Butterflies & Moths in Vestfold and Buskerud during 2021

This butterfly year was concentrated locally and started off quite well with several new species for my Norwegian list including Northern Wall Brown and Essex Skipper but also several rarely encountered species including Mountain Clouded Yellow, Green-underside Blue and Purple Hairstreak. In early autumn a Blue Underwing moth was added to my all time 'most wanted species' list. However, as no special trips were made to look for some of the Norwegian specialities, totally this butterfly year was a little disappointing one for me. After the first wave of species during early summer many of the late summer species did not appear or at least in very low numbers due presumably to the very warn and dry summer period.  The following photographs illustrate however, the variety of mostly common species that were encountered and the accompanying text explains a little about this years observations.

Essex Skipper (timoteismyger) Thymelicus lineola female - Holmestrand, Vestfold 19/7-21.
 Probably an exceptional year for this scarce species in Norway and one og my 'most wanted species'. Several at a locality near Drammen in Buskerud on 15/7-21 and twenty newly hatched individuals at a locality near Skoger, Holmestrand in Vestfold on 19/7-21. Several more recently reported observations from Vestfold could indicate a southerly extension of the species Norwegian distribution.

        

Essex Skipper (timoteismyger) Thymelicus lineola male - Holmestrand, Vestfold 19/7-21.
 Probably an exceptional year for this scarce species in Norway and one of my 'most wanted species'. Several at a locality near Drammen in Buskerud on 15/7-21 and twenty newly hatched individuals at a locality near Skoger, Holmestrand in Vestfold on 19/7-21. Several more recently reported observations from Vestfold could indicate a southerly extension of the species Norwegian distribution.

Silver-spotted Skipper (kommasmyger) Hesperia comma female - Sandefjord, Vestfold 5/8-21.
Several fresh individuals were found at this known locality near Stokke, Sandefjord on 5/8, which is a rather late date indicating maybe these were a second brood. 

Moorland Clouded Yellow (myrgulvinge) Colias palaeno female - Drammen, Buskerud 15/7-21.
One of my 'most wanted species' this year. Earlier I have encountered fast flying individual's and unable to photograph these beautiful butterflies. This year we found one or two at a locality near Drammen and this one conveniently posed for us for over 15 minuets. 

Small Blue (dvergblåvinge) Cupido minimus male - Horten, Vestfold 26/6-21.
An exceptional year for this species at a locality near Horten. 

Green-underside Blue (kløverblåvinge) Glaucopsyche alexis male - Holmestrand, Vestfold 9/6-21.
Generally rather scarce locally but this year a male was found near Horten in Vestfold on 4/6 and at least two males at another locality near Sande, Holmestrand in Vestfold on 9/6.

Green-underside Blue (kløverblåvinge) Glaucopsyche alexis male - Holmestrand, Vestfold 9/6-21.
Generally rather scarce locally but this year a male was found near Horten in Vestfold on 4/6 and at least two males at another locality near Sande, Holmestrand in Vestfold on 9/6.

Northern Brown Argus (sankhansblåvinge) Aricia artaxerxes female - Drammen, Buskerud 15/7.
Not uncommon and a few were found in suitable habitats. 

Scarce Copper (Oransjegulvinge) Lycaena virgaureae male - Sandefjord, Vestfold 5/8-21.
Not uncommon although never numerous and a few were found at several localities.

Scarce Copper (Oransjegulvinge) Lycaena virgaureae female - Sandefjord, Vestfold 5/8-21.
Not uncommon although never numerous and a few were found at several localities.

Purple Hairstreak (eikestjertvinge) Favonius quercus female - Horten, Vestfold 20/7-21.
Scarcely recorded if not looked for in the right habitat. This individual was a chance observation while photographing several of the commoner White-letter Haistreak's.

Purple Hairstreak (eikestjertvinge) Favonius quercus female - Horten, Vestfold 20/7-21.
Scarcely recorded if not looked for in the right habitat. This individual was a chance observation while photographing several of the commoner White-letter Haistreak's.

White-letter Hairstreak (almestjertvinge) Satyrium w-album - Horten, Vestfold 21/7-21.
Another exceptional year for the species when looked for in the right habitat. 

Cranberry Fritillary (myrperlemorvinge) Bolaria aqyilonaris - Sandefjord, Vestfold 5/7-21.
A normal year for this species at local marshy areas. 

Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Engperlemorvinge) Brenthis ino - Tønsberg, Vestfold 5/7-21.
A fairly normal year for this species. 

Silver-washed Fritillary (keiserkåpe) Argynnis papia male - Drammen, Buskerud 15/7-21.
Good numbers early on in the season but very few later when there should have been plenty. 

Dark Green Fritillary (aglajaperlemorvinge) Argynnis aglaja - Holmestrand, Vestfold 19/7-21.
Good numbers early on in the season but very few later when there should have been plenty.

