Cheers, everyone -yes, I certainly made the most of that one butterfly! Orange Tips are hard to resist though, in the all too brief time of year when they are around.
Wednesday 10th April. Brilliant sunshine at last, but a very chilly morning. I decided to see if I could find any more early Dukes down at Noar Hill after Pauline's precocious sighting on 1st. There was some cloud down here to start with, but it soon disappeared, and things warmed up a bit. In nearly three hours I saw no Dukes, but there were (in order of appearance) Peacocks, Brimstones and Orange Tips, all in decent numbers. However, as I should come to anticipate really, there was an unexpected bonus. Somehow my eye was drawn to a spot of green down on the grass that was perhaps too apple-green amongst the darker shades of the vegetation. There, sitting angled to catch the most sunshine, was a fresh Green Hairstreak. Though common enough at this site, it was what seems to be an early date for them, and certainly unusual for me to find one here before seeing any Dukes.
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A remarkably easy drive home saw me out on my local patch just over an hour later. I soon came across my first of three Holly Blues, initially seeking minerals on the path, but then finding these or honeydew on the leaves above.
There were six or seven Peacocks in all the usual spots, and one almost unblemished individual was nectaring on the brilliant yellow carpet of dandelions that has sprung up.
I found a Comma that I recognised by the symmetrical chomp marks cut out of its hindwings - a lucky escape from a bird encounter I imagine.
Several Small Whites were flying, but generally above head height and not pausing for a moment. Finally, there were at least half a dozen Orange Tips - these were less energetic, and because of the generally lowish temperature I suspect, stopped to bask and/or nectar fairly regularly.
Spring resumes - though it could be a bit warmer!
Dave