Donegal Report

I spent 10 days in Donegal from May 15 - May 24. Weather was mostly dry but with varying amounts of cloud and wind directions ranging from south to north. Temperatures reached a high of 25+ degrees in many places on Biodiversity Day May 22. In the warmer south and west of Donegal most butterflies seemed on schedule or in some hot spots even ahead of average despite the cold winter and late spring. Inland and in Inishowen, however emergences generally were later than usual. Overall most early species seemed to be doing well with good numbers of DS, GH and SB. In all I saw 17 of the 18 species reported as flying in this 10-day period.

Six new 10km sq records were reported in the period:
B70 - RWW on May 22 at  Derrydruel seen by BA, DN and FS
G48 - GH on May 16 at Oughig seen by BA
       - SH on May 24 at Malinmore seen by BA and IMcC
C79 - HB on May 20 at Mulnamin seen by BA and RMcC
G85 - GH on May 24 at Magheracar seen by ED
H29 - SC on May 24 at Carnowen seen by LS.

The species I saw were: CB, DS, GH, GVW, HB, LW, MF, OT, P, RA,RWW, SB, SC, SH, SmT, SpW, WB.

                                                       Summary

CB (1st on May 23 at Cruit Island), later at other southern coastal sites.

DS mostly well up to average numbers on eight of the nine 10km sqs so far recorded with DS in Donegal - 33 recorded by FS at Rockhill (G96) on May 24 and 33 at Bonnyglen (G79) on May 24 by RMcC.

GH (widespread and plentiful) - 70+ reported on May 24 at Tullyard (G89) by RMcC

GVW widespread but with decreasing numbers over the period except in the colder districts.

HB numbers well up to average with three different sites on sq G89 with HBs recorded.

LW just a few.

MF -I saw 10+ at Dunmore (B72) on May 15 and 12+ on Cruit Island on May 23. Numbers  were smaller inland but 21 MF were reported on May 24 nr Ballybofey (H09) by FS.

OT generally plentiful, in places very numerous

P widespread but mostly in ones and twos

RA a few singles with three seen in the Rosses on May 23 during the Donegal Butterfly Field weekend

RWW widespread and at times numerous in their southern strongholds, much rarer north of the Blue Stack Mts.

SB plentiful  in their usual coastal sites in south and west Donegal.

SC widespread but usually in ones and twos, sometimes six or more in their favoured dunes

SH the first SHs of the year were seen on May 14 nr Kilcar by DG, with four reported, increasingly widespread especially in dune habitat towards the end of the period

SmT rather scattered in ones and twos. At least 400 larvae at most stages seen at Magheraclogher (B72/B82) on May 23.

SpW widespread but numbers mostly low perhaps because first emergences were almost over by May 15

WB widespread at most of its usual coastal sites in west Donegal, largest numbers seen were 20+ at Cruit Island on a strip of classical Donegal WB habitat along a low hillside adjoining a lane on May 23. 

Painted Ladies were as singles on May 24 at Inishbofin (B83) by Sandy Alcorn and at Durnesh (G86) by Frank Smyth.

Bob Aldwell