2009 Photographic Competition Results
HERE...
Ashley Whitlock has written an account of his butterfly
adventures over the last 25 years. Read it
HERE...
Wednesday 24th March
Janet Jones writes: "I had been wondering if I
would see any butterflies in my garden this spring, until
Wednesday (24th). Around lunchtime I was thinking it was such a
lovely day that surely there must be a Brimstone somewhere in the
garden - and then one flew passed my kitchen window! Shortly after
this a Peacock, 2 Red Admiral and a Comma were seen, and then a
Small Tortoiseshell was added to my list! It was such a lovely day
and everywhere in the garden was full of life.
The most unexpected creature to see was a Long-eared Bat which was
resting on a canvass bag on the ground under a Holly tree.
(Isn’t wildlife just wonderful?).
 |
| Long-eared Bat |
Geoff Jones writes: "Today in the garden I saw my
first Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock butterflies of the year. While
I was toiling, Brenda was out dog-walking in Gosport; she was
delighted to inform me via numerous calls from her mobile 'phone
that she had seen along the 'moat' / Stanley Park area a female
Small White; a Comma; a Peacock; plus a male Brimstone. Some people
have all the luck!"
Gary Palmer writes: ""In Lymington ( sz 317
963 ) new forest, saw 1 brimstone male."
Dr David Tinling reports from Gosport: Comma 4 at
Ann's Hill Cemetery;Peacock & Comma 3 at the Hermitage Garden;Small
Tortoiseshell,Peacock & Comma 2 at Carters Copse;Comma at Alver
Meadow;Red Admiral & Comma 3 at Browndown North.
Mick Langridge reports from Gosport: Brimstone(male)
& Comma 3 in aerial combat along the Old
Railwayline,Alverstoke;Brimstone(male)at Fort Road/Monckton
Road;Small Tortoiseshell at Fort Gilkicker;Red Admiral at Stanley
Park.
Anne McCue reports from Gosport: Brimstone(male)at
Stokes Bay;Red Admiral in my garden at Privett Place Gosport.
Monday 22nd March
Lynn Fomison writes...This wonderful Oak Beauty was
one of six species in my moth trap on the morning of 22nd March.
The list on the web site of what is flying this month helped in
identifying who they were.
I photographed this Oak beaty on an oak log. Although it is pretty
obvious in the picture in "real life" it was amazingly well
camouflaged.
In the same way as it is a challenge to photograph butterlfies on
their larval foodplant or in some other way that says something
about their habitat I think the same is true of moths. At the moth
conference one good example of this was Maurice Pugh's picture of
Pine Beauty on a pine twig - where it looked very much like an
unfurling bud. Obviously for identification purposes pictures
showing moths clearly are important & they need not have a
thoughtful background, but when it comes to inspiring people to take
an interest in the beauty & clever markings of moths the "perch" is
important.
 |
| Oak Beauty |
Sunday 21st March
Mike Gwilliam has sent in this photo taken in August
last year with the comment: "Whoops!! Not the ideal spot for a
romantic liaison?"
 |
| Large Whites |
Geoff Jones writes: "While I was out taking
bird photographs Brenda 'phoned me to say she had seen and 'snapped'
a Small Tortoiseshell in the garden perched on heather (that's the
butterfly, not Brenda)."
Dr David Tinling writes: "Comma in my Haslar
garden; Chiffchaff calling & 2 Commas at
Browndown North;Small Tortoiseshell at Carters Copse.
Spring at last,but only just:many daffodils &
buff-tailed bumblebees(Bombus terrestris),but still no Brimstone or
Peacock."
Charles Cuthbert writes: "One Peacock
butterfly out in warm sunshine early afternoon at South Hayling
Island on Sunday 21st March, my first of the year."
Tuesday 16th March
Mike Wildish reports from Thruxton (SU 295 455)
(85): Brimstone(M) - 2 Small Tortoiseshell - 1
Greame Davis reports from Anton Lakes LNR (SU356466)
(34): Small Tortoiseshell 5 Brimstone 2
Roger Pendell reports from Noar Hill (SU745320)
(43): 1 Comma "Only butterfly seen."
K L Jones reports from Stevens Drove, Houghton (SU
330 325) (84): Single Peacock butterfly. "Sunny, Breezy day,
butterfly very active."
