Map Butterfly Dorset (1 Viewer)

[PMH]

Call from my friend Steve Smith today who had found one of these outside Swanage. Generally presumed to be a release, but any thoughts?

 

[Jos Stratford]

Was it a generation 1 or 2 type?

Don't know if captive bred individuals would necessarily follow the same, but Map Butterfly is abundant in my area and by this season, there are never any generation 1 types ...so if by chance it was this, then captive would be likely.

 

[James Lowther]

it is a 2nd gen male

http://birdingpooleharbourandbeyond.blogspot.co.uk/

to twitch or not to twitch?....(assuming it sticks around)

this could be the magic butterfly that gets some people up to 50 on their dorset lists (not me), but i guess the trouble is you literally will never know in this sort of situation.

it is a beaut though!

James

 

[James Lowther]

apparently a female there today.....

which means......?

James

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Anyone got directions? We're camping in Dorset this w/e!

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

Now four

 

[lewis20126]

release surely

a

 

[tittletattler]

release surely

a

Well, yes, but that release would have to have happened last year? It would also have to involve more than one individual, I believe.

Still, it's probably better credential wise than some of that spacky plastic nonsense that you love to twitch

 

[Jos Stratford]

It can't be a very good sign that the above link speaks of individuals releasing Large Coppers a week before in the neighbourhood to get photographs of them.

 

[DMW]

Now annual in Jersey, where it may be establishing itself.

 

[James Lowther]

It can't be a very good sign that the above link speaks of individuals releasing Large Coppers a week before in the neighbourhood to get photographs of them.

that release was actually quite some distance away, about 15 miles, but yes it doesn't look good...

with regards andy's comments, i'm not sure why this couldn't have been a mass release at the site in the last few days?

james

 

[tittletattler]

with regards andy's comments, i'm not sure why this couldn't have been a mass release at the site in the last few days?

james

Fair point. It is a high possibility, I have to say, and if I add 'right time, right location', I could be accused quite rightly of being a tad hypocritical (House Finch).

But this species is moving NW. With all the Swallowtails hatching this summer on the south coast, well, why not this species? If it was just one individual, then it would be easier to dismiss, but why not assume these are from an egg laying female from last year (or this year??)? The site is also an odd site to release them. But it's a perfect south coastal site for a vagrant with a long history for recording vagrant lepidoptera.

I'm down that way tomorrow anyway so I'll definitely be having a look, weather permitting.

Cheers,

Andy.

 

[Andy1979]

Where are these butterflies in Swanage? I'm down next week.

 

[Paul Chapman]

I have a vague recollection of people twitching a Map before Surrey/Buckinghamshire/Berkshire?

Where is the gen on these? I have the RBA Wildlife channel which is rapidly proving itself to be as useful as a chocolate teapot these days.

I suppose twitter and facebook are the way forward. How depressing!

All the best

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

release surely

a

Apart from the unprecedentedness what's the difference from a group of Long-tailed Blues in Kent?

 

[Paul Chapman]

Apart from the unprecedentedness what's the difference from a group of Long-tailed Blues in Kent?

Or a group of Queen of Spain Fritillaries near Minsmere?

Actually the difference from an apparently normal colonisation process is the fact that there have not been occasional apparent vagrant records at Dungeness, Selsey, Portland, Isle of Wight, etc of pioneering individuals before you see an autumn second brood breeding emergence.

In the blog reference is made to moth colonists at Durlston. Oak Rustic and Sombre Brocade both occurred sporadically and apparently as vagrants having colonised the Channel Islands before it seemed colonisation had taken hold on the mainland - you saw a pattern which was persuasive in overcoming the nagging doubts:-

http://www.pwbelg.clara.net/

That said - they could of course be a genuine colonisation but it would perhaps be surprising as an isolated occurrence.

All the best

 

[James Lowther]

But this species is moving NW. With all the Swallowtails hatching this summer on the south coast, well, why not this species? If it was just one individual, then it would be easier to dismiss, but why not assume these are from an egg laying female from last year (or this year??)?

would have to be this year as it's 2nd generation.

or am i getting my life cycles compeltely wrong?...

I think the difficulty i have with this is as paul says there is no or virtually no previous history of vagrancy of this species (regardless of whether it's possible), never mind successful egg laying, hatching, and pupation, which is surely the only plausible explanation for a mass occurrence of wild specimens at a single site

still tempted to pop along as an insurance tick though!

James

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

would have to be this year as it's 2nd generation.

or am i getting my life cycles compeltely wrong?...

I think the difficulty i have with this is as paul says there is no or virtually no previous history of vagrancy of this species (regardless of whether it's possible), never mind successful egg laying, hatching, and pupation, which is surely the only plausible explanation for a mass occurrence of wild specimens at a single site

still tempted to pop along as an insurance tick though!

James

Unless of course there is a bunch of them along the coast that have not been found yet.

As for precedence, do the records in Jersey count?

 

[tittletattler]

still tempted to pop along as an insurance tick though!

James

Quite right! If it stays at 18 degrees all week, I've got to try to entertain the kids somehow.

 

[John Cantelo]

Actually the difference from an apparently normal colonisation process is the fact that there have not been occasional apparent vagrant records at Dungeness, Selsey, Portland, Isle of Wight, etc of pioneering individuals before you see an autumn second brood breeding emergence.

Not Dungeness I know, but I think there was a record a good few years back at Westbere (nr Canterbury). Does the expansion of some 'continental' dragonfly species have any bearing on this issue?