East Lothian sightings - May 2018

[georgehogg]

Great to see 2 Speckled Woods at Woodhall picnic site Pencaitland today while I grabbed a quick coffee , plus of course orange tips which seem to be the default butterfly almost everywhere at present.

[georgehogg]

Still not seeing many female orange tips.
Am I right in recalling they emerge later than males.
Green Veined Whites the same ?

[ricowells]

Linn Dean this morning, not a lot of butterflies on the wing. Found 2 green hairstreaks in a completely different spot to where I saw them in previous years. There may have been more hunkered down because of the cold breeze. Apart from that just a couple of flyby whites. Plenty of other beasties though including the 2 moths (pictures attached) which I have not yet had. chance to identify so any help welcomed!
I also popped down "over the border" and had a short walk along the Tweed from Leaderfoot viaduct to leader water. Beautiful spot with lots of wild flowers along the bank. Circa 6 male orange tips and 2 females plus a GV white in a fairly small area.

[IAC]

Common Heath and Silver Y for your Moths Richard. It was a very cool air yesterday compared to the last few days. Aye it's nice down at Leaderfoot, I have been trying to find Speckled Wood dow there for years, but no takers. They should be there somewhere. I only ever get the odd record from inland Scottish Borders, yet there are plenty in Berwickshire and the Lothians.

[georgehogg]

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My first Wall of the year at Torness today , quickly followed by at least 10 others though it seemed like many more due to patrolling flight patterns.
Plus Orange Tips of course .
Also a single Speckled Wood in Lochend Road Dunbar.
Day flying moths incl Cinnabar , Small Magpie and Mother Shipton

[wgell]

Yesterday I spent a couple of hours at Saltoun Wood looking for Green Hairstreaks. I think I covered every clump of Blaeberry in the wood but no sign of any at all. When I first spotted them there in 2015 it was 7 June and there were several then so there's a chance some might appear yet. I wonder if the late snows have had an impact. Did see lots and lots of OTs, 4 Speckled Woods and two Large Whites. Also a few GV Whites and Peacocks.

This morning I went to Tyninghame. Very little about. 1 Speckled Wood, 1 GV White and 1 Small Heath.

This afternoon was better though. Walked along Bennet's Burn east of Pressmennan. 2 Speckled Woods, 15+ GV Whites, 15+ OTs, a couple of Peacocks and two Small Coppers.

[jpgn]

Wall butterflies seen at White Sands Quarry (Sat 19th) and on the coast between Eyebroughy and Yellow Craig - near Marine Villa (Sun 20th).

Jim & Ali

[wgell]

Woodhall Dean this morning. Good numbers of Speckled Woods, OTs and GVWhites. 3 Large Whites and plenty flybys. 3 Peacocks.

Very surprised to find two Wall Browns there! Never seen them here before. They were on the north side of the Dean among the Holly trees and Gorse. Of course they tried their usual "photograph me if you can!" shenanigans but I sneaked up on one on the ground..

This afternoon I was along the path from Gifford to Bolton. Speckled Woods, OTs and flybys a plenty. And one Comma.

[ricowells]

Newhailes estate yesterday. Lots of flyby whites but at least 4 male orange tips and a GV white which was about the only butterfly to stay still for a few seconds. Possible comma flyby as well but too distant to be sure. One field was fenced off with a notice to the effect that it was closed for weed treatment. A few minutes later a tractor came on to the other unfenced field where I was watching these butterflies and started spraying something (weedkiller??). Bit concerning.

[ricowells]

Ps Ian thanks for the help with the moth IDs!