High Brown Fritillary (adipperlemorvinge) Argynnis adippe - Holmestrand, Vestfold 19/7-21.
Good numbers early on in the season but very few later when there should have been plenty.

Painted Lady (tistelsommerfugl) Vanessa cardui - Horten, Vestfold 7/9-21.
Very few in late summer & early autumn but nevertheless apparently a normal year. This individual graced my garden during early autumn and was only one of two seen this year.

False Heath Fritillary (mørk rutevinge) Melitaea britomartis female - Drammen, Buskerud 23/6-21.
Far less than normal this year. This rather pale individual was one of very few seen this year.

Northern Wall Brown (bergringvinge) Lasiommata petropolitana female - Holmestrand, Vestfold 9/6-21.
One of my 'most wanted' this year. Although not a rare species in Norway, finding this species in Vestfold is not easy and most of the reported observations are in error and refer to the much commoner Large Wall Brown (klipperingvinge) Lasiommata maera. Although these two species are extremely similar in appearance the Northern flies earlier than Large and may be an indication to identification when finding one in May or very early June. 

Arran Brown (fløyelsringvinge) Erebia ligea - Holmestrand, Vestfold 19/7-21.
This common species had a normal year locally.

Blue Underwing (blått ordensbånd ) Catocala fraxini - Horten, Vestfold 28/8-21.
Also known as Clifden Nonpareil, this species may be extinct or at least very rare in the UK, but is regularly captured in mothtraps in Vestfold and is not classed as rare in Norway. This observation was of my third 'most wanted species' this year and was photographed indoors before being released. 

Wading birds at Borrevannet in Vestfold, Norway during August-September 2021

The formation of a new small shallow lake outside the perimeter of the southern end of Borrevannet has been very productive for breeding waterfowl this year. The lake area is surrounded by loop-formed race-horse training track which is fenced on both sides, creating an isolated buffer to the surrounding farmland and main Borrevannet lake. The new lake has been designated D2 and has been unintentionally created by a defect water pump that usually dries out the area during the summer months when working, but due to some lucky circumstances has not been repaired for a while. During late summer and early autumn this year, the area has attracted numerous water-birds and many migrant waders needing a refuelling station as well as a safe roosting area. The unattended scrubby area surrounding D2 has also attracted numerous passerines and several species of raptor have also benefited by the abundance of prey. Several observer's have regularly recorded the numbers of every species present around D2 with the hope that it can be permanently preserved and with this in mind I have photographically documented many species that have been recorded here. Here is a selection of wading-bird images taken during this period. 

Common Ringed Plover first year - Borrevannet, Vestfold, Norway 25th August 2021

Little Stint first year - Borrevannet, Vestfold, Norway 25th August 2021

Little Stint first year - Borrevannet, Vestfold, Norway 25th August 2021

Little Stint first year - Borrevannet, Vestfold, Norway 25th August 2021

Temminck's Stint first year - Borrevannet, Vestfold, Norway 25th August 2021

Dunlin first year - Borrevannet, Vestfold, Norway 25th August 2021

Ruff, first year male - Borrevannet, Vestfold, Norway 25th August 2021

Common Snipe - Borrevannet, Vestfold, Norway 24th August 2021

"Icelandic" Black-tailed Godwit, first year - Borrevannet, Vestfold, Norway 8th September 2021

"Icelandic" Black-tailed Godwit, first year - Borrevannet, Vestfold, Norway 8th September 2021

Spotted Redshank, first year - Borrevannet, Vestfold, Norway 24th August 2021

Spotted Redshank, first year - Borrevannet, Vestfold, Norway 25th August 2021

Wood Sandpiper, first year - Borrevannet, Vestfold, Norway 23rd August 2021

           

Egyptian Goose in Vestfold during 2021

 An Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca of unknown origin has been seen at various localities in Southern Norway since January 2021, but could well be the same individual that has been floating about in southern Norway since May 2019. It was  recorded from Rogaland in southern Norway in January 2021 and then various localities northwards to Vestfold where it was seen on 22/7-21 at Ilene, Tønsberg. On 24/7-21 it was found at Bliksekilen, Tønsberg, its most northly destination before moving back to Ilene on the 25/7-21 and stayed there until 10/10-21. During its stay in Vestfold it associated with the Greylag Goose flocks and presumably left with them when they moved off to their wintering areas. The Egyptian Goose had been ringed with a metal ring on its right leg at some stage, although earlier photos of the bird do not  show any ring. Although observations of the bird have been accepted for all counties, it has yet to be for Vestfold and it will be interesting to see what status it will receive.

