Scarce Tortoiseshell in Sussex (1 Viewer)

Jan-Paul Charteris

Sussex birder and budding moth enthusiast

• Apr 8, 2015

• #1

Today I found this lovely little chap. At Pulborough Brooks RSPB, by the pond at the lower part of the zigzags TQ 05716 16734. A freshly emerged from hibernation Scarce Tort, and in great condition with only a few signs of wear. I'm ever so slightly chuffed! It constitutes the first county record, and probably the first British record away from the east coast? Larger versions of the photos can be found on my Flickr page (link in my signature here)

 

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Andy1979

Well-known member

• Apr 8, 2015

• #2

Great find Jan-Paul. Could you tell me what features to look for to separate from Small? Is it just the yellow legs?

Cheers,

Andy M

 

Jasonbirder

Jason-occasional-twitcher

• Apr 8, 2015

• #3

Any news today?

 

Jan-Paul Charteris

Sussex birder and budding moth enthusiast

• Apr 8, 2015

• #4

Jasonbirder said:

Any news today?

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No sign today, plenty of us looked so we can probably assume it got munched by a bird or something. Yesterday it was very territorial, chasing off any Brimstone or Peacock that came within sight, and was very faithful to one small area. That said, as yesterday warmed up, it became increasingly flighty (it was extremely tame and approachable earlier on), and was perching in the tops of trees when we last saw it, so it could have just moved on

 

Jan-Paul Charteris

Sussex birder and budding moth enthusiast

• Apr 8, 2015

• #5

Andy1979 said:

Great find Jan-Paul. Could you tell me what features to look for to separate from Small? Is it just the yellow legs?

Cheers,

Andy M

Click to expand...

Cheers :t: No it's quite a bit larger, similar to Peacock in size, and the flight is very similar to Peacock with plenty of gliding. The hindwings have much less dark than Small Tort, it doesn't have the clear row of blue spot on the rear border of the wings etc. The difficulty is separating from Large Tort, but there are some small differences in the patterning of the uppersides, and the pale legs are a clincher

 

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Andy1979

Well-known member

• Apr 8, 2015

• #6

Thanks.

 

Jan-Paul Charteris

Sussex birder and budding moth enthusiast

• Apr 9, 2015

• #7

It's back again!

 

birdboybowley

Well-known member.....apparently so ;)

• Apr 9, 2015

• #8

So what's all this fuss about some being locally released??

 

Jan-Paul Charteris

Sussex birder and budding moth enthusiast

• Apr 9, 2015

• #9

birdboybowley said:

So what's all this fuss about some being locally released??

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First I've heard of it. Where did you hear that?

 

C

coaltit

Well-known member

• Apr 9, 2015

• #10

Scarce Tortoiseshell in sussex.

Jan-Paul Charteris said:

It's back again!

Click to expand...

Yes beautiful Pictures in your twitter account.

 

birdboybowley

Well-known member.....apparently so ;)

• Apr 9, 2015

• #11

Jan-Paul Charteris said:

First I've heard of it. Where did you hear that?

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From a mate who read it on FB apparently.....?

 

Paul Chapman

Well-known member

• Apr 9, 2015

• #12

Currently sold out:-

http://www.lba.uk.com/Yellow-Legged-Tortoiseshell-Butterfly-N-xanthomelas_AKJ0W.aspx

Lots of things are bred but there seems no sensible basis to question these current adults emerging from hibernation.

All the best

 

Last edited: Apr 9, 2015

birdboybowley

Well-known member.....apparently so ;)

• Apr 9, 2015

• #13

Ah, just curious - haven't read any of it at all....and quietly hoping it'll be around tomoz afternoon when I'm over that way

 

Larry Sweetland

Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'

• Apr 10, 2015

• #14

birdboybowley said:

hoping it'll be around tomoz afternoon when I'm over that way

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Good luck Ads, wish it was a bit closer to me. And great find Jan-Paul.

Any news from today?

Also, can anyone sumarise what to look for to exclude Large (apart from the legs)? Would be tradge to get one briefly and not clock the right features.

 

Last edited: Apr 10, 2015

J

James Lowther

Well-known member

• Apr 10, 2015

• #15

there's a comparison pic on richard lewington's twitter
https://twitter.com/rlewington2

but no pointers, think it's to do with overall orange saturation and the pattern along the outer edge of the hind wing

cheers,
james

 

birdboybowley

Well-known member.....apparently so ;)

• Apr 10, 2015

• #16

Larry Sweetland said:

Any news from today?

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No sign all day mate. Butterflies are gay

 

Larry Sweetland

Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'

• Apr 10, 2015

• #17

James Lowther said:

there's a comparison pic on richard lewington's twitter
https://twitter.com/rlewington2

but no pointers, think it's to do with overall orange saturation and the pattern along the outer edge of the hind wing

cheers,
james

Click to expand...

thanks. Looks like presence or absence of that narrow but fairly noticeable pale yellowish line between the orange interior of the hindwing, and where the black/purple spots pattern starts, might stand out at a glance.

 

Tiraya

San Diego CA

• Apr 17, 2015

• #18

Butterfly twitching is serious business; far more serious than birding :t:

Also much less successful...

 

Last edited: Apr 17, 2015