Many thanks, Otep. That female Brimstone was a bit unusual, but it was very much on a mission and having found a particularly good dandelion, it clearly wasn't going to move.
While it was still relatively cool this morning (
Thursday 24th March) I went to Staines Railway Station having heard that Flying Scotsman was due to pass through on a railtour. My timing was perfect, though the viewpoint not ideal...
On the way back to the car, I chanced upon an early-rising Small White.
Rather than return home, I thought I'd have a look at Denbies Hillside for the first time this year. Fortified as usual by a coffee from the van, I did a circuit of the main slope and then wandered along to the smaller slope east of Steers Field. There was disappointingly little flying: I counted two female and half a dozen male Brimstones, a couple of Peacocks, and a single Small Tortoiseshell.
Clearly despite the increasingly long spell of splendid warm sunshine, the early spring specialities here (Grizzled Skipper and Green Hairstreak) are yet to emerge.
Back on my local patch in the afternoon, I came across the usual suspects. However, as I wandered along a partly shaded path by the River Colne where I often see the first Speckled Woods, that's exactly what appeared. Unfortunately it was too distant and too active to be immortalised, but no doubt there will soon be others. This made species no. 9 here this year - not bad for the third week of March.
I came across a male Comma with designs on a female, but she either spurned his advances or the two were bothered by an energetic Peacock. I managed one shot of the encounter - it is just possible to make out the female behind the male in this rather exposed spot.
I watched another female Comma flying low and erratically over the young nettles, basking occasionally before resuming.
After one pause, I looked more closely at where she had been sitting, and found the product of her activity. I suspect these nettles are peppered with eggs.
Even with the warmth two hours after midday, Brimstones tend to retire early, perhaps with a bit of nectaring first. That's what this male was doing.
A little later I watched another pick his roosting spot up in some ivy, where if I hadn't been watching I would never have spotted him.
Near perfect camouflage. Finally, I managed a reasonable shot of one of the several Small Whites.
No GVW or Orange Tips today.
Dave