February 2023

[aeshna5]

Agree with your moth ID. Have to say I had to look the name up as I only know it by its scientific name-but they match. Most of the moth books don't give English names for micros with a few exceptions, so I've never been bothered to learn them as it's twice the work.

[zigzag_wanderer]

Thanks Aeshna.

Yes, I note that many moths seem to exist very merrily without having an English name bestowed upon them and alternatively there are a few that seem to have garnered more than one (regional varieties I assume).

So as I very much value your (and others') feedback I'll always include the scientific name from now on.

I have to say though that I have massive respect for anyone with a full working knowledge of the scientific names of English moths. That is different level !

[Bertl]

Ladybirds active in my aberdeen garden today. A balmy 13 degrees in Aberdeen.

[Wurzel]

Bagged my first butterfly yesterday - Red Admiral at Ffos-y-ffin near Aberaeron

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Ladybirds active in my aberdeen garden today. A balmy 13 degrees in Aberdeen.

Very nice, Bertl. Not surprising given those temperatures.

[millerd]

Glorious sunshine today in my part of the world, and with light winds and respectable temperatures for mid-February I was hopeful of seeing something on my local patch.

I initially managed to find another Peacock, basking on the ground now that the surface has started to dry out a bit and warm up...

...and then close to home on the way back, I disturbed a Small Tortoiseshell from the grass. Luckily it quickly relocated to a better spot not far away.

Three species so far this month and more sunny and mild days in prospect this week...

Dave

[Deborah]

First butterfly of the year. Brimstone. Seen first yesterday but he did not stop still for a second. More amenable today. Sunny after very frosty starts this past week in Brittany.

[Maximus]

First Butterfly of the year here, a Red Admiral seen today. A lovely sunny day and 12 degrees after a very frosty start brought out this first one nectaring on heather along with half a dozen Buff-tailed bumble bees

[David M]

...and then close to home on the way back, I disturbed a Small Tortoiseshell from the grass..

Enfin! The first Tortie! Always a satisfying moment in every butterfly season.

As you say, Dave, we have several more mild days in store. Looks promising for cleaning up the adult hibernators.

[Stevieb]

My first Small Tortoiseshell of the year this lunchtime along with a fly-by Red Admiral and Peacock. Beacon Hill, Wiltshire

14th February

Also nice to see primroses starting to flower.

[David M]

First butterfly of the year. Brimstone. Seen first yesterday but he did not stop still for a second. More amenable today. Sunny after very frosty starts this past week in Brittany.

Nice to see, Deborah. Brimmies seem to be reluctant to take to the wing over here. Hopefully the first ones will get airborne real soon.

[David M]

My first Small Tortoiseshell of the year this lunchtime along with a fly-by Red Admiral and Peacock. Beacon Hill, Wiltshire

Excellent, Steve. Shame the good weather breaks tomorrow. I'm sure there would be more tempted out if these mild, sunny conditions persisted for a day or two.

[bugboy]

Off the mark today with a Brimstone and a Comma . Photos to follow in a day or two once I've gone through them.

[Maximus]

Another Red Admiral today, a different individual from yesterday and in very good condition too.

[Wurzel]

Another Red Admiral yesterday and one today as well (Ffos-y-ffin, Ceredigion) - looking at the markings they look to be two different ones. I haven't sorted the photos from today yet but here is the one from yesterday

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Off the mark today with a Brimstone and a Comma . Photos to follow in a day or two once I've gone through them.

Well done, Paul. Those two were the ones that hadn't yet been reported on here (in the UK at least).

[David M]

8th Feb - no butterflies, but I had a rare encounter with a hedgehog at the bottom of Kilvey Hill in Swansea:

[Testudo Man]

Theres some great shots of our hibernators in this thread so far, keep em coming.
Tomorrow looks even better for butterflies...i might have to try in my lunch break from work (before Thursdays rain comes!).


Today, after work, i visited one of my good locations, in the hope of an early Adder (an maybe a few butterflies too).
Just the 1 Comma seen, basking up quite high, so long distance shots were required!
I also sighted my 1st male Adder of the season (which equals my earliest ever sighting of a snake). I would think the snake has been out of hibernation, for a few days though, judging by his appearance.

Also yesterday, dropped into my local Church, an found a Red Admiral (no pics though). I couldnt get close to it, so not sure if it was the same one seen on my last visit. Was shocked to see a beautiful Bat, flying around for a few minutes, before it flew off! Blazing sunshine, an approx 3.30pm.

Some pics then...no images are cropped. Cheers Paul.



Spot the Comma, if you can?! Yes, that freakish shadow is mine!!

A little closer then.

Closer still.

Full zoom, an its still not close enough for my liking, but hey, its a Comma.

That male Adder, what a beauty.

[David M]

...Spot the Comma, if you can?! Yes, that freakish shadow is mine!!

Glad you got some closer images, Paul. I'd never have spotted it in your first one!

Looks like they're all being slowly tempted from their winter slumber.

[David M]

Thurs 19th - Whilst at Worcester Woods for an EBG meeting, there were good numbers of redwings foraging in the trees. Not a bird I ever see in south Wales: