HarassedDad
Norfolk County Butterfly Recorder
Dark Green Frit reported from Holkham yesterday.
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Norfolk Butterflies and Moths (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Birding Bob
- Start date
NoSpringChicken
Well-known member
At Strumpshaw today I saw just one Swallowtail on the Lackford Run (I almost stood on it), several Small Tortoiseshells (some very fresh and some really faded), two Meadow Browns, a very bright Comma (my first of the year!), Large Skipper, Speckled Wood and Red Admiral.
The reserve had its 'Springwatch Big Butterfly Day' today and there were quite a few parents with buggies and children wandering about. There seemed to be plenty for them to do but, as usual for their events, the weather didn't cooperate and it was cloudy, windy and spitting with rain in the afternoon. A shame.
Ron
The reserve had its 'Springwatch Big Butterfly Day' today and there were quite a few parents with buggies and children wandering about. There seemed to be plenty for them to do but, as usual for their events, the weather didn't cooperate and it was cloudy, windy and spitting with rain in the afternoon. A shame.
Ron
Stratton Birder
Well-known member
Three Large Skippers, five Meadow Browns, two Smortoiseshells, Speckled Wood all along the Tas Valley Walk west of Tharston (TM 174946) yesterday.
Today - Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown at Thurne.
Today - Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown at Thurne.
guernsey_dave
Registered User... registered user sounds like som
David Norgate
Well-known member
Would you be able to tell me where on Buxton Heath? I had a look the week before and couldn't find any, wondered if I was in the right area! Pm me if you prefer!
HarassedDad
Norfolk County Butterfly Recorder
A Silver-washed Fritillary has been reported seen yesterday at Wheatfen reserve. Worth keeping your eyes out for a large orange and black butterfly in woods in the south and center of the county. Also at Foxley wood, holt country park and kelling heath, where they were seen last year. Have they bred somewhere in the county?
tootsietim
Tim Rollins
From the proper carpark, head up the left hand side of the reserve towards the conifer plantations at the top. About 2/3 of the way up is an area of silver birch saplings and heather, which held around 30 or so males. At the top of the reserve along the plantation walkway is another good area.
I suspect you were a week too early, they appeared to be freshly emerged and all males.
Kieren Allinson
Well-known member
Holkham today in blustery conditions with intermittent showers:
2 white ad.
2 white letters
2 dark green frit.
1 ringlet
Also comma, meadow brown, large skipper, red ad, speckled wood & large white
2 white ad.
2 white letters
2 dark green frit.
1 ringlet
Also comma, meadow brown, large skipper, red ad, speckled wood & large white
HarassedDad
Norfolk County Butterfly Recorder
Horsey had 10 Dark green today, all freshly emerged. A couple of small heath braved the wind as well. Hickling Broad had good numbers of swallowtails flying - several people reported seeing 5+, in the gaps between showers - and a few new small torts as well.
White-letter emerging means that we're just waiting on small skipper, gatekeeper and chalkhill blue for a full set. (Though there's new broods of grayling and wall to come in July.)
White-letter emerging means that we're just waiting on small skipper, gatekeeper and chalkhill blue for a full set. (Though there's new broods of grayling and wall to come in July.)
HarassedDad
Norfolk County Butterfly Recorder
D'oh! That'll teach me to rely on my aging memory, instead of reading up the page. Right, so... gatekeeper and chalkhill blue. to come.
Incidently, Catfield Fen open day tomorrow - hopefully boat trips and escorted trips into the reserve from 11am. Details here:http://www.norfolk-butterflies.org.uk/events.html
Incidently, Catfield Fen open day tomorrow - hopefully boat trips and escorted trips into the reserve from 11am. Details here:http://www.norfolk-butterflies.org.uk/events.html
Kieren Allinson
Well-known member
Hello Hugh
Walking from Lady Anne's drive, there is a bench on the left hand side of the footpath, about 50m before the Washington hide. Next to the bench is a flowering privet, and on the opposite side of the footpath, an elm tree. The white-letters were coming down from the elm to nectar on the privet.
Walking further west, past the joe jordan hide, until you emerge from the pine woods onto dune. The dunes fringing the west end of the pines are good for the dark green frit.
regards, Kieren
Stratton Birder
Well-known member
There were some lovely Longhorn Moths (Nemophora degeerella I think) dancing the day away in the shade of some trees at Horning Old Staithe (TG 358164)
firstreesjohn
Well-known member
I wasn’t the only one streaking today !
Felbrigg had lotsa bees, although butterflies were not as much in evidence as they should be. I was after the Purple Hairstreaks, but they hadn’t appeared by late morning. A Small Tortoiseshell was the only species of note.
Gramboro' had a Small Skipper.
Holkham, west of Lady Anne’s Drive, was more fruitful, in terms of its specialities. 2 White Admirals were zinging around within 200m of the Drive (up to 7 in the week, according to an employee of the successor organisation to National Naturism- pertinent, yet not pert, when I went for the Frits !), but were far too quick to be captured photodigitally.
A pair of White-letter Hairstreaks cavorted above their beech. I was able to ‘grab’ them, as they fed on a privet. The RH shot shows the letter 'W' quite well.
A Green-veined White sat supinely.
After a few sorties, attempting not to disturb a sun-worshipping couple (!), I was able to get reasonable pix of the Dark Greens, in the concentration of Ragwort, a few hundred metres west of the northern exit of the boardwalk.
[Essex Skipper can usually be found just over the other side of the west bank from the pay hut at Cley Beach car park. Look carefully in the vegetation.]
Felbrigg had lotsa bees, although butterflies were not as much in evidence as they should be. I was after the Purple Hairstreaks, but they hadn’t appeared by late morning. A Small Tortoiseshell was the only species of note.
Gramboro' had a Small Skipper.
Holkham, west of Lady Anne’s Drive, was more fruitful, in terms of its specialities. 2 White Admirals were zinging around within 200m of the Drive (up to 7 in the week, according to an employee of the successor organisation to National Naturism- pertinent, yet not pert, when I went for the Frits !), but were far too quick to be captured photodigitally.
A pair of White-letter Hairstreaks cavorted above their beech. I was able to ‘grab’ them, as they fed on a privet. The RH shot shows the letter 'W' quite well.
A Green-veined White sat supinely.
After a few sorties, attempting not to disturb a sun-worshipping couple (!), I was able to get reasonable pix of the Dark Greens, in the concentration of Ragwort, a few hundred metres west of the northern exit of the boardwalk.
[Essex Skipper can usually be found just over the other side of the west bank from the pay hut at Cley Beach car park. Look carefully in the vegetation.]
Attachments
Its a bit early for more than the odd purple hairstreak , though its an "early year" for many butterflies. I do not usually see them until the last days of June and July is a much better month. I also find purple hairstreaks often fly late with few about before midday and their most active period ( weather allowing ) between 2 pm and 5pm and often good numbers about to 7.30 pm. I have even caught them in a moth trap on warm muggy nights along with small and large skippers.
Saw my first white admiral today , six days before the previous first sightings in past years at Swanton Novers
Saw my first white admiral today , six days before the previous first sightings in past years at Swanton Novers
HarassedDad
Norfolk County Butterfly Recorder
The absolute best spot for purple hairstreak is the gazebo in Sheringham Park. From the top you are above the insects and can look down on them as they flit from tree to tree. Around 4pm, on a warm, still day is best.
Mind you, they were also on the little oak tree in the carpark at Zak's on mousehold last year for those in Norwich.
Mind you, they were also on the little oak tree in the carpark at Zak's on mousehold last year for those in Norwich.
