The Lincolnshire Bird Club

4 species of butterfly seen in the warm sunshine in the garden today (Mon) but still no Whites around :

14. Red Admiral - several visits to nectar on the newly opened Buddleia.

Comma - on Sunflower leaf.
The first in the garden since 30 March.

Small Tortoiseshell - on Lobelia. First since 24 April.

Meadow Brown - jinking over the lawn.

The Marjoram is just coming into flower and will be 'manna from heaven' for Gatekeepers.

Freddy

Some butterfly activity in the odd sunny spell in the garden today (Sat), accompanied by the occasional sights and sounds of Day One of the RAF Waddington Air Show ' up the road ' bedevilled by a lot of cloud :

Ringlet - 1male, 1 female on the rockery
Meadow Brown - 2 females on Lavender
Small Tortoiseshell - 3 on Buddleia
Small White

(Large White appeared on 2/3 July)

No Gatekeeper as yet but the Marjoram is now in flower, so..........

Freddy

7 species in the garden today (Sun) on Day Two of the RAF Waddington Air Show 'up the road' :

Red Admiral
Comma
Small Tortoiseshell x 3
Meadow Brown x 2 (female)
Ringlet x 2 (male)
Small White
Green-veined White.

The Red Arrows flew past the house in formation just after 4 o'clock but, standing in the garden by a large Buddleia bush in bloom, I then had my own private colourful flypast punctuated by a Comma, a high-ranking Red Admiral and 3 Small Tortoiseshells.

Freddy

6 species in the garden in the weak sunshine early afternoon today (Thu) :

15. Gatekeeper - one individual at least has now discovered the Marjoram (hopefully, the first of many).

Meadow Brown - 2, also on Marjoram and dwarfing the Gatekeeper
Red Admiral
Ringlet - 2
Small Tortoiseshell - 3
Green-veined White.

A Comma appeared on 6 July, a male Brimstone, a Large White and a Small White on Tue 8 July - making 10 species so far this month.

The 2 Ringlets are by far the most active, fluttering round and round the lawn, the flower beds, the rockery and the bushes even in the dull weather. The Ringlet is one of the very few butterflies that will fly in gloomy weather, including in light rain.

Freddy

16. Painted Lady. One on the Buddleia this morning
also
Gatekeeper - still just the one (it disappeared yesterday and went flyabout)
Comma
Small Tortoiseshell - up to 7 now
Meadow Brown x 2
Large White
Small White
Green-veined White

Red Admiral and 2 Ringlets also appeared yesterday.

Plus today a vast army of Thunderflies (aka Thrips, Thunderbugs, Storm Flies,Thunderblights, Storm Bugs, Corn Flies and Corn Lice/Limothrips Cerealium as well as *##!**! **!?##!s.

Freddy

Some new arrivals in the garden today (Wed) :

Peacock - 3 pristine : the annual July/August emergence has started in BBH (first since late April)
Holly Blue - 2 : new emergence
plus
Small Tortoiseshell - 6
Meadow Brown - 2
Ringlet
Spp White.

Freddy

Hello Freddy,

Well done on the Painted Lady!

It's certainly happening your end, very little here, think it's due to clutter ie too many trees and shrubs resulting in the fact that the butterflies need signs up telling them where to go.

Yesterday had a cracker of a day on the local patch (see report) including my elusive b'fly the Gatekeeper

Keep up the good work!

Regards

Max

_________________
GETTING OLD HAS IT'S ADVANTAGES BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THEY ARE lol

31st July

July has proved to be a most productive month in the garden. Surprisingly, today I found :

17. Essex Skipper - nectaring on Lavender then Marjoram.
In all, I have recorded 14 species in the garden this month, as recorded in these posts.

Peacock (peaked at 10 on 22nd July), Gatekeeper (3 on 28th), Holly Blue, Meadow Brown and the 3 Whites have been regular right up to the end of the month.

The Holly Blue (female) has become addicted to Marjoram and spends long periods nectaring on the blossom, fluttering just a few inches to one side to nearby sprigs when disturbed by the many competing Bees and various other insects.

Freddy

A few visitors this morning (Tue) : (all on Marjoram/Lavender)

Essex Skipper again
Gatekeeper x 2
Meadow Brown
Large White x 2.

plus Holly Blue (male) - patrolling the Hawthorn hedge.

Freddy

Pristine Speckled Wood in the favoured area by the Pergola today (Wed). First garden sighting since 23rd June.

Freddy

August 2014

The month began with continuing records of Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown and an Essex Skipper was seen on 6th. A pristine Speckled Wood also appeared on 6th and the species flourished in the garden throughout the month with 3 interacting on 31st. Holly Blues were recorded up to 13th only.
Peacock and Red Admiral paid occasional visits but there was no further record of Comma or Painted Lady. Spp White passed through more or less on a daily basis.

Freddy

September 2014

In all, a total of 8 species appeared in the garden during the month :

Speckled Wood
Small Tortoiseshell
Red Admiral
Brimstone male (Mon 15th, Thu 18th)
Comma
Large White
Small White
Green-veined White

During the last week or so of September, Red Admiral (on/off) and Comma remained along with occasional visits from spp White. The Comma was present daily on Sedum spectabile in fine weather until the end of the month.

Freddy

Still a few butterflies in the garden during the first week of October :

Comma - 3rd
Red Admiral -5th
Speckled Wood x 2 - 5th.

Freddy