Chris Hall reports from Church Crookham (SU 81 53)
(31, 43, 85): Brimstone (3), Peacock (2), Red Admiral (1) "Mainly on
margin of Crookham Common, Brimstone in the garden.
Also several bumble bees seen and wood ants
emerging. "
Andrew Bolton reports from Axmansford, Tadley (SU
566607) (85): One each of Red Admiral, Brimstone, Comma & Small
Tortoiseshell. "Also seen on soil in a herbaceous border was this
caterpillar - does anyone know what kind it is?"
 |
| Unknown larva |
Dr David Tinling writes: "Small Tortoiseshell at
Carters Copse;Comma at the Hermitage Garden;Red Admiral & Comma at
Ann's Hill Cemerery. At last Spring is trying to push Winter off its
throne."
David Shute writes: "With a distinct lack of
wild nectaring sources available at the moment I saw an enterprising
Small Tortoiseshell feeding on flowers outside the florists in West
Street, New Alresford on Monday 15th. A Brimstone seen at Bramdean
Common 16/3/10."
Anne McCue reports from Gosport: Brimstone(male)at
Ann's Hill Cemetery;Peacock in my garden at Privett Place Gosport.
Monday 15th March
Mike Wildish reports from Rooksbury Mill (SU 355
445) (8): Brimstone(M) - 1, and from Andover Town Centre parks (SU
365 455) (85): Brimstone(M) - 4, and finally from Andover Newtown
Area (SU 355 455) (85): Brimstone(M) - 1 Small Tortoiseshell - 1.
"At last - some butterflies!"
Matthew Oates writes from Straits Inclosure, Alice
Holt: "Friends of the Straits be warned! The FC has just
felled most of the sallows in the main ride, which hosted a
spectacular flight of Purple Emperor last summer. Then, there were
210 large sallows - I counted and graded them - yesterday, I counted
61, most of which are too exposed for Purple Emperor.
The felled sallows lie in pieces below. If anyone wants to look for
Purple Emperor larvae, for any purpose, then please help yourself:
look on the buds and in forks, especially on the south side of the
ride.
For some years now the FC has been wanting to resurface this ride,
to facilitate extraction of valuable timber from the wood's west
end. Most of the sallows were rooted in the ride edge ditch system,
which provided a bare clay seed bed when the ride was cut out in
1987. Sallows set in the ride-side ditches are a major issue for the
FC, but why so many had to be felled here I cannot say, nor can I
say why they chose not to talk the matter through with me. The
really sad thing is that few of the retained sallows are suitable
for iris, and other ride-side sallows elsewhere in the wood have
been removed too. Further changes are happening as a forest
harvester is extracting mature oak from the wood's southern edge.
The message is simple: look elsewhere for your Purple Emperors this
summer. The wood will get good again for iris, perhaps in 10 years
time. On the credit side, I saw my first Comma of the year,
and a fully-built long-tailed tit's nest."
Dr David Tinling reports a Small White male flying
at Ann's Hill Cemetery,Gosport.
Mark Swann writes from Neverton Bottom : "A
lovely day in north hampshire brought out a comma, brimstone(male)
and a small tortoiseshell."
Lynn Fomison reports seeing a male Brimstone at MHD
North. Patrick Fleet saw one in the South west corner of Extension.
Patrick & Colin Beyer saw two Small Tortoiseshells in the same area.
It must be said the whole reserve is looking very dry & lacking in
nectar sources.
Andrew Bolton reports from Freefolk Priors,
Whitchurch. (SU 478485) (2): Brimstone 1 "Seen in a sunny sheltered
hollow beside the river Test."
Gary Palmer writes: "In walkford( sz
217945) and highcliffe ( sz 206946 ) found 2 male brimstone in the
mid morning sun, my first butterflies this year and long awaited."
Sue Bailey writes from 87 Hobb Lane, Hedge End
(SU497124) (85): 1 Brimstone 1 Peacock 1 Comma "First butterflies of
the year in my garden, all appeared within seconds of one another."
Anne McCue reports from Gosport: Brimstone(male)at
Carters Copse,Gosport and another at Browndown North.
Sunday 14th March
Steve Mansfield reports from East Worldham SU7438)
(85): Brimstone 1. Also from Kingsley
Common (SU789377) (41): Dotted Border 1 male "Picking about or
sunning itself in the leaf litter."
