Impossible to guestimate the number of Painted Ladies that came through today; I managed to count 101 in an hour on Ainsdale beach at the start of my shift in the early afternoon (1-2pm), all worn critters struggling low over the sand from a south westerly direction.
As the day went on, it became obvious that they were everywhere - huge numbers moving through in a broad band.
By 5pm, I was counting 200 an hour from a static position south of Southport Pier - God knows how many were moving along the coast, thousands possibly.
Loads of dead individuals on the coastal pavements (like the ones above - I could have picked up more).
I'll send the corpses to Dr Frankencynthia for DNA analysis, then he/she/it can rebuild them cyberstylee and send back thro' time to warn the insects in North Africa not to embark on such a remarkable influx again (the endgame for most of them being the terminal full stop of a car windscreen).
Hmm, maybe I'm watching too much late night sci-fi.
Is this the biggest insect influx in recent years?
With fair weather for the next few days, will it continue?
Keep counting 'em, 'n let me know what you get.
Eyes to the ladies everyone, eyes to the ladies...
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This is evidently the biggest insect migration we have seen in living memory; there must be millions of Painted Ladies in the country.
As I drove along the coast road on Friday afternoon, there was a continuous movement of butterflies inland.
I stopped briefly at Kenilworth Road, Ainsdale where two Cotoneaster bushes supported at least 14 nectaring Painted Ladies.
Several friends have counted similar numbers in their gardens.
They were passing through Frodsham Marsh at about 80-90 an hour yesterday afternoon, all heading SSW.
Then a couple over the house late afternoon, heading south.
Butterfly Conservation are running a national survey between 11am & 1pm today (Saturday 30th). Details are on their website http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/sightings_home/1095/migrant_watch.html
There's also a map on there that you can add your Painted Lady sightings to from other times.
I spent today observing the Painted Lady invasion.
This morning at Crosby where many continued moving North along the coast whilst others came in over the sand from the SW and continued inland to the NE. This afternoon I was over on the North Wirral coast from Moreton to Hoylake and Red Rocks where they were amazingly numerous but the big surprise was that unlike yesterday they were pouring in from the beach/sea.
I managed to pick them out through binocs and they were coming in from a long way out over the sand, not just whizzing over the sea wall and coming back again. There were a few Red Admirals and Large Whites amongst them.
Maybe they'd set out on a NE heading from North Wales heading towards Formby Point but then diverted when they saw dry land to their right!
Who knows?..
At Meols there were a few Silver Ys buzzing around.
At Red Rocks a Red Admiral was laying eggs on nettles, but up to now I haven't seen any Painted Ladies doing this or even showing any interest in any thistles.
Hay John, had a ride out to Moor Nature Reserve, in hope of seeing a Lesser Pecker but no luck there, although we were treated couple of nice view which included 4 Black Necked Grebes and what I am almost 100% sure is a Laughing Gull, although not the one see at Marton Mere on Monday... also countless numbers of Painted Lady...
Britain's got Talent is good for something, Birkdale dunes were deserted tonight.
Lots of Whitethroat and Willow Warblers plus Jay and calling Cuckoo.
Common Blue, Gatekeeper and lots of Painted Ladies, some of them washed out but others were in good plumage, or what ever term you use for butterflies?
Temminck's Stint reported from Nels Hide at Marshside at 9.30am this morning!
Temminck's at Nels Hide now.
Watching it now - weird, but it's a Dunlin.
It's got black legs then?
Escaped European Eagle Owl on Thursday. Photographed Kirby town centre on roof tops near Somerfields at 7.30pm.
I didn't see the wader myself Ron, I've been out on the mosses (more on that later), but from what I understand when it was originally found it wasn't showing very well at all.
Bazzo stayed with it until it emerged from the vegetation and it proved to be a Dunlin in arrested moult, with a damaged wing and black legs.
Still better to call 'em tho - no shame in getting it wrong sometimes, it happens to us all.
"It happens to us all"------Don't I know that!
On Lesvos claimed (In hotel log) a BHG as a first winter Med Gull. Same bird subsequently claimed and ticked by other punters as a Slender Billed Gull.
It was a BHG though!
Ron
ps at Banks 7 15 today, nice and cool. One or two Greenshanks on the splashes. An Avocet with three chicks , others looking "broody". Keep them hounds away please dog-walkers.
9 Eiders came off the sluice, quite close in, eight ducks. Odd?
Ron
Deffo a Dunlin - sorry if I got anyone out of bed!
Re the Painted Ladies I counted 190 in three hours at Hesketh Out Marsh this afternoon.
Hello all - a Red Kite was over Mere Sands Wood at 5pm today