Mike Robinson

[Mike Robinson]

Wurzel, Thanks. Mike...

[Mike Robinson]

Well: we had something of a Surprise this Afternoon.

We spent much of the Morning wandering around the Crossness Nature Reserve and the Surrounding area seeing the usual Suspects, including Comma, Peacock, Orange-Tip and Speckled Wood Butterflies, viz.

We also came across some rather fine looking Chiffchafs including this one:

In the Afternoon and in the company of Daisy, a rather dear little Dog, we found ourselves on the Thames Path in the Belvedere area (close to the Waste Incinerator) where this Green Hairstreak Butterfly was visiting Green Alkanet viz.

Wow: almost a month earlier than when we saw our first Green Hairstreak Butterfly of 2016!

[Pauline]

Lovely Spring images Mike and that Green Hairstreak was a great find

[Mike Robinson]

Pauline: thanks. We were really surprised to see the Green Hairstreak...

[Mike Robinson]

Wow: almost a couple of years since we have added anything.

A couple of Butterflies today in the Grounds of Hall Place (the LB of Bexley in SE London) viz. a Red Admiral (our second of 2019) and this Small Tortoiseshell:

Not long now before the Butterfly Season begins in earnest.

[Mike Robinson]

To the East Wickham Open Space (the LB of Bexley in SE London) in search of a Comma Butterfly.

Nothing doing alas (perhaps a little early) but there were at least two Red Admiral Butterflies present viz.

And at least one Brimstone Butterfly (our first of the year).

[Wurzel]

Welcome back Mike I great set of shots to return to the fold with

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Mike Robinson]

Wurzel: thanks... PS... I spent the last couple of years collecting local records but I'm a Free Agent again now...

[David M]

Lovely contrast of colours with the dark butterfly feeding on the white blossom, Mike.

I'm sure Commas have emerged round you by now; they seem to be everywhere else these last couple of days!

[Mike Robinson]

Thanks: yes they are indeed out and about locally. I managed to see eight Commas locally today, including these Guys:

Also my first Peacocks (two of 'em), including this Guy:

And a couple of Red Admirals including this Character:

Plus some nice-looking Bees including an assumed Buff-Tailed Bumblebee, a Hairy-Footed Flower Bee and a Red-Tailed Bumblebee:

[Wurzel]

Great stuff Mike, brill shots - I still haven't seen a Peacock but in this crazy February maybe tomorrow

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

What an array of colour to brighten up a late winter's day! Interesting to see that blossom in full swing. Which shrub/tree does it belong to?

[Mike Robinson]

Wurzel: thanks.

David M.: Cherry Plum I think.

Back out again today and saw our first Speckled Wood Butterfly of 2019: on Bostall Heath.

And then down through Lesnes Abbey Woods to Lesnes Abbey Park where we managed to see a passing Brimstone Butterfly, a Comma Butterfly viz.

a Peacock Butterfly and one, possibly two Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies viz.

Reluctantly, I'm inclined to think they are the same Butterfly.

[Neil Freeman]

Beautiful photos on the blossom Mike

I would say those last two Small Tortoiseshell photos definitely show two different individuals.

Cheers,

Neil.

[Wurzel]

Lovely marked Small Tort Mike A Speckled Wood already There can't have been many others seen so far this year

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

...David M.: Cherry Plum I think.

Thanks, Mike. They sure seem to be attracted by it. Makes for some lovely images and I suppose the butterflies are at a handy height to capture too!

[Mike Robinson]

Neil: thanks very much...

[Mike Robinson]

Wurzel: thanks...

[Mike Robinson]

David: yes, the flowers are very pretty. Not too high up thankfully...

[Mike Robinson]

I must have seen them before but it had never really registered that Comma Butterflies have white legs: until yesterday viz.

Sadly: the Sunny Spell seems to be over.