Ian Rippey, Summary of Visit to RoI, 11th-17th June, 2007
During 11th to 17th June 2007, I recorded Lepidoptera from a number of counties in the Irish Republic (Roscommon, Sligo, Mayo, Galway and Clare).
Weather was warm for the first two days (though there were also brief periods of rain or showers) but it then became cooler so that by Friday 15th it was rather cool (the only day when I did not see any Butterflies, etc), it then warmed up and brightened up slightly.
The total number of Butterfly species (17-20, but probably 18) is about the lowest I have seen in June in ROI in recent years (in others I have seen about 24), and can be accounted for in part by the early season, so that species like Small White, Small Copper, Green Hairstreak, Peacock, Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Wall Brown (all of which I have seen in mid-June in recent years) were possibly over. This was only partly compensated by an early record of Grayling and a number of Dark Green Fritillaries. A summary is shown below.
Dingy Skipper: 2-4 at Castlesampson/Eskerbeg Esker near Athlone, Co. Roscommon (M9440) on 11th June. 3-4 at Creevagh/Clooncoose near Kilnaboy, Co. Clare (R2795) on 12th June. 3-4 on limestone hill at Mounthenry (M213495) near Lough Corrib, East Mayo, on 13th June.
Wood White (probably Leptidea sinapis): A Wood White at Leagh South near Kinvarra, S.E. Galway (M317103) on 12th June was probably this species as it is on the edge of the Burren, where the following were also presumably of this species: 3-4 at Creevagh/Clooncoose near Kilnaboy, Co. Clare (R2795) on 12th June. 1 at Rinnamona (R300943) in the Burren, Co, Clare, on 12th June. 2 at Coskeam north of Carran, Co. Clare (M3000) on 12th June.
Reals Wood White (probably Leptidea reali): 2-4 probably this species at Castlesampson/Eskerbeg Esker near Athlone, Co. Roscommon (M9440) on 11th June.
Large White: The only definite specimen was 1 along a roadside at Ton-mile (F6634) on 16th June in the Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, though there was a possible specimen at Castlesampson/Eskerbeg Esker near Athlone, Co. Roscommon (M9440) on 11th June. May be in between broods, although the areas where I was in generally have very few if any cultivated Brassica crops (hence absence of Small White).
?Small White: One possible on a roadside in Co. Roscommon on 17th June, though this might have been a Green-veined White.
Green-veined White: Amazingly scarce; the only definite record was 1 near Annagh Marsh, Mullet Peninsula, West Mayo (F6533) on 16th June. There 1-2 possibles at Castlesampson/Eskerbeg Esker near Athlone, Co. Roscommon (M9440) on 11th June and one on a roadside in Co. Roscommon on 17th June, though this might have been a Small White.
Orange-tip: 1 male at Castlesampson/Eskerbeg Esker near Athlone, Co. Roscommon (M9440) on 11th June.
Small Blue: c. 12 on esker and 2-4 in nearby quarry at Castlesampson/Eskerbeg Esker near Athlone, Co. Roscommon (M9440) on 11th June. C. 4 at Leagh South near Kinvarra, S.E. Galway (M317103) on 12th June. Possible specimen at Creevagh/Clooncoose near Kilnaboy, Co. Clare (R2795) on 12th June. 8-10 at Breeole, Taghmaconnell, Co. Roscommon (M8642) on 17th June.
Common Blue: c. 12 on esker and c. 5-6 in nearby quarry at Castlesampson/Eskerbeg Esker near Athlone, Co. Roscommon (M9440) on 11th June. 1 at Leagh South near Kinvarra, S.E. Galway (M317103) on 12th June. 4-6 at Creevagh/Clooncoose near Kilnaboy, Co. Clare (R2795) on 12th June. c. 6 at Rinnamona (R300943) in the Burren, Co, Clare, on 12th June. c. 4 at Fahee North, Carran, Co. Clare (M3000) on 12th June. c. 8 at Coskeam north of Carran, Co. Clare (M3000) on 12th June. 1 near quarry at Mounthenry (M211493) near Lough Corrib, East Mayo, on 13th June. c. 6 on limestone hill at Mounthenry (M213495) near Lough Corrib, East Mayo, on 13th June. 1 male and 1 female at Drumsheel Lower near Cong, East Mayo (M1457) on 13th June. 1 near Keel Bridge, Lough Carra, East Mayo (M162682) on 14th June. 3 (2 males and 1 female) near Annagh Marsh, Mullet Peninsula, West Mayo (F6533) on 16th June. 3 on dunes near Annagh Marsh, Mullet Peninsula, West Mayo (F6533) on 16th June. 1 on limestone hill at Fallougher, Keshcorran, Co. Sligo (G713113) on 17th June. c. 15 including several females at Lough Cuilleenirwan, Ballyforan, Co. Roscommon (M886465) on 17th June. c. 15 at Breeole, Taghmaconnell, Co. Roscommon (M8642) on 17th June.
