2008 Donegal Butterfly Survey – Summary Report 16th-31st July 2008
The weather in the second half of July
was warm with some good sunny days and temperatures in the twenties occurred
towards the end of the month, especially on July 29 and 30 with temperatures of
up to 26 degrees in parts of west Donegal.
The hjghlights of the period were: widespread Silver-washed Fritillaries;
increasing numbers of Meadow Browns; a rapid increase in GVWs in the last days
of the month and widespread but usually small numbers of SmTs.
Common Blue
The Common Blue continued to be reported widely including on inland heath sites
near Glenties. Numbers at dune sites continued to be rather low with for example
on July 28 about twenty recorded at Tra na Rossan (C14) by Eamonn McGlinchey and
about a dozen reported on July 20 and 30 at Murvagh by Ian McCambridge. On July
27 four CBs were recorded at Kildoney (G86) by Frank Smyth. Inland, on July 26
eight CBs were recorded on the Glenmacannive transect (G89) by Richard
McCafferty and four CBs were seen on July 24 at Bonny Glen Wood (G79) by Richard
McCafferty and myself. On July 26 four CBs were seen in a natural meadow at
Kilclooney (G79) by Maurice Simms and myself.
Dark Green Fritillary
In Donegal the numbers of Dark Green Fritillaries usually peak about mid-July
and gradually reduce by the end of the month. On July 17 ten DGFs were recorded
at Sheskinmore (G69) by Maurice Simms. On July 19 six DGFs (including a mating
pair) were seen at Murvagh (G87) by Frank Smyth. On July 20 six DGFs were
recorded at Murvagh (G87) by Ian McCambridge and he saw five there on July 30.
On July 23 a DGF was seen nectaring on a thistle along a minor road in heath and
blanket bog at Meenalargan (G89) by Richard McCafferty. This is a new 10km
square record for DGF on G89. On July 25 two DGFs were seen at Sheskinmore by
Maurice Simms. On July 26 fifteen DGFs were seen at Lag (C45) by Paddy McCrossan
and the members of the Inishowen Wildlife Club. On July 27 one DGF was seen at
Ballymacaward (G86) by Frank Smyth. On July 28 four DGFs were recorded at Tra na
Rossan (C14) by Eamonn McGlinchey and on the same day I saw five DGFs in the
dunes at Glencolumbkille (G58). On July 29 a large fritillary was seen flying
rapidly at Swan Park, Buncrana (C33) by George McDermott but it was not possible
to tell which species.
Grayling
In Donegal the Grayling is mainly an August butterfly with smaller numbers
occurring in July and early September. On July 19 two Graylings were seen at the
usually early area of St John’s Point (G76) by Ian McCambridge. On July 20 a
Grayling was recorded on the Buncrana Transect (C33) by George McDermott. On
July 26 nine Graylings were recorded at the dunes in Lag (C45) by Paddy
McCrossan and members of the Inishowen Wildlife Club. On July 28 at least ten
Graylings were recorded at Tra na Rossan (C14) by Eamonn McGlinchey and the same
day six Graylings were seen at Cashelgoland (G79) by Maurice Simms.
Green-veined White
The second generation GVWs appeared in increasingly large numbers through the
second half of July. Starting with low numbers in the middle of the month
Richard McCafferty, who kept a daily diary in the Glenties area (G89/79), showed
up to sixty GVWs on July 24 in Bonny Glen Wood (G79). On July 27 Richard
McCafferty and I saw over 100 GVWs.
Near Lough Ea (G99) in upland damp meadows and along adjoining road verges. On
July 26 Paddy McCrossan reported thirty-five GVWs near Lough Inn (C53). On July
30 Richard McCafferty recorded over 60 GVWs at Meenanall (G89).
Large Whites continued to be reported widely. These usually were singles. Larger
numbers were on July 26: six LWs near Lough Inn (C53) seen by members of the
Inishowen Wildlife Club and on July 27 five LWs at Ballymacaward (G86) recorded
by Frank Smyth. On July 23 at Fincashel (H06) two large LW larvae were seen on
nasturtiums by me. This is a new 10km square record for the Donegal part of H06.
On July 24 one LW was recorded by Eleanor Hort in her garden at Meentashesk
(G68) and I saw three large LW larvae there on July 28.
Meadow Browns were reported widely and in increasing numbers during the period.
On July 20 fifteen MBs were recorded on the Glenmacannive transect (G89)
by Richard McCafferty and twenty MBs were recorded on this transect on July 26.
On July 25 thirty MBs were seen by Maurice Simms at Sheskinmore (G69). On July
26 thirty MBs were recorded near Lough Inn (C53) by members of the Inishowen
Wildlife Club and on the same date they saw sixty MBs at Lag (C45). On July 28
sixteen MBs were recorded by me at the dunes in Glencolumbkille (G58).
