's two in a row - gosh! This afternoon I drove to Broughton Down hoping for silver-spotted skippers. There were quite a few in evidence - they are very small and very quick but I got a few snaps. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chy Mengrowyn Paul Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 I guess it's on hold - the weather has hardly been encouraging to immigrants. I haven't seen any clouded yellows yet. Only seen one here in my part of Cornwall too. Very poor. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Only seen one here in my part of Cornwall too. Very poor. Yes, we were spoilt last year when we had lots of butterfly weather and the insects were numerous. I understand numbers of many species are down and, although it's too late for some, we could get a late flourish if the weather turns warm and sunny again. I'm still hoping for some walls and with some warm sunny days I am contemplating a day or two on Portland where I know there are colonies. Chaz Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 (edited) A warm, sunny afternoon on Monday (a dry interlude) and a walk along the Itchen found a few butterflies. Both sexes of speckled wood showing their underwings nicely - male on the left. Chaz Edited August 27, 2015 by chaz 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Lurker Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 We had a day flying moth in the garden the other day - I have identified it as a Jersey Tiger from its resting closed wings. What the picture (closed wing) on the butterfly conservation site doesn't show are its beautiful open wings which are very beautifully patterned as well 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Downendian Posted March 2, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 2, 2016 (edited) Ok Spring nearly here (?). Seems a long way off, but a prize to the first RMwebber that posts this year's first sighting of an orange tip. Here's one from 18 April 2014 in the balmy South Hams, not really that long to wait. Neil Edited March 2, 2016 by Downendian 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 Despite my volunteer work on the Butterfly Conservancy reserve at Magdalen Hill near Winchester I have yet to see a butterfly this year. I am told Brimstones have been seen. Still a bit early for orange tips - end of the month more likely, if it warms up! Chaz Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 spring has sprung - the snow has come Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 Looking at my diary; last year I saw both a Brimstone and a Peacock on March 7th; and a Small Tortoishell on March 8th 2014 so all we need is for the weather to warm up a bit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted March 2, 2016 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 2, 2016 You may have a geographical advantage in the South Hams Neil! Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted March 4, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 4, 2016 Despite my volunteer work on the Butterfly Conservancy reserve at Magdalen Hill near Winchester I have yet to see a butterfly this year. I am told Brimstones have been seen. Still a bit early for orange tips - end of the month more likely, if it warms up! Chaz There were a few species out and about up here in February when we had some warm weather. It got up to high teen temps over several days. I suspect they may have perished shortly after when the temps dropped by about 15* over two days! Small Tortoiseshell and Painted Lady I think they were and I'm sure I saw a Brimstone whilst walking at Potteric Carr YWTNR but I could be wrong. There have been moths but I have no idea what they were/are. Phil 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 Spring has sprung? Well maybe. The chiffchaffs that have been overwintering by the Itchen certainly think so. They are singing (if you can call it that!). A warm sunny day today and I walked south along the river and was rewarded with several brimstones, none of which obliged me by perching long enough for a photograph. This comma, which has presumably just woken from hibernation, was much more helpful. It's nice to be able to start on some butterfly photo's for 2016. Please post yours! Chaz 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevex59 Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 Also spotted my first Brimstone this year near Lincoln. Sadly i was in the car...but it flew across my bonnet while waiting at a level crossing. 2 for the price of one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted March 25, 2016 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 25, 2016 Hurrah! Well done chaps had just come to this thread to see if anyone had reported a sighting yet It was a lovely day here today too - was out in the garden this afternoon, but no Lepidoptera were prepared to oblige with an appearance Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfsboy Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 Brimstones in Norfolk .First baby birds ,two doves born ,and both eaten by birds of prey as the remains on our lawn tonight show .They were a bit dozy and Jean was going to take them in but they were flying OK .Oh well such is nature .Jean is not happy .Its OK to eat other peoples birds but not ours . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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