Another surprisingly good day for butterflying with plenty of sun and 11C plus temperatures from late morning onwards. What is noticeable is the numbers of over-wintering species are reducing with numbers of spring emergence, particularly the whites, now becoming the more prolific. Finally found a f...

Although the weather conditions barely reached the minimum conditions for transects, if that, the sun shone strong enough on occasions for some butterfly activity today [25th] with 32 sightings of 9 species: 3 Small Tortoiseshell; 1 Comma; 9 Peacock; 1 Brimstone [female]; 5 Small White; 3 Large Whit...

From seeing 60 + butterflies per day and 20C temperatures, I have barely seen a butterfly during nearly a week of overcast conditions, rain, and cold northerly winds lowering the maximum temperature to 10C. A pair of Green-veined Whites in cop and a Peacock on the 19th; a Large White flying in the b...

Hi Guy, Thank you for the images of the scent brands. With the information provided by Paul, I think I have it now with sufficient behavioural and visual information to make a more confident identification of a male and female Speckled Wood. So if I can sum up the visual information: Speckled Wood S...

Brilliant! Thank you so much bugboy. This is exactly what I needed and hoped for. Your two images and particularly the shape and relative size of the wings is just what I wanted moving forward. Still a little unsure I know where and what I am looking for when it comes to the glinting male scent patc...

Hi, I am trying to become more "professional" in identifying species and the variations within the species, such as the difference between spring and summer broods. I felt quite confident in my ability to identify most of the species I encounter here in Chelmsford. I thought I would up my ...

Site visit - 12/04/2024 Essex Wildlife Trust Great Holland Pits My first site visit of 2024 to one of the best places in Essex for butterflying. The Brimstones were active and thankfully I came across my first female of the year searching the Common Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica which were coming in...

Finally, the Orange-tip have begun to emerge here in Chelmsford with 3 males sighted near the Cuckoo Flower Cardamine pratensis on the flood plain - all far too busy searching to pose for a portrait. 19 C temperatures and a gentle breeze brought a response from the butterflies whose activity lasted ...

A proper butterflying day today with 16 C temperatures, full sun, and a gentle breeze. A total of 9 species and 62 butterflies, which included 20 peacocks and 14 Small Tortoiseshell. To my surprise the first sighting of both a Painted Lady [1]: 2024.04.08 Painted Lady Baddow Hall Park.jpg and Large ...

As forecast, warmest day of the year ruined by 20 mph winds with 40 mph gusts on Saturday with the same Sunday but with lower temperatures. Not as much direct sunlight as expected, so the butterflies struggled. However, they were there low down in the grasses, nectaring on dandelions or chasing each...

Yesterday, the 4th, I popped out whenever the sun broke through the clouds but it wasn't until 2.30 before the butterfly activity began in 15C temperatures and finally some direct sun. I nearly saw 20 butterflies again within the hour - 10 Peacocks, 3 Comma, 3 Small Tortoiseshell, and 2 Small Whites...

David M wrote: ↑Wed Apr 03, 2024 11:12 amNot surprised there were quite a few butterflies in 15c temperatures, dlaz. Highest we've had here is 13c.

Forecast is 20C for Saturday Happy Days!

Wind speed 40mph

Pleasant surprise yesterday to see a newly emerged female Green-veined White - the first for me in Chelmsford for 2024. The early afternoon sunny intervals and 15C temperatures brought out some butterflies 12 in total, mostly Peacocks, with 11 yesterday on the transect to start the month. But number...

The morning sun has brought the butterflies out and I saw my first Speckled Wood of the season. A total of 25 butterflies with Peacock and Brimstone in good numbers.

Surprisingly, unlike the forecast, the sun also came out here in Chelmsford yesterday - 16C with only a slight breeze. Perfect conditions so I went out a couple of times into Baddow Meads. It turned out even better than Monday with numbers up; Peacock 15 Brimstone 10 Comma 3 Small Tortoiseshell 2 Sm...

First Small Tortoiseshell [4] and Comma [1] of the season with the midday sun bringing out 19 Peacocks and a couple of Brimstone too in Chelmsford.

Not only was it the first day this year that I have had a confirmed sighting of a butterfly here in Chelmsford, I am happy to report my first Small White of 2024 which became my first photograph too: As you can see, it is a fresh male recently emerged from the undergrowth of the wildflower meadow at...

Are there any resources or information/videos for identifying UK butterflies in flight?

In the end my choice of overall favourite butterfly photo of 2023 came down to two images. The first, of an incoming Silver-washed Fritillary, showing its underside, joining a nectaring one showing its upperside, I added to the specimen photos. The overall winner is this image of a Brimstone nectari...

But note that you can touch the screen to choose where the camera focuses. Apart from that, I agree with David. Unfortunately Guy, I’ve found that it’s not quite that simple, at least on my iPhone, particularly when the sun is in the wrong direction, there are grass stems or other plant material in...