Thank you all for your encouragement - after the long wait, today provided some proper action!
It was properly sunny, and not too cold at around 11 this morning, so after yesterday's warm but mostly cloudy day, I had hopes that one or two things might have woken up. I was right! Immediately outside the front door, fluttering between a hyacinth and the first of the year's dandelions, was a Small Tortoiseshell.
![ST3 250318.JPG (3.96 MiB) Viewed 643 times on the doorstep!](./files/thumb_9839_e5d02ed9fb4d890bbb4c5cc41fa974e3)
- on the doorstep!
Suitably encouraged and exhilarated, I set off round my usual circuit and quickly encountered a Brimstone, flying energetically along the hedgerow and allowing only the most fleeting and blurred record shots.
Next, a bit further along, was a rather tatty Peacock down on a nettle patch.
The sun then went in for a while, but when it emerged again it drew out another couple of Peacocks (which did not stop for pictures) and along an ivy-covered fence I spotted a splash of orange - a nice Comma, looking barely touched by the ravages of winter and occupying a slot where they are often found just before hibernation.
Another Peacock flew by, and then along the homeward stretch I looked a bit more closely at a pussy-willow coming into flower. There happily nectaring was a brand new freshly emerged male Small White.
This was not something I had really expected to see, but the long spell of cold may well mean everything appears at once.
So - eight butterflies of five species. The season has started!
Dave