2008 Donegal Butterfly Survey – Summary Report 1st-15th July

July is the month of the brown butterflies with many Meadow Browns and Ringlets to be seen and both large fritillaries on the wing. The Grayling begins its flight season in July and the Small Tortoiseshell re-appears. Increasing numbers of Speckled Woods occur in many places as the breeding of early May begins to show.
The unsettled weather in the second half of June continued into the first half of July with cloudy and sometimes wet and windy conditions.
The hjghlights of the period were the large numbers butterflies seen on July 12, at the Isle of Doagh (C45), which included 200+ Dark Green Fritillaries, 100+ Common Blues and 14 Graylings, while 117 Ringlets were recorded on the same date at the Glenties transect (G89).
A small number of PLs and RAs were recorded at a few coastal localities in the period July 11 –13, suggesting a small late inward migration.

Common Blue
The Common Blue was reported widely at most of its usual sites. As mentioned above over one hundred were seen on July 12 in the dunes at Craigawannia, Isle of Doagh (C45) by members of the Inishowen Wildlife Club. On July 04 three CBs were recorded at Glenmacannive (G89) on the Glenties transect by Richard McCafferty and he saw twelve CBs on July 08 at Cleengort Hill (G89). At Murvagh (G87) CBs were seen by a number of recorders: on July 02 nine were reported by Ian McCambridge; on July 14 over twenty were seen by Frank Smyth; on July 15 eleven were recorded my Ian McCambridge. In the period July 08 –14 small numbers of CBs were reported by Sue Shiels from sites in Inishowen: at Lenan (C34), Crocknagalcossagh (C44) and Culdaff (C55).

Dark Green Fritillary
On July 01 five DGFs were recorded in the dunes at Tullan (G86) by Frank Smyth. On July 02 three DGFs were seen at Murvagh (G87) by Ian McCambridge. On July 06 eight DGFs were seen at Sheskinmore (G69) by Maurice Simms. On July 12 over two hundred DGFs were recorded at Craigawannia, Isle of Doagh (C45) by members of the Inishowen Wildlife Club and on July 13 at least thirty DGFs were recorded at Lag (C45) by Paddy McCrossan. On July 14 thirty DGF were seen at Murvagh (G87) by Frank Smyth. and on the same date four DGFs were recorded at Culdaff (C55) by Sue Shiels and four were seen at Ballyliffin (C45) by Ethna Diver. Lastly on July 15 six DGFs were recorded at Murvagh by Ian McCambridge. All these sites are coastal dunes, which is the favoured habitat for the DGF in Donegal.

Grayling
On July 09 four Graylings were recorded at Lenan (C34) by Sue Shiels. On July 12 fourteen Graylings were recorded at Craigawannia (C45), Isle of Doagh by members of the Inishowen Wildlife Club.

Green-veined White
The GVW was reported widely but in small numbers during the period.

Large White
Large Whites continued to be reported widely. These usually were singles. Pupating caterpillars were reported at Buncrana (C33) by George McDermott and at Stranorlar (H19) by Ian McCambridge.

Meadow Brown
Meadow Browns were reported widely but usually in small numbers. Exceptions were: on July 12 when at Craigawannia (C45) over sixty were recorded by members of the Inishowen Wildlife Club; on July 12 sixteen MBs were recorded at Glenmacannive by Richard McCafferty: on July 13 at least twenty MBs were seen at Lag (C45) by Paddy McCrossan.

Painted Lady
On July 11 a Painted Lady was seen near Malin Head (C35) by Con O’Donnell. On July 12 and 13 two PLs were reported at Greencastle (C64) by Eileen O’Donnell. Both areas are in Inishowen, which is one of the parts of Donegal where the PL has been reported most frequently in recent years.

Red Admiral
On July 12 one RA was seen at Craigawannia (C45) by members of the Inishowen Wildlife Club and the same day one RA was recorded by Frank Smyth.at Murvagh (G87).

Ringlet
As often happens in damp weather the Ringlet was one of the most common butterflies. On July 02 twenty-seven Ringlets were seen at Murvagh (G87) by Ian McCambridge. On July 03 over thirty Ringlets were recorded nr Roshin Lough (G96) by Frank Smyth. On July 12 one hundred and seventeen Ringlets were counted at Glenmacannive (G89) by Richard McCafferty. Also on July 12 at least thirty Ringlets were seen at Craigawannia (C45) by members of the Inishowen Wildlife Club. On July 14 forty–eight Ringlets were recorded at Meenalargan (G89) by Richard McCafferty.

Silver-washed Fritillary
On July 08 a SWF was captured at the usually strong colony at Cleengort (G89) by Richard McCafferty. He also saw a large fritillary in the same area on July 06 and which is assumed to be a SWF as the DGF is not known in this area. On July 12 at Meenalargan (G89) another large fritillary was seen by Richard McCafferty on a thistle and is thought to have been a SWF as the DGF has yet to be recorded on this 10km square.

Small Copper
On July 04 one Small Copper was seen at Glenmacannive (G89) by Richard McCafferty and on July 13 one SC was recorded at Lag (C45) by Paddy McCrossan.

Small Heath
By July the Small Heath flight period in most of Donegal is nearly over. On July 02 three SHs were recorded at Murvagh (G87) by Ian McCambridge.

Small Tortoiseshell
Only a few Small Tortoiseshells were recorded during the period. On July 01 two SmTs were recorded at Bundoran (G85) by Frank Smyth. On July 11 one SmT was seen at Lifford (H39) by Maurice Simms. On July 15 one SmT was recorded at Meenalrgan (G89) by Richard McCafferty.

Small White
On June 13 two SWs were seen at Carrickfad (G86) by Frank Smyth.

Speckled Wood
Speckled Woods were recorded widely in their usual localities, although numbers reported were only up to half a dozen.

Bob Aldwell 18th July 2008