The Natural History Of Staffordshire: Fauna and Flora (1 Viewer)

[minkstone]

Park Hall wetland walk
southern hawker, common darters this morning
Stu

 

[Steve Nuttall]

Hi all,
A Silver-washed Fritillary was at Belvide in front of the Chappell hide this afternoon. This is the 2nd record for the reserve. How regular is Silver washed in the county?

 

[The Snapper]

Hi all,
A Silver-washed Fritillary was at Belvide in front of the Chappell hide this afternoon. This is the 2nd record for the reserve. How regular is Silver washed in the county?

Cracking record Steve!

I believe SWF is regarded as the commonest Frit in the UK but still rather localised.

I saw quite a few in the Wyre forest a few years back where there must be a pretty healthy population.

I've never really heard of them being in Staffs, but makes you wonder if there's a small population lurking somewhere such as Chillington!?! Like other species, they may also be increasing and expanding their range.

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Silver-washed Fitillary

Hi all,
A Silver-washed Fritillary was at Belvide in front of the Chappell hide this afternoon. This is the 2nd record for the reserve. How regular is Silver washed in the county?

Hi Steve , I don't believe there is a Silver-washed Fritillary colony in Staffordshire (Dave Elmley would have details) only sporadic sightings. Search Silver-washed Fritillary in the below link.
http://www.staffsmoths.org.uk/
SWF are in Shropshire Wenlock Edge, Wyre Forest, Oversley Wood SW Warwickshire and Ryton Wood South of Coventry the last 2 sites have populations re-introduced in the past. North warwickshire sporadic sightings SWF only,
SWF have recently re-colonised Norfolk in the last few years.
There are wanders from known colonies also some people do breed and re-lease British Butterflies.

Regards, John

 

[minkstone]

massive increase in gate keeper butterflies locally never seen so many in all my life, could be due to park hall golf course is now knee high in grasses.

 

[minkstone]

Just had a walk over there, lots ragwort witch they are feeding on, also 3 southern hawkers and lot of brown hawking.

 

[dwe]

Silver-washed Frits

SW Frits are the archetypal wandering butterfly. There are, as has been said, scattered sightings across the county. I have had a report from Wolverhampton area recently. Let's hope the recent rain doesn't kill them off. I've no records of them breeding in the county.

I've never seen for many years so many Small Torts as last few weeks - very encouraging.
Dave

Hi Steve , I don't believe there is a Silver-washed Fritillary colony in Staffordshire (Dave Elmley would have details) only sporadic sightings. Search Silver-washed Fritillary in the below link.
http://www.staffsmoths.org.uk/
SWF are in Shropshire Wenlock Edge, Wyre Forest, Oversley Wood SW Warwickshire and Ryton Wood South of Coventry the last 2 sites have populations re-introduced in the past. North warwickshire sporadic sightings SWF only,
SWF have recently re-colonised Norfolk in the last few years.
There are wanders from known colonies also some people do breed and re-lease British Butterflies.

Regards, John

 

[Adam M]

SW Frits are the archetypal wandering butterfly. There are, as has been said, scattered sightings across the county. I have had a report from Wolverhampton area recently. Let's hope the recent rain doesn't kill them off. I've no records of them breeding in the county.

I've never seen for many years so many Small Torts as last few weeks - very encouraging.
Dave

I've never seen so many of a lot of species. The other day, just before a thunderstorm in North Warks, the number of whites made it look like it was snowing!! We have a very good number of common blues at work as well, with 20 easily seen at any given moment in some places. All good signs :t:

Adam

 

[dwe]

More Frits

Two Dark Green Fritillaries were seen at Coombes Valley. Also the warden tells me he had over 220 Peacocks on their butterfly transect. Certainly a good year. There are a lot of Silver Ys about and Diamond-back moths too. Anyone seen any hummers yet?

