Marbled White
 

Thanks to Marcus for the site info. I saw plenty tonight and got some nice shots. Whether it was the heat but some looked to be black spots on white and some white spots on black.

If anyone has any other Yorkshire sites for some of the more unusual butterflies, I'd appreciate the info. - plus best dates.

I'm still after most of them. I'd really like to see Small Copper for starters.

Thanks.

Off-topic, but for anyone interested, my Spanish report is on the Andalucia Bird Club pages of Bird Forum:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread....=1#post1519495

1 Quail calling from the grass field next to the visitor centre at the bempton RSPB reserve this evening

Thanks to Michael Flowers for the tip off too... glad you found the right path in the end then Steve!

Here is a website worth looking at http://www.yorkshirebutterflies.org.uk/

There are slight differences between males & females, which may be what you were noticing. In the last 2 years there were peak numbers of Small Coppers (c.40+) on the heath at North Cliffe Wood (& Allerthorpe) in the 1st week of August - so may be worth checking sites with heather local to you at that time! There were lots of Small Coppers on Allerthorpe Common in May, but the 1st generation is just about spent at the moment.

Most of the info about butterfly peak times & some sites to see them was included in my 2009 calendar now sold out! Of course it will all be featured again in my 2010 Calendar due to be at the printers in the next few weeks. Butterfly conservation are offering 3 months free subscription if you join now. You will be sent the Yorkshire annual report for 2008, which will feature 1st, peak & final butterfly sightings for most species seen in each Vice-county with sites mentioned where these were seen. If you look at the "Latest Sightings" page of the website Marcus mentioned that also informs you what people are currently seeing & where.

Hairstreaks are only available for the next week or so - see First sightings page for info about Purple Hairstreaks in Leeds - check oak & ash for those (time of day is critical) & elms for White-Letter. Also recommended "The Butterflies of Yorkshire" edited by Howard Frost - see publications page of the same website.

May be worth a trip to the Midlands in the next fortnight for Purple Emperors, which can't be seen in Yorkshire.

Cheers

Butterflies? Time for a Devon trip for you isn't it? Blue cheeked beeeater reported ten minutes ago.

Can somebody PM me details for North Yorks Nightjars (from the meet), and whether there is any birds visiting Forge Valley feeding stations.

Swinemoor, Tickton & High Eske Friday pm
 

Swinemoor 1600:

Little Owl: 1 at Corporation Farm entrance
LRP: 3
Curlew: 1
Greylag Goose: 10

Tickton & High Eske 1615 - 1800:

Little Gull: 16
Common Gull: 8
Common Tern: 2
Lapwing: 54
Oystercatcher: 2 adults
Kingfisher: 1-2

Dur! Reported ten minutes ago, seen three days ago.

Cheers Mike. Do you have details for Butterfly conservation? What time of day for Purple Hairstreak?

Thanks.

Steve I have had them at all times of day over the years, sometimes eye level even in Middleton Woods Leeds, plus a MWhite once.. Well away from Brockadale. Only have to see seven breeders inc. Mountain Ringlet on the wing now at Honister (Cumbria) but weather put me off today, after todays heavy shower, didn't visit Ellerburn Bank for Dark Green Fritillary (a Belter!) but going back in the a.m... Shot from Spurn at teatime, an easy one...?

On the link that Marcus gave scroll down to External Links & then click on BC membership or here's a direct link. http://www.butterfly-conservation.or...servation.html

You join the national organisation & they automatically enrol you on the Yorkshire branch - unless you live outside Yorkshire.

I'm sure I've read that Purple Hairstreaks are slightly easier to see in an evening after a hot summer's day, but will try & look this up over the weekend. Meanwhile here's a "student's" (Maurice Gordon) excellent pic of one at the Hole of Horcum (first ever record from there!) almost exactly 2 years ago - hope it whets your appetite! Birdguides used his pics in their latest CD-ROM

Well if everyone is posting pics I must get involved :t:

Good grief this is getting ridiculous, remember the otters last year and the ticking off? This is a forum about birds blah blah. Won't get a pseudonym and don't think I'm coming out of the closet but what's this?

Well appropriately for a bird forum this is a small magpie :-O

My shot of the Marbled White. Also a Ringlet?? and some kind of Skipper??

Tried with 'Knocker' for LEO,Spotted Crake,Quail and Corncrake at North Duffield last night;-a miserable failure on all accounts.LEO has been recorded as day flying but farmers are mowing the meadows.Did have Barn Owl,lesser whitethroat,green sand and a few others though. Tonight tried a new site at Moormonkton,by the Nidd,mainly in anticipation of Barn Owls.No luck ,but looks perfect.There were however a remarkable number of Whitethroats and Reed Buntings;great to see in non nature reserve habitat.

The butterfly pics are superb ,for me at least ,keep 'em coming ,and as Knocker seemed surprised when I told him,just wondered whether a 'Hummingbird Moth' in my garden is noteworthy or relatively commonly seen?(complete ignoramus re these things!).

Sorry to interrupt creepy-crawly forum with some bird news. ;)

Didn't get out until 8PM and still found singing Twite, Gropper (first found Wednesday), and best of all a self-found Yorkshire tick of Quail. All within earshot of the M62. There's gold in them there hills!

Graham

PS - Congrats on the ornithology degree, James. Enrolling on a Lepidoptology one next? It seems to be the future!

Nice pics, Steve. Yes, it's a Ringlet and the Skipper is a Large, I believe.

Graham

Paul, thanks again for the tour of your patch.

My best effort attached of Squeaky.

Nice to see Martin Standley's excellent Redstart pic in today's "Yorkshire Post". They can't do true justice to it in the space available, so have a look at Martin's website for the full size version. http://www.martinstandley.co.uk/blog/
Would make a brilliant picture on a calendar!

Paull Holme Strays Saturday 0535 - 0730
 

Little Egret: At least two birds including one stood on the road leading to the nature reserve car park. Another bird had a yellow Darvic ring on its left tibia and an orange one on the right (lettering / numbering not readable). Any thoughts as to where it may have been ringed?
Marsh Harrier: One second summer-type male
Black-tailed Godwit: 10
Greenshank: 3
Avocet: 2 in the middle lagoon where the colony used to be
Common Tern: 8 East
Tree Sparrow: 10
Golden Plover: 2
Little Grebe - 1 adult, 2 juvs on car park pond
LBB Gull: 86
Common Gull: 1 adult
Shelduck with four young ducklings

That Little Egret sounds like two we had in Leics/Rutland last summer which both were traced to a breeding colony in 'west Norfolk'.

Steve

Just had a quick look on t'moors round Sheffield, and within five minutes of arriving at one location was watching three hunting hobbies (I'm being vague due to them being in one of the epicentres of the region's raptor persecution...), Also buzzard, ravens, kestrel, and spot fly nearby.

Went back to LDV friday night to show wife nailed on Barn Owl, Dipped!!! Stayed to listen for crepuscular calls. Possible spotted crake and definate dog fox barking/howling (very creepy). Also large bats were hunting high over the meadows, thought they were a small wader when i first saw them thursday night. Also Lesser Whitethroat still singing.

Garden warbler singing in the top of a small birch today at woods just outside of huby. Almost as showy as the one at wykeham at the last meet.

Nothing to add on the butterfly topic though although North Duffield Carrs would be a superb place to set up a moth trap, thousands about last evening.

Mark.