[chris butterworth]

PL's went mad in my garden yesterday afternoon with c.145 per hour passing through. Checked my local patch this morning, I saw my 1st of the day at 0500 hrs!, and, after counting them 3 times to make sure, came up with 1000 plus in 4 acres.
Chris

[Allen S. Moore]

There were quite a few painted lady butterflies in the Isle of Man today. The first that I saw were 6+ near the Calf Sound in the far SW this morning. late this afternoon I saw 13 along a path that rises into the hills 3-4 km S of my home in Peel, which is about half way up the W coast. When I returned home from that walk I saw another 2 on valerian flowers just up the road.

Allen

[thenorthernmonkey]

had 6 in a 9ft patch of Bluebells this afternoon at Stithians Reservoir. A couple of them were looking very pale and worn...

Saw 18 altogether in a moderate to strong wind in around an hour. Hopefully more tomorow

[Colin]

Originally Posted by Colin

Since my last post on Tuesday 26th May, the numbers have picked up again today at Nagshead RSPB Reserve with the numbers in the region of those on Monday 25th May. Although I did not visit Symonds Yat area, there were numbers passing my shed in Longhope and at a friends house near Coleford at 2000 this evening.

I was in north Gloucestershire this morning (as opposed to my previous few posts which have been in west of the county) and the said Ladies were passing through at about 1 every two minutes again. This is a remarkable invasion both in sheer numbers and duration.

[Cheshire Birder]

I had my first ones today in cheshire, only three but large numbers reported on the wirral.

[Adey Baker]

Quite a few today, nearly all looking very tatty and worn and most not stopping at all. The one below, about the best one I saw, did hang around in the morning sun just long enough to have its photo taken before it, too, was off again.

[Jos Stratford]

Reached Lithuania today - had about 30, all fresh tidy individuals, on a patch of Bog Myrtle. Hopefully big numbers to follow.

[scillybirder@ho]

Hundreds (if not thousands probably) on north lewis today. One observer alone reckoned on 300 at the Butt of Lewis. Next stop Iceland!

[john-henry]

Several 100 heading along the coast at St. Agnes Head, Cornwall in a w-wsw direction this afternoon, most in pristine condition. An hour or so later on the return walk scores were feeding on sea thrift and heather.

Fantastic sight.

[username]

Originally Posted by Jos Stratford

Reached Lithuania today - had about 30, all fresh tidy individuals, on a patch of Bog Myrtle. Hopefully big numbers to follow.

Hoorah!!.........had to happen didn't it?.......excellent!

ps...talking to some folks this afternoon who, this morning i think, walked into a field of thistles and a huge cloud of 'ladies' went up...estimated 4,000..!!! Wud like to have seen that...!

[Jon Turner]

20+ on a small patch of Valerian in Braunton this morning.

Jon

[username]

Originally Posted by Jon Turner

20+ on a small patch of Valerian in Braunton this morning.

Jon

Any hummingbird hawkmoths yet?..am hoping for a good showing this year...tho not on the 'scale' of the Lady-invasion.....! [valerian is always a magnet for 'hummers'...as i'm sure you all know...it also acts as a magnet on me too]....

[Clive Watson]

I have to admit, I've only recently become aware of this event. One flew past me at work last week and I didn't pay much attention other than 'don't see them too often'. In two hours on the Ash Ranges heathland on Friday evening I counted 41. Most were of the old and worn variety. When two came together, they engaged in what looked like aggressive aerial sparring, would that be the right interpretation? Many were sunning themselves on the paths and when disturbed (often by my shadow falling on them) they usually flew up and settled back down in roughly the same spot, which helped with taking photos. I'll post a few later to show the variety of tattiness.

[PhilW]

Check the Hilbre Obs blogspot:

http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/

We had incredible numbers yesterday but dwindled to just a few hundred today.

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I saw my first of the year in Aberdeen this morning.

[Jos Stratford]

Originally Posted by Clive Watson

I'll post a few later to show the variety of tattiness.

Continuing arrival in Eastern Europe, another few dozen today - still not massive numbers compared with Britain, etc - but given the first only arrived yesterday, would expect better numbers soon.

No tatty ones here, all super condition - I suppose a new generation.

[carlj]

Good couple of dozen on Trent in Stoke today. Only one I got close to was pristine. Peacock nearby was, however, the worse for wear....

[aeshna5]

Last Monday there were several hundred seen locally; today I managed no more than about 10!

[SveinB]

The PL migration has reached the highlands of Norway too, have seen at least 25 in the evening hours today- on their way north, and circling around warm roofs of houses that had the last evening sun shining on them.

Svein B

[Cheshire Birder]

Originally Posted by scillybirder@ho

Hundreds (if not thousands probably) on north lewis today. One observer alone reckoned on 300 at the Butt of Lewis. Next stop Iceland!

That is if they decide to stop in Iceland!!!

Originally Posted by PhilW

Check the Hilbre Obs blogspot:

http://www.hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/

We had incredible numbers yesterday but dwindled to just a few hundred today.

They have all moved inland now. Large numbers across south & east of county. Difficult for me to estimate numbers seen today. Every time i turned around more would appear!!!

[dafi]

Found my first ones on Copinsay today, we had maybe 18 all together.

[Sue Wright]

Saw a couple last weekend (bank holiday), but last night we went onto the Somerset Levels (20.00 - 21.00) and were shocked at the amount in one area alone. There had to have been 35 possibly more within a space of 400 - 500 yards, near a pumping station. Terrific sightings, except that every time they landed they closed their wings straight away! It certainly is an amazing influx this year!

Sue PS. Tried to upload 3 images, but first time ever that I can't do so??!

[nickderry]

More on their way, plenty moving through this part of France yesterday, all in prisitine condition compared with the ones a week ago which really were bedraggled ladies.

[nigeldphoto]

Saw my first one yesterday.It was in good condition and stopped for about ten minutes .

[Colin]

Back at Nagshead RSPB Reserve this morning but numbers have now dropped to just a trickle - probably 6 to 12 seen all morning.