Painted Lady
On July 29 a PL was recorded at Dunlewy (B91) by Con O’Donnell.
Peacock
On July 27 a Peacock was seen at Inch Island (C32) by George McDermott and on
July 29 at The Knader (G96) one was recorded by Frank Smyth. On July 24 at
Gortnasillagh (G79) over 100 final instar Peacock larvae were seen by Richard
McCafferty and myself. On July 26 three large groups of Peacock caterpillars
were seen some ten kms east of Glenties on ten km square G99 by Richard
McCafferty and myself. This square has the highest average altitude of any
Donegal 10km square and due to the cool cloudy conditions butterflies tend to
occur later there.
Red Admiral
Red Admirals were also very scarce. On July 27 one RA was recorded at
Ballymacaward (G86) by Frank Smyth. and on July 30 a RA was reported at Lifford
(H39) by Maurice Simms. I saw no RA larvae.
Ringlet
Ringlets continued to be recorded widely and in
large numbers in damp localities. On July 20 along the Glenmacannive Transect
(G89) one hundred and thirty Ringlets were counted by Richard McCafferty
and on July 26 the number had fallen to seventy- four. Other large numbers of
Ringlets recorded were at least sixty on July 27 at Edinfinreagh (G89) and on
July 28 at Meenalargan (G89) by Richard McCafferty. In drier habitat on July 26
fourteen Ringlets were seen at Lag (C45) by members of the IWLC and on July 30
ten Ringlets were recorded in the dunes at Murvagh (G87) by Ian McCambridge.
Silver-washed Fritillary
On July 20 two SWFs were seen along the Glenmacannive Transect (G89) by Richard
McCafferty. On July 24 one SWF was seen at Gortnasillagh (G79) and four at
Cleengort (G89) by Richard McCafferty and myself. On July 25 a
SWF was recorded by me at Derrynamansher (B82). On July 26 two SWFs were
seen by me about 1.5 km NE of Doochary (B80) and three were seen near Kilclooney
(G79) by Maurice Simms and myself. Also on July 26 at least five SWFs were seen
at Mulnamin (G79) by Maurice Simms and myself. On July 27 six SWFs were recorded
at Cleengort (G89) by Maurice Simms. On July 29 seven SWFs were recorded at
Mulnamin by Richard McCafferty, three SWFs were seen at Keenaghan (C11) by Neil
Doherty and three SWFs were recorded at The Knader (G96) by Frank Smyth - a new
site for this species. On July 29 a large fritillary seen at Swan Park, Buncrana
(C33) by George McDermott could not be identified with certainty. During the
last week of July small numbers of SWFs were seen in the gardens at Glenveagh
(C02) by Sean OGaoithin.
Small Copper
On July 19 one SC was recorded at Tullan (G86) by
Frank Smyth. Widely scattered and
mostly single SCs were recorded on July 26. One was seen by me on waste ground
along the Barra River about 1.5 km upstream of Doochary (B80); two were recorded
on the Glenmaccannive Transect (G89) by Richard McCafferty; one at Lag (C45) by
members of the IWLC and one at Kilclooney (G79) by Maurice Simms and myself.
Small Heath
Small Heaths were recorded at a small number of
sites. These were in dunes and at two inland sites. On July 24 two SHs were seen
at Cleengort (G89) by Richard McCafferty and myself. On July20 & 30 two SHs
were recorded at Murvagh (G87) by Ian McCambridge. In the last week of July six
SHs were reported at Meenirroy (C00) by Ralph Sheppard.
Small Tortoiseshell
Small Tortoiseshells were reported very widely
especially in the last week of the month. Numbers were mostly in ones and twos.
However, in some instances larger numbers were recorded. On July 22 five SmTs
were recorded at Lifford (H39) by Maurice Simms. On July 23 at least six Small
Tortoiseshells were seen at Pettigoe (H16) by Frank Smyth and myself. On July 27
nine SmTs were recorded at Ballymacaward (G86) by Frank Smyth.. On July 27 six
SmTs were recorded at Mullanmore (G89) by Richard McCafferty and myself.
Three Small Whites were recorded in the period although this was in part due to
uncertainty in identification due to the numerous GVWs. On July 26 one SW was
seen by me nectaring on brambles at Derries (G89). On July 27 one SW was
recorded by Frank Smyth at Ballymacaward (G86). On July 28 at least one SW was
seen by me at Glencolumbkille (G58).
Speckled Woods were recorded widely but
intermittently with numbers reported usually one or two and occasionally up to
about half a dozen. On July 27 seven SpWs were seen at Cleengort (G89) by
Maurice Simms.
Wall Brown
On July 28 a Wall Brown was seen nr Rosbeg (G69)
by Maurice Simms.
Bob Aldwell
5th August 2008