?Holly Blue: A small highflying butterfly, with flight apparently characteristic of the family Lycaenidae, flying along the road at Cloghballymore (M4014) near Killeenaran, S.E. Galway, on 13th June could perhaps have been this species, although I believe the most recent sighting in the Republic of Ireland was on 17th May in Co. Wexford though a late specimen was recorded in Co. Down in Northern Ireland on 6th June. I understand that Holly Blue has been seen at this site, though Common Blue cannot be ruled out; however despite reasonable weather no Butterflies were seen at the site during the visit, only day flying moths and Odonata.
?Red Admiral: A largish dark butterfly being chased and/or chasing 1 of 2 Painted Ladies at Breeole, Taghmaconnell, Co. Roscommon (M8642) on 17th June was probably this species; 3 Silver Y moths were also seen.
Painted Lady: 1 at road junction at Rinnamona (R293937) in the Burren, Co, Clare, on 12th June. 2-3 at Drumsheel Lower near Cong, East Mayo (M1457) on 13th June. 1 in small quarry beside road c. 3 miles east of Bellacorick Power Station, Bangor (Erris), West Mayo (G007189) on 16th June. 2 at Breeole, Taghmaconnell, Co. Roscommon (M8642) on 17th June.
Small Tortoiseshell: 1 fresh specimen at Castlesampson/Eskerbeg Esker near Athlone, Co. Roscommon (M9440) on 11th June. 1-2 at Ballyvelaghan Lough, Burren, Co. Clare (M277113) on 12th June. 1 at Creevagh/Clooncoose near Kilnaboy, Co. Clare (R2795) on 12th June. 1 at Rinnamona (R300943) in the Burren, Co, Clare, on 12th June. 1-2 near quarry at Mounthenry (M211493) near Lough Corrib, East Mayo, on 13th June. 2-4 on limestone hill at Mounthenry (M213495) near Lough Corrib, East Mayo, on 13th June. 1 at Cross Lough, Mullet Peninsula, West Mayo (F651301) on 6th June. 2 chasing each other at Cloonkelly near Crossmolina, Lough Conn, West Mayo (G1414) on 16th June. 1-2 at SE end of Lough Funshinagh, Co. Roscommon (M944501) on 17th June. 1+ at Breeole, Taghmaconnell, Co. Roscommon (M8642) on 17th June.
Pearl-bordered Fritillary: None seen although I looked at several known sites in the Burren, Co. Clare, in reasonable weather; possibly now over (though in 2002 for example I have seen it in mid-June) as it first emerged on 28th April; 2 however been reported by Coilin Maclochlainn on 9th June at Clooncoose in the Burren though I visited this site without success.
Dark Green Fritillary: 2 reported at Rinnamona (R298943) in the Burren, Co, Clare, on 11th June by Ted Rolston. 2 males in very good condition at Ballyeighter Wood (R3393) in the Burren, Co. Clare (R39) on 11th June. c. 12 at Creevagh/Clooncoose near Kilnaboy, Co. Clare (R2795) on 12th June. 2 at Rinnamona (R298943) in the Burren, Co, Clare, on 12th June. 6-8 at Fahee North, Carran, Co. Clare (M2900) on 12th June.
Marsh Fritillary: 3 at Rinnamona (R298943) in the Burren, Co, Clare, on 12th June. 3 at Fahee North, Carran, Co. Clare (M2900) on 12th June.
Speckled Wood: 1 at Castlesampson/Eskerbeg Esker near Athlone, Co. Roscommon (M9440) on 11th June. c. 6 at Creevagh/Clooncoose near Kilnaboy, Co. Clare (R2795) on 12th June. Several at Rinnamona (R300943) in the Burren, Co, Clare, on 12th June. 2 at Cloonkelly near Crossmolina, Lough Conn, West Mayo (G1414) on 16th June. 1 at SE end of Lough Funshinagh, Co. Roscommon (M944498) on 17th June. 1 at SE end of Lough Funshinagh, Co. Roscommon (M944501) on 17th June. 1 at Lough Cuilleenirwan, Ballyforan, Co. Roscommon (M886465) on 17th June.
