March 2009 Lepidoptera Sightings

[KeynvorLogosenn]

Nice find Vince!
One Red Admiral fluttered past me at the skate park this morning
I attempted to get a photo using my phone as it landed in the bush, but it was too quick. Much to the amusement of the fellow skaters.
Em

[Jack Harrison]

I concur up to a point that Brimstones at this time of year certainly like Ivy but will happily fly across open areas where there is no Ivy. It seems that Ivy is the preferred plant on which to rest.

I saw this individual flying and then land on Ivy. It then rested for 30 minutes. (I didn't of course watch it solidly for all that time but continued my walk and it was still there on my return). I am embarrassed to say that I'm not sure what sex it is. I certainly saw plenty of definite males during my hour long walk but this one seemed much whiter in flight, so maybe a female. Photo colours are little guide. The prolonged rest was perhaps more characteristic of a female as during the time it was resting, plenty of obvious males were still active, so it wasn't a case of lower temperature making it inactive for long period.

Then it suddenly dropped some 20 centimetres on to the stem and began quivering its forewings. Note in this second picture how the forewings are far more visible than in the resting shot. After a couple of minutes quivering (warming up I presume) off it flew.

Sunday 15th March 2009. Location the Roman Road south of Cambridge. Some twenty Brimstones seen in a hour, doubtless many repeat sightings. Also two Commas totally disinterested in one another. Weather: sunshine with temperature circa 13°C.

Jack

[Neil Hulme]

Hi all,
A couple of hours in Rewell Wood (West Sussex) produced 15 Peacock, 8 Comma and 6 Brimstone. The first violet flowers have unfurled and one of the Brimstone (all male) decided to stop for its first nectar of the year - a picture that definitely says 'spring is here at last'.
Neil

Picture of Spring.jpg (250.82 KiB) Viewed 1839 times

[NickB]

Plenty of action in the Cemetery today (Sunday): Several Commas, a couple of Peacocks, 3 Brimstones and a Small Tortoiseshell.
Nick

Comma_4_MRC_15_03_2009.jpg (162.73 KiB) Viewed 1809 times

Nikon D300 ISO 200 f5.6, 1/250th, Tamron 90mm & Kenco 1.4TC

Comma_5_MRC_15_03_2009.jpg (152.18 KiB) Viewed 1757 times

Nikon D300 ISO 200 f5.6, 1/160th, Tamron 90mm & Kenco 1.4TC

[Susie]

All that lot puts my one brimstone, two peacock, two small torts and a fast flying "something else" to shame, but it was still a cracking day. Looks like the coming week is going to be a good 'un too; whoohoooo for spring!!!

[andy36]

2 brimstones up my way and 1 peacock, thanks for the welcome by the way.
Andy

[Denise]

1 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral, a handful of Comma's and a 6 spot ladybird today at home.

Denise

[xmilehigh]

Hi all,

1st Butterfly pic of 2009. Red Admiral @ New Fancy in the Forest of Dean.



Ah feels like Spring at last.

Cheers

[Charles Nicol]

Had a lovely time this afternoon... saw Brimstones, a Peacock, several Small Tortoiseshells & Commas. One of the Commas landed on me but i did not get a pic.
One the Small Tortoiseshells was very worn but still flying vigorously... the others were in good condition

3360770228_08611d3e1e_o.jpg (123.49 KiB) Viewed 1657 times

3360769272_7977084604_o.jpg (176.63 KiB) Viewed 1655 times

3359946845_b657044f82_o.jpg (119.37 KiB) Viewed 1646 times

[eccles]

This and two other red admirals in the Forest of Dean today.

[NickB]

Spring is here...

Spring.jpg (115.53 KiB) Viewed 1613 times

ST_1_MRC_16_03_2009.jpg (146.24 KiB) Viewed 1602 times

[Matsukaze]

2 Commas, a Brimstone and a Peacock on Claverton Down, Bath, today. 2 Commas is one more than the total spring brood I saw last year, and I did not record them in this area at all in 2008.

[Susie]

Three commas, an orange underwing moth and two beeflies today.




By popular demand

[Deano]

Hi all.
I saw my first Comma of the year today, two weeks earlier than my first sighting last year.
Kind regards
Deano

[Denise]

10.45am My first Speckled Wood of the year!
I couldn't get a photo, it was too flighty, but I did have a good look to confirm.

Denise

edit:- not a great photo but a record shot that I just managed to get.

IMG_5780 (Medium).JPG (79.72 KiB) Viewed 1504 times

[Dave McCormick]

Nice speckled wood and orange underwing moth! I was out earlier, but as of yet, saw nothing, going out soon to see if I can see anything again, very sunny, but there is a cool breeze blowing. Last year it was about the start of March when I first saw something, not this year.

[Susie]

A dozen brimstones at and around Harting Down and then one Peacock on my allotment this afternoon.

[IAC]

Hi all...Happy New Year....1 Small Tortoiseshell today ,Berwickshire SE Scotland.....the weather is so darn good.....will it last I wonder. Cheers Iain.

[Mikhail]

I always consider the sighting of the first non-hibernated butterfly marks the real start of spring, so three cheers for the first Small Copper seen today on the Bournemouth cliffs, only 2 days later than my earliest ever sighting. My attempts to photograph it were frustrated by a nagging easterly breeze. Red-tailed Bumblebees also active for the first time today. Yesterday male Peacocks were disputing territories; one of them eventually tried to court a Red Admiral.

Misha

[Neil Hulme]

Hi all,
Plenty of Peacock, Brimstone and Comma in my travels today, and my first 2 Small Whites of the year. This Comma (Highdown Gardens, West Sussex) was attacking everything that passed and sat on my head for a while.
Neil

P1070104_edited-2.jpg (190.26 KiB) Viewed 1369 times

P1070092_edited-1.jpg (183.47 KiB) Viewed 1365 times