Donegal Butterflies August 2010
2010 was a good year for the Small Copper and it has been recorded on five new
10 km squares.
Thorough searches for MF webs resulted in the species confirmed on three new 10
km squares.
CB
- Having peaked in mid-July, the Common Blue decreased by early August. Small
numbers of second generation CBs appeared at warm sites late in the month with
two seen by Frank Smyth on Aug 27 at Murvagh (G87), two recorded by Ethna Diver
and myself on August 30 at the roadside cliffs at Dactan nr Kilcar (G67) and
five on August 31 by George McDermott at St John’s Point (G76).
DGF – the Dark Green Fritillary also was in decreasing numbers by the onset of August. On Aug 04 Frank Smyth reported three at Murvagh (G87) and on Aug 10 Richard McCafferty recorded one near Glenties (G89).
G – the Grayling continued to be seen throughout August. For example on Aug 02 Ian McCambridge recorded three at Sheskinmore (G69), on Aug 11 I saw six at Horn Head (C04) and on Aug 31 George McDermott saw at least ten at St John’s Point (G76).
GVW – widespread and numerous throughout the first half of August with numbers tailing off in the latter part of the month except in cooler mountain areas, where for example on Aug 25 I saw over twenty near Lough Ea (G99).
LW
– widespread and locally numerous throughout the month with hundreds of eggs
seen by me on August 25 on cabbages in a garden near Cloghan (H09) and over one
hundred larvae recorded by Frank Smyth on Nasturtiums at Rossnowlagh (G86).
MB – the Meadow Brown was widespread and locally numerous with numbers mostly decreasing through the month. On Aug 02, Ian McCambridge recorded thirty-five at Sheskinmore (G69) and on Aug 31George McDermott saw at least fifty at the usually very strong colony at St John’s Point (G67).
MF
– I continued checking for Marsh Fritillary webs throughout much of
August. Particular attention was given to those 10 km sqs without previous
records of MF in the past decade.
Webs were found on additional sqs C00 (alt of web 705 ft), C01 and C20 (alt of
webs 735 ft). Despite some good habitat, no webs were found in Inishowen or
close to Glencolumbkille (G58/G68). Webs were present at most of the previously
known sites throughout the county. On Aug 19 Maurice Simms recorded sixty-two
webs at Carrickalahagh, which is a new site on the Sheskinmore Reserve and about
1 km from the previously recorded main site. On Aug 24 twenty-two webs were
counted by a group of recorders at Trusk Lough (H18), which is an increase for
this site. Frank Smyth discovered new sites with MF webs nr Lough Naveane (H17),
Tievebrack (G96) and north of Lough Nadarragh (H07). The MF has now been
recorded in Donegal on 54 10km sqs, although some of these colonies appear on
isolated pockets of habitat, while other sites are vulnerable to land-use
changes, especially sheep grazing and cutting of
DB Scabious-rich verges along minor roads.
P – the Peacock was widespread and locally numerous throughout August, following many sightings of larvae in late June and in July. Numbers built up during the month with on Aug 15 Con O’Donnell recording over thirty at Dunlewey (B91), on Aug 25 Richard McCafferty recorded sixty near Glenties (G89) and on the same day Frank Smyth saw twenty-seven at the Knather (G96). On Aug 27 Ethna Diver and Con O’Donnell recorded over thirty at Urris (C34).
RA – the Red Admiral continued its increase in the last week of July into August, being reported widely but mostly in ones and twos. Larger numbers included on Aug 15 when Liz Sheppard recorded six at Carnowen (H29), on Aug 24 when Ethna Diver saw five in her garden at Knockbrack (C20) and on Aug 25 when Richard McCafferty recorded nine west of Glenties. On Aug 15 George McDermott recorded two on Inishtrahull (C46). RA Larvae continued to be seen widely in small numbers and on Aug 31 I saw at least four at Westend Bundoran, ranging in size from first to final instar.
R
– the Ringlet is mainly a July butterfly and numbers drop off rapidly before
August arrives. Some late sightings included one on Aug 25 recorded by Richard
McCafferty near Glenties and two on Aug 26 seen by Frank Smyth at Tievebrack
(G96).
SWF – it was a good year for the Silver-washed Fritillary in Donegal and it was recorded on four additional 10km sqs – C33, G85, H06 and H07. Large numbers were seen at some of its strongholds, for example on Aug 15 Ethna Diver and I saw at least fifty at Ray Wood (C22) while as late as Aug 30 Ian McCambridge recorded seventeen at Cleengort (G79/89).
SC
– the Small Copper was another
butterfly to do well in 2010. It was recorded on five new 10km sqs and a record
from Michael Galligan at Glebe Gallery for a sighting by him in 2009 added a
further sq. The additional sqs are C01, C04, H09, H16, H17 and H29, most of
which are inland squares.
SH – the Small Heath did very well in Donegal and was recorded on seven additional 10km sqs. It is mainly a June butterfly in Donegal but small numbers are seen in August and even September, usually at warm pockets in sites such as Sheskinmore and Murvagh. Frank Smyth recorded single specimens at Murvagh on Aug 04 and also on Aug 27. The SH has now been recorded on seventy-five 10km sqs in Donegal, although it is local in many districts.
SmT – the Small Tortoiseshell got off to a good start in the spring and the over-wintering butterflies bred successfully and their progeny produced many second-generation caterpillars to be seen throughout the county in July and even up to the end of August. Second-generation adults started to be recorded about mid-August and on Aug 22 Ethna Diver and I counted over sixty in West End, Bundoran (G85) in rather changeable weather. I saw half grown larvae at 800 ft on the side of Three Tops Mt (C00) on Aug 25. Exceptionally large numbers of SmT should appear in September in most of Donegal if the weather remains warm.
SW – the Small White continued to be recorded widely, mainly in association with its wild and cultivated larval food plants. This year it has been recorded on five additional sqs. On Aug 25 Frank Smyth recorded at least three nectaring on a Buddleia in Pettigo (H16) and on Aug 26 I saw at least six in a cabbage patch near Drumkeen (C10).
SpW – the Speckled Wood was evident widely throughout August and in increasing numbers as the month progressed. Among the higher numbers recorded were at least thirty on Aug 22 at Bonnyglen Wood (G79) seen by Richard McCafferty and on Aug 23 when Ethna Diver and I noted at least twenty in a lane at Newtownfore (C21).
WB – the Wall Brown appeared very much as usual in its known haunts in suitable habitat along most of the coast of Donegal, extending at least as far north as Lenan Head in west Inishowen. In the west of the county small colonies of the Wall Brown are occasionally found several km inland. This year Richard McCafferty discovered two new sites near Glenties (G89) and which are some five km inland from other known colonies along the Gweebarra Estuary.