April 2021

[aeshna5]

Yesterday in my local area of Greenford/Northolt I had 9 Small White, 2 male Brimstone, 5 Peacock, Comma, 4 Small Tortoiseshell & 2 Orange Underwing agg moths.

[David M]

Sunday 4th - a 90 minute walk around Castle Meadows in Abergavenny saw 15 Small Tortoiseshells, 4 Commas, 4 Peacocks, 1 Orange Tip and a single airborne White (either Small or Green Veined).

[Deborah]

Orange Tip male on aubretia briefly, 3 Holly Blues, 1 Red Admiral and 3 Speckled Woods!

[Chris L]

A good day for me yesterday with 72 in total:

- 47 Peacock.
- 17 Small Tortoiseshell.
- 5 Comma.
- 2 Green Veined White.
- 1 Small White.

The 2 'white' species there were my first of the year for each.

[David M]

...47 Peacock.

Now it's my turn to be envious!!

[Maximus]

Male Orange-tip seen today during a walk where the wind chill made the temperature a very cold two degrees. He was nectaring and flying feebly around before finally settling on this dead leaf.

[PhilBJohnson]

Orange-tip butterfly forecast. April 11th 2021
Thinking in terms of Species Conservation and Life cycles, "we" (Many parts of the UK) had a very hot, dry May last year, where butterflies emerged early. Some of these insects went round and pupated seasonally early. An Orange-tip spent most of it's life cycle as a pupa. A delay in final emergence from pupa because of consistently low temperatures in April 2021, might just mean "we" see less of these Orange-tip butterflies this year, as they were less camouflaged so more vulnerable to predation, just before emerging from pupa, so we might not really want them held in a state of "almost there".
Having said all of that, in Lincolnshire, I have noticed Garlic Mustard plant development, being at least a week seasonally behind, what it was, this time last year, so it was thought to be, still quite early to see an Orange-tip butterfly.
Oops, I haven't seen one yet.
Kind Regards

[Stevieb]

My first butterflies for a while! Both braving the cold during a break in the clouds this lunch time. Beacon Hill & Melksham, Wiltshire

12th April

12th April

[Chris L]

I was slightly optimistic of seeing a few butterflies today. I only saw 10 (7 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Peacock, 1 Green Veined White and 1 Speckled Wood). That was my first Speckled Wood of the year and my 7th species of the 2021 season.

I am 38% down on volumes of butterflies seen when compared to this day in 2020. That is undoubtedly a reflection of the very warm weather from mid March onwards that we had last year.

[Stevieb]

Nice to see a few more out and about this afternoon including frisky Peacocks! Bewley Common, Wiltshire

13th April

13th April

13th April

13th April

13th April

13th April

13th April

[Chris L]

29 in total seen today in South Derbyshire. 13 Small Tortoiseshell, 12 Peacock, 2 Comma, 1 Brimstone and 1 Orange Tip.

That was my first Orange Tip of the year, following on from my first Speckled Wood of the year yesterday.

My Small Tortoiseshell count for 2021 is now 101. If they were cricketers, they would be waving their bats at the pavilion.

[David M]

Good to see a bit of movement again, folks.

Looks like temperatures will be on the rise from tomorrow so let's hope normal service is back very soon.

[Stevieb]

First Green Hairstreak this year for me. Battlesbury Hill, Wiltshire

14th April

[David M]

Great sighting, Stevie.

Hoping these will be out round my way next week.

[Bertl]

Been rather cold here in Aberdeen. Seen some tortoiseshell and peacocks on the wing during some decent sunny days a few weeks back but none would land for a photo. Managed a couple of photos today with my phone at lunchtime. Seen 4 tortoiseshell and 2 peacocks.

[David M]

Wednesday 14th, a little warmer so another visit to the NW Gower coast where the following were seen:

Holly Blue c.20
Orange Tip c.20
Brimstone 8
Speckled Wood 6
Red Admiral 2
Peacock 1
Large White 1

[Chris L]

19 for me today in South Derbyshire.

- 7 Small Tortoiseshell.
- 7 Peacock.
- 2 Comma.
- 1 Green Veined White.
- 1 Small White.
- 1 Speckled Wood.

[Bertl]

A dozen tortoiseshell today. Hopefully more variety soon.

[Maximus]

Male Orange-tip today, opened up briefly when the sun appeared.

Also seen today were Green-veined White (our first of the year) and a Swallowtail (also our first of the year), which was on a mission

[bugboy]

Male Orange-tip today, opened up briefly when the sun appeared.


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Also seen today were Green-veined White (our first of the year) and a Swallowtail (also our first of the year), which was on a mission

First Swallowtail of the year, all casual like ..... oh yea, you're in France now