Dave

 

[dwe]

evn more frits

Two Dark Green Fritillaries were seen at Coombes Valley. Also the warden tells me he had over 220 Peacocks on their butterfly transect. Certainly a good year. There are a lot of Silver Ys about and Diamond-back moths too. Anyone seen any hummers yet?

Dave

A Dark-green Frit has been seen at Tittesworth.

Dave

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Clouded Yellow

Drayton Bassett pits today 19/8/13 Geoff Williams. Regards, John

 

[Steve Nuttall]

Drayton Bassett pits today 19/8/13 Geoff Williams. Regards, John

Also one at Belvide today at the west end.

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Middleton Lakes

22/8/13 DBP Clouded Yellow seen today and a Common Hawker. I spoke to a women Called hillary today at Middleton Lakes who photographed a Silver-Washed fritillary at the Wolsely Centre, details and photo's sent to Dave Emley.


Regards, John

 

[coloz]

Saturday, 31 August 2013

Starts at 19:00

Weston Sprink Wood, just off Coyney Grove, Weston Coyney.

Join us to find out more about these fascinating but often misunderstood creatures in our evening of moth trapping in nearby Weston Sprink Wood. We will be using light traps in different parts of the wood to attract moths and a local expert will be on hand to help with identification. With Dave Grundy , cheers col

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Hawker Drayton Basstte pits.

22/8/13 DBP Clouded Yellow seen today and a Common Hawker. I spoke to a women Called hillary today at Middleton Lakes who photographed a Silver-Washed fritillary at the Wolsely Centre, details and photo's sent to Dave Emley.


Regards, John

I have withdrawn this Common Hawker record now believing it to be m Migrant Hawker.

Regards, John

 

[alrewasbirder]

A strange butterfly

I wondered if anyone could help. I was at Blithfield reservoir on bank holiday Monday walking around Blithe bay near the small pool and a butterfly flew past that was a bright, strong yellow with jagged black fringes to the wings. Size wise it was small tortoisehell size. Unfortunately I couldn't get any photos as it was mobile and flew into a field. I know a few butterflies but I have never seen one of these in any books. Any ideas?

 

[geoffw1946]

I wondered if anyone could help. I was at Blithfield reservoir on bank holiday Monday walking around Blithe bay near the small pool and a butterfly flew past that was a bright, strong yellow with jagged black fringes to the wings. Size wise it was small tortoisehell size. Unfortunately I couldn't get any photos as it was mobile and flew into a field. I know a few butterflies but I have never seen one of these in any books. Any ideas?

Clouded Yellow?

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Butterfly

I wondered if anyone could help. I was at Blithfield reservoir on bank holiday Monday walking around Blithe bay near the small pool and a butterfly flew past that was a bright, strong yellow with jagged black fringes to the wings. Size wise it was small tortoisehell size. Unfortunately I couldn't get any photos as it was mobile and flew into a field. I know a few butterflies but I have never seen one of these in any books. Any ideas?

The only native Yellow Butterfly is Brimstone with a small second brood and the odd male can be seen now. The migrant Clouded Yellow, some are seen every year in the UK mainly down south, a good year for this species this year and numbers reaching the Midlands, I believe I read Steve Nutall seeing 6 at Belvide recently. jagged black fringe to wings rules out male Brimstone.

Regards, John

 

[alrewasbirder]

The only native Yellow Butterfly is Brimstone with a small second brood and the odd male can be seen now. The migrant Clouded Yellow, some are seen every year in the UK mainly down south, a good year for this species this year and numbers reaching the Midlands, I believe I read Steve Nutall seeing 6 at Belvide recently. jagged black fringe to wings rules out male Brimstone.

Regards, John

Thanks for the replies, I am familiar with a Brimstone and it was definitely not a Brimstone and although not familiar with Clouded yellow I don't think it is. I will have a look at one after this. This will probably remain one of those mysteries.

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Moth Trap

Moths still around in good numbers given the warm weather. Had a Beautiful Hook-tip and The Streak (garden first) in the trap on Friday night along with 37 Light Brown Apple moths and an assortment of other common species.