March 2020

[David M]

Great to see things kicking off so spectacularly. I'm 'working from home' tomorrow but will ensure I take a long break around lunchtime to track some of these delights down.

[CallumMac]

A relief to find my first Small Tort and Peacock of the year, on a run down Pocklington Canal. I am already learning more about what's to be found within the immediate vicinity of home!

[Vince Massimo]

A walk to and from my local site (Broadfield Pond) in Crawley at lunchtime produced 5 Brimstone, 1 Small White, 9 Comma, 3 Peacock and the first Speckled Wood of the season.

Speckled Wood - Crawley, Sussex 24-March-2020

Vince

[David M]

...and the first Speckled Wood of the season.

Fabulous, Vince. Hope to see some round my way very soon.

[Chris L]

Interesting to note your sighting and photograph of a Speckled Wood Vince. The woodlands near to my house were full of them last year. However, I have not seen one yet and I spent a long time in the woods yesterday and today. I am heartened by the fact that perhaps tomorrow I might see one. Thank you for the advance warning.

[Chris L]

My interest in butterflies started in August 2019 and I didn't see a solitary Peacock. They had perhaps settled down for winter early. I saw one today and I was absolutely delighted. However, my joy was short lived. I watched it fly for 2 seconds maximum until it flew straight in to a spiders web and it was well and truly tangled up. I ran to its rescue and had to slam on the brakes as a mother and child suddenly turned the corner. I observed social distancing by stepping aside and, when they had passed, I ran and rescued the Peacock.

Overall, it was an excellent day for me. I saw 34 butterflies:

- 16 Peacock.
- 9 Tortoiseshell.
- 7 Brimstone.
- 2 Comma.

I found an area of meadow bordering woodland that was a bit like butterfly Clapham Junction. I stood there for about ½ an hour watching the traffic. I noted how the Peacocks there were not particularly pleased when a Brimstone passed through the area and a few mid-air tustles took place.

[Deborah]

Two male Brimstones, two Small Tortoiseshells, a Speckled Wood and a glimpse of a White started my season off here on a very sunny and warm day. Unfortunately it’s forecast to be quite significantly colder this next week.
Have finally got a new camera (thanks MikeOxon for advice) to replace my iPod. Hopefully I’ll get to use it soon!

[David M]

...I found an area of meadow bordering woodland that was a bit like butterfly Clapham Junction. I stood there for about ½ an hour watching the traffic. I noted how the Peacocks there were not particularly pleased when a Brimstone passed through the area and a few mid-air tustles took place.

Great that you found such a spot, Otep. Even better how you clocked the behaviour of certain species in their natural environment.

Peacocks and Commas are extremely combative. They dislike any other insect invading their airspace; they'll even 'buzz' we humans if we linger too long.

I feel you have many happy hours ahead of you.

[Stevieb]

First Orange-tip of the year for me in my garden

Male Orange-tip

[badgerbob]

I have found fewer Wall Brown larvae than usual this year and this is probably due to the bad weather coming in the Autumn destroying many of the 3rd brood pupae before they could hatch.

Of the 18 I have found most are approaching the time to pupate and today I struggled to find just 2.

This one was certainly trying to fill up on a grass blade and was showing very well.

[David M]

First Orange-tip of the year for me in my garden

Must have cheered you up no end that, Stevie?

[David M]

Sunday 22 March at Cwm Ivy on the north Gower coast saw the following:

Brimstone 30-50
Peacock 15-20
Comma 10-15
Holly Blue 1

[Stevieb]

Must have cheered you up no end that, Stevie?

Apparently the first for the UK this year David.

[maverick]

Two Orange tips at the Sankey canal Warrington

[David M]

Must have cheered you up no end that, Stevie?

Apparently the first for the UK this year David.

Surely not, Stevie? Pete Eeles had one in his garden two days ago (reported on the previous page of this thread).

[Stevieb]

Sorry, I was obviously told wrong

[Chris L]

Lovely photos David. Thank you for sharing those.

I am now enthused by the possibility that I might see an Orange Tip whilst out. Yesterday there was news of Speckled Woods being seen which lifted my spirits.

Surprisingly there were fewer butterflies out today when I went on my Government permitted daily exercise. There were less Tortoiseshells and Peacocks than yesterday. It made me wonder where they had all gone. There were more Commas out today. I stood and watched a lot of Commas courting and a few territorial disputes with Peacocks. Yesterday the Peacocks seemed to my untrained eye to be the aggressors, today it was the Commas.

[Kip]

Small Tort, Peacock, Comma and Brimstone near Richmond, Yorkshire in today's warm weather... all my first of the year... it's up and running.

[Padfield]

Commas are the stars of this March, as they were of February 2019. There are always at least three defending territories outside our back door and occasionally the odd one at nectar. Peacocks and brimstones are regular but I haven't seen another holly blue yet - nor any more red admirals in the last few days.

The commas particularly love the sage:



This one has a slight pattern anomaly on the leading edge of the left forewing:



And here's a nectarer:



A brimstone pausing to tank up while roding:



Guy

[Matsukaze]

Watching Peacocks in the garden yesterday.