Garden Butterflies 2022 (2 Viewers)

[dantheman]

Garden butterflies (and other enigmatic/interesting garden invertebrates) from wherever you are ...

Today, Red Admiral and Meadow Brown in the back garden whilst getting the washing in. 2 Ringlet in front garden.

Yesterday 3 Gatekeeper, 3 Ringlet and a Comma, and a Hummingbird Hawk Moth. Nice to see the Gatekeepers again as there seems to be a small colony in the front garden last few years. And a Large White + dragonfly sp. briefly in flight.

Earlier in the year New Zealand Flatworm in the back garden (boo ... ) and a mature (Indian?) Stick Insect when I'd been cutting the brambles. Took photos of both but might not be able to upload ...

 

[dantheman]

Up at the field some interesting butterflies last few days. 25th July - disturbed a fairly tatty Silver-washed Fritillary off the mown grass. Unfortunately it didn't stick. First record for the field and not seen one anywhere for years. Today - first Small Copper of the year, a few moments later followed a white which raced past me - thought I'd better check which one it was. It landed and had a pale green underside with a prominent yellow spot. ?? Then I realised it must be a Clouded Yellow. Handsome bright white upperwing with lots of black on tip though - Clouded Yellow of the Helice form! A first for me. (Other regular butterflies seen too, including first Speckled Wood for some while).

 

[aeshna5]

So far this year in my suburban London garden have recorded the following species:

Large White
Small White
Green-veined White
Brimstone
Common Blue
Holly Blue
Meadow Brown
Gatekeeper
Speckled Wood
Ringlet
Red Admiral
Comma
Peacock
Silver-washed Fritillary

Ringlet (2 sightings of a species that's increasing locally after being largely absent) & SWF are new to the garden this year. The latter species seem to have dispersed quite a bit in the recent very hot spell as there were at least a couple of sightings in central London. My nearest breeding colony in Ruislip Woods is about 5 miles away.

Species seen in previous years but rarities in the garden include:

Small Skipper
Large Skipper
Marbled White
Small Copper
Brown Argus
Purple Hairstreak
Clouded Yellow
Orange Tip
Painted Lady
Small Tortoiseshell

The last 2 can be regular & still a chance for this year.

 

[Atropos]

Have Silver-washed Frit in a suburban London garden must be quite special!

 

[aeshna5]

Have Silver-washed Frit in a suburban London garden must be quite special!

Yes a total shock, but then at least 2 have penetrated into the urban core recently too.

 

[KenM]

No doubt in response to global warming! Marbled White, White Admiral, Silver-Washed Fritillary and Purple Emperor have all appeared within the last 5 years locally on an annual basis.
Excepting White Admiral, the rest have made brief incursions through the garden during this period albeit not this year, and perhaps worth mentioning….I had a SWF in 2018 through small gardens opposite Sainsbury’s HQ, Chancery Lane, Holborn.

Cheers

 

[dantheman]

Up the field again this afternoon, and some more quality. Only intermittent sunshine though, so quiet most of the time.

Another Silver-washed Fritillary, this one feeding on Buddlejah with full wings however, and allowed me to see the underside/hindwings, which was very nice. Also a very brief Wall flushed from the short grass, NFY.

Other species seen - Ringlet (worn, first for a while), Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, a couple fresh Small Tortoiseshells, Red Admiral x3, Comma, Large Skipper, Large White, Green-veined White and Speckled Wood.

Also a couple dragonfly sps. , really need to start taking the camera up with me, Garden Warbler singing and a (family?) group of 5 Whitethroat.

Oh and a brief Burnet type moth on bramble flowers briefly. First burnet I've seen there - presumably the 6-spotted as that is the commoner but will probably never know.