Egyptian Goose (niland) Alopochen aegyptiaca - Bliksekilen, Tønsberg, Vestfold 24/7-21

   

Egyptian Goose (niland) Alopochen aegyptiaca - Bliksekilen, Tønsberg, Vestfold 24/7-21

Egyptian Goose (niland) Alopochen aegyptiaca - Bliksekilen, Tønsberg, Vestfold 24/7-21

White Stork at Bruserød, Tønsberg, Vestfold & Telemark on 2nd-3rd May 2021

A White Stork / stork Ciconia ciconia had been reported as stable in a ploughed field near Tønsberg on the evening of 1st May. The next morning I had a 5 minute stop at the area to find the stork was still present and as I arrived it walked across the road just in front of the car. Some frantic retrieving camera gear from its bag, resulted in several half acceptable images as it wandered off into the distance. Another errand beckoned, so no more time was used for this plastic tick. The next day 3rd May, we decided to visit Bruserød again although the stork was absent when we arrived and we had to wait over an hour for it to return. There were plenty of migrants feeding on the fields to keep us occupied while waiting, including a pair of Ring Ouzel / ringtrost  Turdus torquatus. On arriving, the stork stayed half sleeping in the middle of the ploughed field probably due to the chatting birders who could not stay concealed in their cars. A series of distant shots were taken to document this observation but when the rain started we left the area. The stork moved around a bit the next several days but was still in the area until at least the 5th May.  

White Stork, Tønsberg, Vestfold 2nd May 2021

White Stork, Tønsberg, Vestfold 2nd May 2021

White Stork, Tønsberg, Vestfold 3rd May 2021

White Stork, Tønsberg, Vestfold 3rd May 2021

Ferruginous Duck adult male again at Holmestrand, Vestfold & Telemark, Norway on 22nd-23rd April 2021

If last years Ferruginous Duck / hvitøyeand Aythya nyroca find was a sensation by Norwegian standards, then this years re-visit of what was presumably the same bird might be considered as weird. While visiting Snekkestaddammen, a small lake near Holmestrand on a weekly basis my thoughts often reflect last years experience but on the 22nd April, amazingly, this superb adult male duck was back on the lake. As last year the Ferruginous Duck was hindered to venture onto the open lake by the resident male Common Goldeneye and each time it tried, it was chased back into the reeds. During this hour-long afternoon visit, the duck seemed to feed successfully in the short reeds along the shoreline although mostly kept a fare distance from the observation point. As last year, a close companion was contacted and who soon arrived to take several film sequences, then also the landowner/farmer arrived and wondered if we had re-found the 'rare duck' which amusingly we could inform him that we had. Apparently last year there had been quite a commotion by the many visiting birders, and this flock gathering and indiscriminate parking was not particularly appreciated by the farmer or the nearby house owner. So because of this, it was decided to not release the news until the bird had gone. On 23rd April I arrived early morning with a plan to hopefully get some good photographs of the duck. On arrival the feeding duck was found very close to the observation place and it was possible to sneak inn close and set up the photo gear without disturbing it. Most of the time the duck was photographed against the early morning light, but also swam closely past in better light, allowing some reasonably good shots to be taken. The duck, although not ringed, seemed unusually tame as last year and there must be real doubt to it being a spontaneous wild bird and probably originates from a collection somewhere. 

Ferruginous Duck, adult male - Holmestrand, Norway 23rd April 2021

Ferruginous Duck, adult male - Holmestrand, Norway 23rd April 2021

Ferruginous Duck, adult male - Holmestrand, Norway 23rd April 2021

 

Ferruginous Duck, adult male - Holmestrand, Norway 23rd April 2021

Ferruginous Duck, adult male - Holmestrand, Norway 23rd April 2021

 

Ferruginous Duck, adult male - Holmestrand, Norway 23rd April 2021

Ferruginous Duck, adult male - Holmestrand, Norway 23rd April 2021

Ferruginous Duck, adult male - Holmestrand, Norway 23rd April 2021

Northern Pintail male in Horten, Vestfold & Telemark, Norway during January to March 2012

A male Northern Pintail / Stjertand Anas acuta was present along the shoreline between Strandparken, Steinsnes and Rørestrand in Horten this winter but was not seen here every day. The duck was always together with the wintering Mallards and was possibly the same bird that has overwintered here in previous years, maybe as long ago as February 2015. This winter the duck was first seen here on 25th October 2020 and last seen on 22nd March 2021 although when absent at least one male Northern Pintail was also noted at other local sites including Bastøy, Borrevannet and Langgrunn all of which are also in Horten municipality. The Northern Pintail was popular with visiting birders 'needing' a year tick or a photo for one of the birdy Facebook groups. 

Northern Pintail male - Strandparken, Horten, Norway 3rd February 2021

Northern Pintail male - Steinsnes, Horten, Norway 10th February 2021

Northern Pintail male - Steinsnes, Horten, Norway 10th February 2021

Northern Pintail male - Steinsnes, Horten, Norway 10th February 2021

Northern Pintail male - Steinsnes, Horten, Norway 10th February 2021