Norfolk Butterflies and Moths (1 Viewer)

[Irene Boston]

Shouldham Warren area

On Sunday 11th April, a trundle round the Shouldham Warren area (TF61Q & TF61V), so both woodland and farmland and 'fen' drains, produced:

17 Brimstone
4 Commas
7 Peacocks

 

[rob lee]

Emperor Moths

Has anybody seen any Emperor Moths yet this year. I know they are on the wing now & i`m hoping to catch up with them soon, but all i`ve managed to see in the last couple of years are the caterpillars. I know they are on Kelling Heath but i`ve never had any luck as yet. Does anybody know of any particularly good spots for them ?

 

[HarassedDad]

Emperor distribution is here http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/index.php?family=Saturnidae
Buxton Heath, Holt Lowes are fairly good.

 

[NoSpringChicken]

At Strumpshaw on Sunday: Orange Tip, Brimstone, Comma, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Large White and lots of Bee Flies near the woods on the pump track.

Ron

 

[ChrisBish]

Good numbers of Comma, Peacock and Small Tort in Swardeston area over weekend and also had my first Green-veined and Large Whites of the year.

Chris

 

[HarassedDad]

Green Hairstreak reported from Scolt Head yesterday.

 

[HarassedDad]

And Grizzled Skipper from Foulden Common yesterday. Also Camberwell Beauty seen near Strumpshaw village on the 17th.

 

[tootsietim]

Surlingham church marsh

Butterflies on the wing this morning,
Comma, peacock, Sml tortoiseshell, brimstone, orange tip, speckled wood, Green veined white (probably), large white.

 

[Tideliner]

I was doing bird survey work in Suffolk this morning , just north of Ipswich and again close to Blybrough and never saw a butterfly despite the warm weather and good habitat. As I drove back home to north of Norwich the hedgerows were alive with peacocks , brimstones , whites and my first orange tips of the year.

 

[Tideliner]

My first Holly blue today at Swanton Novers . Speckled Woods are slow this year. Only had 2 in the woods so far , plus 2 nearby on the road through Hindolveston 3 weeks ago.

 

[HarassedDad]

I've yet to see a speckled wood this year. My impression is they didn't like the winter - this would fit with their expansion over the last 20 years co-inciding with milder winters. Will be interesting to see what the numbers show at the end of the year.

 

[Lightthiscandle]

There were lots of Speckled Woods at Strumpshaw yesterday, and more Orange Tips than I've ever seen in one day!

 

[Irene Boston]

Would I be wildly optimistic in thinking that a visit to Narborough fairly soon might yield Grizzled and Dingy Skipper? Or should I just go and lie down in a darkened room and re-emerge in a week or so?!

4 Orange tips this morning in a short circuit of Wolferton Triangle (TF62U)

thanks
Irene

 

[ChrisBish]

Saw my first Orange tips of the year in Thetford yesterday. Haven't seen Speckled Wood yet either, hoping to find some around home over the weekend, it looks perfect for them!

Chris

Edit: Just had my first Holly Blues of the year in Thetford.

 

[Paul Woolnough]

My first Holly blue today at Swanton Novers . Speckled Woods are slow this year. Only had 2 in the woods so far , plus 2 nearby on the road through Hindolveston 3 weeks ago.

Two speckled woods in Yare Valley Saturday 24th the only two I have seen.

First holly blue Tuesday 26th in Norwich

Plenty of orange tips.

 

[HarassedDad]

Grizzled were seen at Foulden on the 23rd - so I would expect you'd have a very good chance at Narborough. Green Hairstreaks now out on mousehold.
Next up will be early-brood wall, brown argus, common blue and small heath - in no particular order.

 

[Paul Woolnough]

Grizzled were seen at Foulden on the 23rd - so I would expect you'd have a very good chance at Narborough. Green Hairstreaks now out on mousehold.
Next up will be early-brood wall, brown argus, common blue and small heath - in no particular order.

Thanks HD.

Hoping to get to Narborough on the back of seeing the Welney bluethroat. (May it stay over the weekend coming and that the nice weather holds!

Will seek out the Mousehold hairstreaks....

 

[HarassedDad]

I should point out that dingy are always a week or so behind grizzled, and no-one's seen one yet - bit there's every chance they'll be out for this weekend. Green hairstreak was seen on the newly cleared track on St James Hill - the bit in front of the prison - which is the furthest from the core colony site ever. Bodes well for the season.

Norwich today produced speckled wood, holly blue, orange tip, all 3 whites, small tort, and peacock.

 

[Connor Rand]

Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth at Holme today (although unfortunately I didn't see it)....

 

[HarassedDad]

Common blue reported on the main thread from friary hills, small heath reported from elsewhere in the uk so should be out here soon. I've also had a report of a camberwell seen on the 1st at framlingham - might be a release though.