March 2023

[bugboy]

I wasn't sure until I got the picture on my computer this evening but I've managed to scrape up to 4 species for the year this afternoon!

[zigzag_wanderer]

Saw my first flying butterfly of the year at work on Friday.

A Small White in House #3, one of our warmest. No others about that I could see but at least it has plenty to nectar on.

The jumping spiders were out and about on Thursday. Think the larger one is a Fencepost Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa) and the smaller one a zebra spider (Salticus scenicus), although not as clearly marked as others I've seen. I was only alerted to it when I saw a fly sticking out from the mesh wall at a strange angle.

[Stevieb]

Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell and Comma in the garden this lunchtime. Melksham, Wiltshire

19th March

[Testudo Man]

March, for me, here in my part of Kent, is looking like a real "wash out"!!!...the rest of this month shows little signs of improvement???

Roll on April i guess!

Yesterday though, i did spot this lovely Peacock in my garden, so its not all bad!

Image is not cropped, cheers Paul.

[David M]

Tuesday 14th, Swansea:

Two Red Admirals and my first Brimstone of the year (a male).

[David M]

March, for me, here in my part of Kent, is looking like a real "wash out"!!!...the rest of this month shows little signs of improvement???

Roll on April i guess!

Been a shocker, Paul, that's for sure.

Roll on April indeed!

[Jack Harrison]

It was the Spring Equinox at 2124 GMT on 20th March. I cannot recall a year when I had not seen a butterfly before the Equinox.

Jack

[bugboy]

2 comma, 2 Brimstone, 1 Red Admiral and a Small White this afternoon locally. Unfortunately a dog spooked the White before I could get a picture.

[David M]

Sunday 19th - one Red Admiral seen at Cwm Ivy, Gower:

[aeshna5]

Finally off the starting block with a male Brimstone in Kew Gardens yesterday.

[David M]

Wednesday 22nd - both male and female Brimstones seen in Park Wood, Gower:

[David M]

Friday 24th - Two male Brimstones and a Peacock in the woodland clearings behind the Gower Inn, Parkmill.

[David M]

Saturday 25th - Two male Brimstones, a Red Admiral and a surprise male Holly Blue in the wooded area at Cwm Ivy, Gower, this afternoon:

[KeithS]

Not a butterfly of course, but there was a Hummingbird hawkmoth in my garden today. I’ve never seen one this early before, is that unusual?

[David M]

Not a butterfly of course, but there was a Hummingbird hawkmoth in my garden today. I’ve never seen one this early before, is that unusual?

Unusual given the appalling weather this month, Keith, although I have seen them in this country in March before now, though normally when conditions have been a good deal more favourable.

[Stevieb]

2 x Brimstone
1 x Red Admiral
1 x Peacock

This lunchtime, Beacon Hill, Wiltshire

27th March

[David M]

Finally! A gorgeous today here in the Swansea area; 12c with light winds and few clouds. Understandably, the local butterfly populations responded:

Brimstone 44
Peacock 6
Comma 6
Small Tortoiseshell 3
Red Admiral 3
Small White 1

[Maximus]

That's some haul, David, especially the 44 Brimstone

Today here was a good day weatherwise too, a single Brimstone and two Large Tortoiseshells in the garden. I could only get a record shot of one of the LT and the other played hard to get Green-veined White seen a couple of days ago, v fresh looking.

[bugboy]

Well I can't compete with David's haul but I did find my first Small Tort today amongst a handful of Peacock. Also another Small White flutter by but surprisingly no other species despite spending most of the day searching my prime local spots.
1 Small Tortoiseshell
6 Peacock
1 Small White

Even had to put my sunglasses on today! They're back in the drawer now, don't think I'll be needing them again for a while

[millerd]

I was beginning to think I might not see a butterfly during March, as the month has been distinctly dull and wet even when it's been reasonably warm. However, a Peacock was tempted out on my local patch on Saturday (25th)...

...and then today (27th), though a good deal chillier, two more appeared along with two Brimstones (my first of the year).

Dave