Peter Vaughan writes: "First butterfly
sightings of the year for me here in Hook, NE Hants - a couple of
male Brimstones on the wing. Also my Grass
Snake sighting of 2010."Dr David Tinling writes: "Red
Admiral basking & flying at St Mark's Churchyard, Gosport. This is
only my sixth sighting of the year,even though the summer half of
the year is only a week away. Although we have at last had a few
frost-free mornings and the the temperature has reached 10/11
Celsius, the wind is still cold and winter refuses to release its
grip."
Nina Parker reports from the Winchester road, just
outside Stockbridge (Winchester side) (90): 1 x Brimstone Butterfly
"In flight. Midday. Sunny. Temp 13 degrees Celcius."
Dave Pearson reports from Alresford Pond (SU588331)
(84): Comma "Slightly worn so obviously emerging from hibernation."
Andrew Bolton reports from Axmansford, Tadley (SU
566607) (85): Brimstone 1 "The butterfly season began at 12.15 on
sunday with a Brimstone powering up the garden."
John Watch saw a Small White flying in Stanley Park,
Gosport (SZ592989).
Anne McCue reports from Gosport: Peacock at Ann'
Hill Cemerery,Gosport.
Wednesday 10th March
Dr David Tinling writes from Gosport: "Red Admiral
basking & flying at Browndown North. On the first ten days of March
there has been a frost in my Gosport garden,even though it is only
400m from the Haslar Sea Wall. Coastal winds have been very cold and
penetrating, mostly from ENE to NNE. March has come in like a Polar
Bear,giving no encouragement to butterflies to emerge from
hibernation or chrysalis.Two male blackcaps have
been fighting over my garden fat-feeders;one has been visiting since
28th Feb."
Monday 8th March
Dr David Tinling reports from Gosport: Small
Tortoiseshell basking & flying at Carters Copse, Gosport.
Friday 5th March
Paul Ritchie reports from Holiday Hills Inclosure,
Bolderwood, New Forest: Painted
Lady x 1 "Appeared to be very healthy with a strong
flight, so much so that I was unable to get a photograph."
Geoff Rapley reports from Flexford Reserve (SU
424216) (84): 1x Brimstone, a fresh male. "In the sun - the
first of the year for me!"
Brian Fletcher reports from Harestock, Winchester
(SU471313) (86): Red Admiral, 1. "Seen from a bus whilst it
was at a bus stop!"
Wednesday 3rd March
Richard Symonds writes: "While attending a
rehearsal for my forthcoming wedding at St Peters Church, Northney,
Hayling Island (SU730032) tonight, I was pleasantly surprised when
the vicar pointed out a single Peacock on the altar carpet. It had
its wings closed but a gentle touch caused it to flash its "eyes".
From its slow movements I believe that it had in fact been awoken
from hibernation within the church. What a wonderful early wedding
present! "
Tuesday 2nd March
Dr David Tinling reports from Portsmouth: Red
Admiral & Buff-tailed Bumble-bees, Bombus terrestris,taking
crocus nectar at Portsmouth Cathedral,where two new bells were
installed today and my parents were married 70 years ago.
Charles Cuthbert writes: "May I report a male
Brimstone butterfly flying around my garden in Alresford for at
least 40 minutes at noon today."
Alan Green reports from Swanmore (SU573165) (85):
Brimstone 1 "My first of the year."
Nick Walford reports from
Staunton Country Park (85): One Brimstone "First butterfly I've seen
this year!"
Monday 1st March
Martin Hampton writes: "A Red Admiral raced
past a cafe window in Portsmouth City Centre."
Chris Hall reports from Crookham Common (SU 82252)
(43): Red Admiral "Woodland track on edge of Crookham Common, Church
Crookham. Short flight then basking in sunny patch, temperature 7 C.
Several trees with dense ivy growth adjacent."
Simon Wooley reports from Winchester College (81):
Small Tortoiseshell.
"1 ragged individual."
Lynn Fomison writes that Patrick Fleet reports
seeing a Peacock at
MHD original. It is our first butterfly of the year at our reserves.
PS A request to all of you who visit the reserves please report your
sightings. We love to know what butterflies, moths and caterpillars
you are enjoying seeing.
Dr David Tinling reports from Gosport: Red Admiral
basking & flying at Ann's Hill Cemetery,Gosport.
