Marbled White

[Ollie]

Hi all.
Today Ben (Tormentil) and myself went in search of Marbled White butterflies and White Admirals.

First we visited Red Hill nature reserve on the Lincolnshire Wolds between Goulceby and Asterby. It was a very hot sunny day and we were in luck, within a few minutes of arriving we spotted a Marbled White. Getting photographs was very difficult though as although it was hot there was a fair old breeze up on the wolds blowing all the flowers around.

We did think we might be lucky enough to come across a Clouded Yellow as Red Hill is a known place to see them but it wasn't to be so.

Anyway after getting a few shots of the Marbled Whites we moved on to Chambers Farm Wood just outside Wragby where we thought there would be a better chance of seeing White Admirals.

It was mid morning by now and the temperature was rising fast. We followed the path at Chambers Wood to Little Scrubs Meadow where we found quite a few Marbled Whites. Boy were they active, it was very difficult to get near enough for good photographs and it was a case of following an individual round until it landed then firing a quick shot off before it took flight again.

This took it's toll on Ben and myself and we were soon wilting under the heat although we had taken plenty of liquid refreshment with us our shirts were wet through with sweat.

We adjourned to the car for more refreshment and a bite to eat before braving the sun again for a further session. On the way back to the meadow after our break we spotted a White Admiral along the edge of the wood and I did manage a poorish shot of it before it went into cover to deep for us to venture.

The sun and heat got the better of us by around 2 pm and we left for home, but we did see another White Admiral on the way back to the car.

I have uploaded a few shots of the Marbled Whites below and the poor White Admiral shot.

Two new species for us both which made the tiring day worthwhile.

Roger

Marbled White


Marbled White


Marbled White


Marbled White


White Admiral

[ron1863]

Beautiful shots Roger and sounds like a good day out. I was up on the moors and only saw the odd white but literally thousands of Ringlets but it was blowing a stiff breeze too, still I enjoyed the walk.

[tameblackbirds]

i was fortunate to have a white Admiral butterfly in my garden July 4th 06 I had never seen one before. humming Bird Hawk moth also that flew into our kitchen caught it and had a great view of it. it was a very hot summer that year.

[Jason Green]

Sounds good. I thought the WA was an unusual migrant species?

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

Sounds good. I thought the WA was an unusual migrant species?

As far as I am aware Jason the White Admiral is a British breeding species, but I may be wrong. They can be seen at Chambers Farm Wood every year.
Roger

[Jason Green]

Oh yes, widespread in the South. I must be thinking of another butterfly that is related to another one, but commoner.

[Tormentil]

It certainly was a very hot & tiring day out, but well worth it.

2 new species for me; the Marbled White & the White Admiral.

I've now cooled down a bit and am enjoying a nice cool bitter.

Large Skipper - Ochlodes venatus


Meadow Grasshopper - Chorthippus parrallelus


White Admiral - Lementis camilla


Marbled White - Melanargia galathea


Meadow Grasshopper - Chorthippus parrallelus


Small Tortoiseshell - Aglais urticae


Small White - Artogeia rapae

[Ollie]

Couple of Cracking Grasshopper shots Ben and that White Admiral isn't to be sneezed at either, much better than I got.

Enjoy your beer you earned it today
Roger

[GuyF]

Nice one Roger and Ben, sounds like a very good day out. I've still yet to see a White Admiral, they look pretty spectacular!
Guy

[Gill Catton]

Lovely photos and I know exactly what you mean about the marbled white, I have tried for a couple of years now to get a pic and it was only this year that one stopped long enough for me to get a couple of pictures (not as good as yours though!) - I was just about to give up too as they fly sooooo far between landings compared to other butterflies anyway it seems