Woodland Butterflies

[tracy]

A new woodland butterfly species! A mix of red admiral and peacock! Have you seen it?

http://www.naturescalendar.org.uk/findings/newbutterfly.htm

[greyman]

pinch and a punch its the first of the month - and no returns LOL ;~))

greyman

[tracy]

Duh! Well, I fell for it!

[tracy]

The painted lady butterfly is invading the UK, and there is a national count going to be happening on Saturday.

This from Steve, Rother butterfly - but all can join in:

As you might have seen in the press we are on the middle of a wondrous invasion of Painted Lady butterflies. The beautiful orange and black butterflies originated in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco where there was a phenomenal breeding season thanks to winter rain. Following an amazing 1000 migration they have now started to arrive in the South. Look out for any medium-to-large, light orange butterfly flying north!

This is quite possibly a once in a lifetime event and, with more expected over the next few days, we are ideally situated, close to the coast to witness it.

Please help to put Rother on the map by adding any sightings in your location:

http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/sightings/1097/painted_lady_butterfly.html

If you would also like to be involved in a national count on Saturday please read on...

Butterfly Conservation’s UK-wide count of Painted Lady’s - Saturday 30th May 2009

This is a unique opportunity to get better information on the nature and scale of this spectacular and unprecedented migration by taking part in a UK-wide count. Butterfly Conservation are inviting interested recorders to carry out a two hour sample count from 11:00 -13:00 (UK time) on Saturday 30th May.

Simply record the total number that you see flying through your set search area over the full two hours of observation (including the 10% or more that are likely to stop briefly to feed before carrying on migrating). Your search area will either be your garden or over a 20 wide strip of countryside (10m either side of where you stand stationary for the two hours). Pick somewhere with a good view and do not record beyond 20m.

The data can be entered online at Butterfly Conservation’s website.

http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/sightings/1097/painted_lady_butterfly.html

In the comments box of the sightings form – add in this information, with a new line for each (1) confirm that you carried out a full sample count by adding in the time “11:00-13:00”. (2) add ‘OK’ to confirm that the weather was suitable for butterfly flight (3) add your count area – either as ‘My garden” or “20m wide strip” for all other counts in suitable open terrain and (4) add the direction of migration eg “NW” for flying north-west.

Good luck and fingers crossed that the weather is suitable for what should be a fascinating day!

Best Wishes,

Steve Wheatley

Rother Woods Project Officer, Butterfly Conservation

01580 879958 / 07747 780605

[tracy]

I see that woodland butterflies are in big trouble:

http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/news/story.aspx?id=849

If you haven't already done so, it might be worth contacting and talking with your local butterfly conservation group to talk about how you can encourage butterflies in your woodland