Mark Swann reports from testwood lakes: "My first
butterfly of the year small
tortoiseshell at the lakes with another seen today
in a garden in butlocks heath"
Mike Gibbons writes: "My wife Melanie saw a
Small Tortoiseshell
in Christchurch on Monday 1st March. "
Friday 26th February
Stephen Harvey reports from Chandler's Ford (SU
444212) (85): Red Admiral 1 (on the wing).
Dr David Tinling writes: "On 8th Feb 2010
Peter & Margaret Bowker photographed a Red Admiral taking primrose
nectar in their garden and saw a Small White flying over their
garden at Kingston Road,Gosport,from the Hermitage Garden nearby.On
the same day in 2008 two Small Whites were seen in Southampton."
Friday 19th February
Barrie Roberts reports from Rockford Lake, Blashford
(SU158081) (2): Red Admiral "Flying."
Thursday 18th February
Sarah Patton writes: "It was super in the south east
yesterday! I mentioned that butterflies might be thinking about
appearing from hibernation and, sure enough, we saw a Red Admiral in
Stubbington, Hampshire. Bet it has retreated again today!!!"
Penny Chamont writes from her conservatory in
Kings worthy, Winchester: one female Brimstone butterfly "No idea
how it came to be inside my house at 1pm."
Wednesday 17th February
Dr David Tinling reports from Gosport: Red Admiral
basking & flying at Ann's Hill Cemetery.
Friday 5th February
Helen Brock saw a Red Admiral flying around gardens
in Lymington this afternoon
On 3rd February Patrick Fleet showed me this Lappet
moth caterpillar, writes Lynn Fomison, on buckthorn on the extension
at Magdalen Hill Down. Patrick had first spotted it on 21st January
& not unsurprisingly it had not moved far 13 days later. I was very
thrilled to see it as Lappet moth is only seen at MHD
infrequently. Patrick explained that once the weather warmed up & it
got active it would reveal more of the bright colouration towards
it's head. Waring ( Field Guide to Moths of Great Britain & Ireland)
describes it as "most often found on small isolated bushes" as
indeed his one was. He also describes it as "overwintering as a
small larva". I guess this one was just over 2cm long. We hope we
shall have the opportunity to watch it over the months to May until
it pupates. Just hope it does not get eaten!
 |
| Lappet larva |
John Moon reports from Norfolk House, Abbotts Ann
(SU329438) (85): Red Admiral, 1
Thursday 21st January
Dr David Tinling writes: "Dennis & Christine Bohea
were amazed to see a very fresh male
Small White at 5.30 pm on Thurs 21st Jan 2010 in
their kitchen at Rowner,Gosport(SU583203).It had probably come in
through the kitchen window from the ivy covered wall outside,where
it had presumably emerged from its chysalis in the morning
sunshine.This is the earliest ever Hampshire sighting,beating 8th
Feb 2008."
Sunday 17th January
David Shute writes: "I went on the Wildlife Trust
Alresford bird walk this morning and we had a
Brimstone flying along
the hedge at Abbotstone Road. It's my earliest ever record for this
species and after all this freezing weather I am amazed that it
could emerge on the first sunny day."
 |
| Brimstone |
Michael Skelton writes: "I was pleased to see a
Red Admiral basking
on the wall of a house in Boscombe (SZ1191)."
Friday 15th January
Martin King reports from Poulner (SU156063) (85):
Red Admiral 1. "Flying through garden at 13.00"
Tuesday 12th January 2010
Peter Gardner writes: "I pulled my curtains back
when this promising image appeared!! I hope a good start for
2010."
 |
| Snow Butterfly |
Thursday 10th December
Geoff Jones writes: "Two chaps carrying out
conservation work today at the North Browndown MoD Training Area
told me they had seen a Comma - which was also enjoying the warm
sunshine!"
Richard Hart reports from his garden (SU494053)
(85): Red Admiral. "Fair condition."
Mick Langridge reports from Gosport: Red Admiral
basking & flying in an Alverstoke garden(SZ601986).
Dr David Tinling reports from Gosport: Red Admiral
basking & flying at Browndown North;Red Admiral flying across
Military Road. Also Buff-tailed Bumblebees foraging on Fatsia &
Mahonia.
Tuesday 8th December
Dr David Tinling reports from Gosport: a very old
Red Admiral basking on concrete at Fort Gilkicker(SZ606975).
Sunday 6th December
Anne McCue reports from Gosport: Red Admiral 4 in
Ann's Hill Cemetery.