Grayling: 2 at Castlesampson/Eskerbeg Esker near Athlone, Co. Roscommon (M9440) on 11th June. None seen elsewhere although I visited known sites; this seems to be an early site as I saw several here on 14th June 2004.
Meadow Brown: Perhaps surprisingly, numbers remained small: 2- at Castlesampson/Eskerbeg Esker near Athlone, Co. Roscommon (M9440) on 11th June. 2 at Rinnamona (R300943) in the Burren, Co, Clare, on 12th June. 2 near quarry at Mounthenry (M211493) near Lough Corrib, East Mayo, on 13th June. 5 on limestone hill at Mounthenry (M213495) near Lough Corrib, East Mayo, on 13th June. 4-5 at Drumsheel Lower near Cong, East Mayo (M1457) on 13th June. 1 at Cross Lough, Mullet Peninsula, West Mayo (F651301) on 16th June. 3-4 on dunes near Annagh Marsh, Mullet Peninsula, West Mayo (F6533) on 16th June. 2 on 16th June on blanket bog about 1 km. NE of Corclough (itself about 3 miles NW of Belmullet) on the Mullet Peninsula, West Mayo (F6736). 1-2 at Cloonkelly near Crossmolina, Lough Conn, West Mayo (G1414) on 16th June. c. 5 on limestone hill at Fallougher, Keshcorran, Co. Sligo (G713113) on 17th June. 2 at SE end of Lough Funshinagh, Co. Roscommon (M944501) on 17th June. 2 at Lough Cuilleenirwan, Ballyforan, Co. Roscommon (M886465) on 17th June. c. 4 at Breeole, Taghmaconnell, Co. Roscommon (M8642) on 17th June.
Small Heath: 15-20 on esker and 1-3 in nearby quarry at Castlesampson/Eskerbeg Esker near Athlone, Co. Roscommon (M9440) on 11th June. 2 at Leagh South near Kinvarra, S.E. Galway (M317103) on 12th June. c. 10 at Creevagh/Clooncoose near Kilnaboy, Co. Clare (R2795) on 12th June. c. 6 at Rinnamona (R300943) in the Burren, Co, Clare, on 12th June. c. 4 at Fahee North, Carran, Co. Clare (M2900) on 12th June. 1 at Coskeam north of Carran, Co. Clare (M3000) on 12th June. c. 6 on limestone hill at Mounthenry (M213495) near Lough Corrib, East Mayo, on 13th June. 1 near Keel Bridge, Lough Carra, East Mayo (M162682) on 14th June. 4 on limestone hill at Fallougher, Keshcorran, Co. Sligo (G713113) on 17th June. c. 15 at Lough Cuilleenirwan, Ballyforan, Co. Roscommon (M886465) on 17th June. c. 10 at Breeole, Taghmaconnell, Co. Roscommon (M8642) on 17th June.
None were seen in bright weather on dunes on the Mullet Peninsula, West Mayo, on 16th June (this butterfly , along with several others which might be expected, e.g. Speckled Wood, Dark Green Fritillary, Grayling, Green Hairstreak, etc, does not seem to have been recorded from the Mullet peninsula, although all of these and several others not reported from the Mullet have been recorded from Achill Island not far to the south).
Large Heath: c. 6 at Curraghmore Bog (M3233) NE of Galway City, N.E. Galway, on 13th June. There is a very large area of bogland (with some fen characteristics) in this area and the population may be large. On 17th June I recorded it on 4 10 x 10 km. squares in the so-called “Bog of Erris” in NW Mayo; as far as I am aware the only previous record from this very extensive area (the complex has been described as the largest blanket bog area in Ireland, of around 200 square miles, though in recent years huge areas have been afforested or cut for peat) is a record near Mallaranny on the SW part of the area in 2000) as follows; there is an old record from Achill Island where it may still exist (cool dull weather when I visited it on 14th June prevented me from seeing it).
2 on blanket bog at Fauleens near Bangor (Erris), West Mayo (F7926) on 16th June. 5 on blanket bog north of Owenmore River c. 1 mile west of Bellacorick Power Station, Bangor (Erris), West Mayo (F958204) on 16th June. 1 on bog east of Bellacorick Power Station near Bangor (Erris), West Mayo (F978197) on 16th June.1 on blanket bog at Eskeragh between Bangor (Erris) and Crossmolina, West Mayo (G0518) on 16th June.
Ringlet: 1 on limestone hill at Mounthenry (M213495) near Lough Corrib, East Mayo, on 13th June. 1 at Cloonkelly near Crossmolina, Lough Conn, West Mayo (G1414) on 16th June.
IAN RIPPEY 22.6.2007