A few Pictures from todays Surrey BC Walk at Hutchinsons Bank. Glanvilles and Marsh Fritillaries were about this afternoon.

 

 Marshie Time has started today. 3 Marsh Fritillaries in the gate end of the cutting this afternoon just emerged, 2 females and a male. Must be from an unknown web as they are so far from the known caterpillars on the bend, this area is where most females were seen last year, near the signpost seat.

 

 Dingy Skippers just hatching in the Cutting at Hutchinsons Bank today

 Great day at Chapel Bank today

4 Pairs of Dukes at the same time, and many others nearby.

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 2021

May. 

Duke Of Burgundy at Chapel Bank. First sighting today at Chapel Bank, next to Hutchinsons Bank.

all the Glanville Fritillary larvae have wandered off to pupate, so will be butterflies in a week or so now depending on the weather.

Croydon 2018 Walks Leaflet

I have updated out 2018 walks, on the panel on the right, and Croydon have published this leaflet for the first 6 Months.

Croydon Walks

Large Blue in Somerset

A long trip with Greenie in the Wild, for the Large Blue, 27th June 2016, started with a visit to John Vanderplanks Passionflower Collection, after an hour, we moved to the well known Large Blue site, where we found a few flying.

We moved onto a second site, where the Large Blues were earlier and well worn by know, a survey was being carried out on Six Belted Clearwing Moths.

Queen of Spain Fritillary in Sussex

The very rare migrant Queen of Spain Fritillary was seen for a couple of weeks in Sussex, a trip with Greenie in the Wild was taken to see this life first butterfly on 29th August 2017.

Adonis Blue at Hutchinsons Bank

Adonis Blue along the cutting.

A small colony of Adonis Blue, has established along the cutting, this male hatched 6th August 2017, the first of the 2nd brood, a few first brood were seen in May.

Latest Glanvilles

We had a ab. wittei Glanville Fritillary last week, so far the only one this year.

Normal Glanvilles have been hatching and are seen in the Cutting and Bridleway in good numbers, they are just emerging in the big scrape today.

a pupa was found attached to a stone

yesterday we had our first observed pairing

its our open day on Sunday 29th, so many people will be giving information and guided walks

Glanvilles Are Flying

Our Glanville Fritillary buterflies are now flying at Hutchinsons Bank.

Glanville Fritillary

The Hutchinsons Bank colony of Glanville Fritillary looks like it will have a good year this year.

In the cutting so far 42 larvae that have overwintered and are now fully grown have recently been found. They are hiding around the scrapes and in the centre of the cutting track.

At the other end of the site there is a larval web of about 200 larvae also fully grown, these also will be wandering to pupate in the next week. The adult butterflies should be flying from 14th May.

Butterfly wise it has been quiet but 2 Grizzled Skippers have been seen.

Hutchinsons Bank and Vale End

Hutchinsons Bank Transect provided a good count.

A Clouded Yellow was seen in the first section.

Along The Cutting the Chalkhill Blues have started to emerge in the scrapes, a pair was seen as well as some spare males. A Second Brood Dingy Skipper was also on the path.

Silver Washed Fritillaries were also seen on the buddleias.

The Vale End walk was well attended with about 40 people.

A deformed female gatekeeper was seen, with Red Mites as well as a damaged right side forewing, it looks like the pupa was damaged on the wing cases as a mark is on both sides and a hole.

Chalkhill Blues were abundant on the chalk slopes, a female Dark Green Fritillary flew past, this year we didnt see Silver Spotted Skipper or Clouded Yellow.

The Walk ended with good sightings of a Surrey Red Kite, and the usual tea and cakes.

Recent walks

Due to a camera fault havn't updated this for a while now.

Headley Heath.
A walk around this varied site, produced my first Silver Spotted Skippers for the year.

Ashtead Common.
A Purple Emperor settled on the ground for a few minutes, in the afternoon, as it was dull conditions earlier in the day.

Hutchinsons Bank Open Day.
A few visitors attended our open day, next year it might be earlier in the year during peak butterfly time. [late may/early june]

Eastbourne
A wet day so my planned visit to Beachy Head had to wait until 2pm, and a quick walk back to Eastbourne Station for my 4.30pm bus back home.

Reigate and Colley Hills
Holly Blue and Essex Skippers were plentiful on this walk on the ridge of the North Downs.