This morning, despite quite a strong wind, I saw three more first-of-the-years. First of all, Baton Blues (#24) in three different locations, IMG_1409.JPG IMG_1413.JPG a Scarce Swallowtail (#25), no photo, and when I got home I saw another one in the garden, floating around in the wind. And a female...

This morning around the Pont des Dones I saw three firsts-of-the-year: what is probably a Grizzled Skipper #21, IMG_1376.JPG a Spanish Festoon #22, which wouldn't let me get close up, IMG_1381.JPG and a few Bath Whites #23, this one being a male. IMG_1385.JPG IMG_1388.JPG I also saw Wall Browns, Spe...

Thank you very much, Allan.
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Cheers,
Colin

Is this a female Redstart. If not, what is it? In the garden in the Alpes-Maritimes, and photographed through the window.
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Colin

In the Parc de la Brague this morning there were several Small Heaths, the first of the year #20, IMG_1360.JPG many Wall Browns and Speckled Woods, and several Green Hairstreaks. They seem to like French lavender (Lavandula stoechas), IMG_1363.JPG Several Orange-tips, a few Brimstones, this one bein...

Another lovely sunny day with four first-sightings of the year :) . Clouded Yellow (#16): IMG_1329.JPG Green-veined White (#17): IMG_1340.JPG Small White (#18) (though I won't argue if someone says it's something else): IMG_1345.JPG Mallow Skipper (#19) on Common mallow :o ( Malva sylvestris) : IMG_...

essexbuzzard wrote:Is it possible Peacocks are scarce because the nettles shrivel during the summer,just when they are needed by the caterpillars? If there are any nettles!

What is strange is that nettles are probably more uncommon than Peacocks in my area .

David M wrote:Lovely shot, Colin.

Thanks David.
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Colin

Hello Chris,

This afternoon I found a male Provence Orange-tip to go with yesterday's female .
Cheers,
Colin

It was raining this morning, and when I went out this afternoon it was cloudy and windy, but I encountered a solitary male Provence Orange-tip. Half an hour later it was still in the same place.
The only other butterfly seen was a tatty Painted Lady.
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Colin

Hello Chris,

Coincidence, I saw my first Provence Orange-tip of the year this morning, a female.
There is hardly any wind here today .
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Colin

Hello David, I seem to remember Chris saying that they were somewhat uncommon around Marseilles as well. This morning in the Bois de Darbousson I saw my first Wood Whites (#13) IMG_1261.JPG and Provence Orange-tip (#14) of the year. Isn't she cute! IMG_1267.JPG IMG_1276.JPG There were also several W...

This morning was quite warm, which was confirmed by the number of butterflies, but still a limited number of species. Many Wall Browns and Orange-tips, IMG_1220.JPG a couple of Speckled Woods, several Green Hairstreaks, IMG_1223.JPG my first Peacock of the year (#12), in fact the first since two yea...

After a couple of days of cloud, wind and rain, and also rain this morning, I went out this afternoon even though it was cloudy. I went down to my local quarry on the outskirts of which I saw a couple of Orange-tips, several unidentified whites and this female Wall Brown, the only butterfly that sta...

During the last few days I saw my first Holly Blues (#9) and Orange-tips (#10) of the year, but no photos of either. There were also Brimstones, Speckled Woods, Green Hairstreaks (including this one with the tip of a wing bent over), a couple of Cleopatras and one Small Copper. IMG_1162.JPG This mor...

Hello Chris,

WOW!!!
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Colin

I'm still not finding many butterflies. Yesterday I saw many Brimstones, one Cleopatra, two unidentified Whites, one unidentified Blue, a probable Speckled Wood and a probable Painted Lady. And no photos :( . This morning, even though it was sunny with no clouds, I saw even fewer species: a few Spec...

Chris,

Your little blue flower is some kind of Speedwell (Veronica).

Lovely Nettle-tree Butterfly.

Cheers,
Colin

Hello Chris,

I seem to remember that Roger once said that Brimstones were relatively rare in his part of the Var.

The Rock Roses are not yet abundantly in flower here, just a couple of flowers.

Best regards,
Colin

Two days ago the temperature was 10°C at 8 o'clock in the morning and it was sunny, so I thought I would see more butterflies than I did. But I only saw four or so Wall Browns, two Brimstones, one Painted Ladies and one Small Copper (#7) the first of the year. But no photos. This morning once again ...

Thanks Goldie. Another specimen wasn't in such a good condition, but at least it shows some of the upper-side, which we don't usually see.
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Colin