March 2013

[NickMorgan]

I received my first report of a butterfly in East Lothian for 2013 today. A Peacock seen on North Berwick Law. I hope this glorious weather remains for some time.

[David M]

According to the forecast, we're due winds blowing in from the mediterranean on Monday so I hope a fair few of us will see our first butterflies within the next few days.

[David M]

Delighted to be able to contribute to this thread with a genuine sighting (my first of 2013).

Only 7c in Swansea today, but with sunny skies and light winds it wasn't too much of a surprise to see two different Small Tortoiseshells fluttering around in sheltered areas at the back of my workplace. Here's one of them:

[NickMorgan]

And I saw my first butterfly for East Lothian today - a Small Tortoiseshell on a wall outiside Gifford.

[David M]

And I saw my first butterfly for East Lothian today - a Small Tortoiseshell on a wall outiside Gifford.

That trumps my sighting, Nick, given your latitude.

[NickMorgan]

And I saw my first butterfly for East Lothian today - a Small Tortoiseshell on a wall outiside Gifford.

That trumps my sighting, Nick, given your latitude.

But you remembered your camera!! There was one spotted in the Scottish Borders two weeks ago, by Iain Cowe (IAC).

[David M]

I always carry a camera - often in winter it is my cheap one as I don't expect any sightings - but today was the first time I went out armed with my Panasonic, and, as events proved, it was a judicious decision.

[Wildmoreway]

A Red Admiral in Seaton, Devon today at 1230, flying around on the car park at the co-op close to the town centre.

[Lee Hurrell]

A Peacock flew past my window at home just before midday today. My first butterfly of 2013.

Lee

[MikeOxon]

Hooray A Brimstone flew through my Oxon garden 5 minutes ago

Mike

[Nigel P]

A Brimstone and a Comma in our garden this morning in Bucks.
Nigel

[Lee Hurrell]

Just back from a walk along the Pilgrims Way and I was rewarded with 2 male Brimstones, 1 Comma and a Red Admiral.

Lee

[NickB]

Like a lizard luxuriating in the sun, I got out as soon as the day warmed up. Nothing early-on but on my bike ride to the Fleam Dyke I saw 3 male Brimstones, with another 4 on the Dyke plus 2 Peacock and a Comma. Shows what 2 days of sun can do! Also saw a muntjac in the Dyke, followed by several mad March hares lolloping across the nearby field and a stoat.
More days like this please.....

[Vince Massimo]

The forecast was for 13-15C today, so I was hopeful for my first sighting of the season. This happened at 11.25am when a male Brimstone was spotted in the rear garden. It patrolled neighbouring gardens before returning repeatedly to the same spot on a Rhododendron bush in my neighbours garden. However a photo was out of the question because the favoured resting spot was between two sleeping foxes. It is just about visible on the green leaves, just above the centre of shot.

Brimstone and Foxes 5-March-2013

After midday I walked to my local SSSI (Happy Valley, Coulsdon) which is a reliable place for butterflies.

Happy Valley, Coulsdon, Surrey

Here I saw another 11 Brimstones (all males), 7 Commas, 1 Peacock and 1 Small Tortoiseshell.

Comma - Coulsdon, Surrey 5-March-2013

Alas no Red Admiral today, but a great start to the season .

Vince

[Susie]

Denbies hillside today - five male brimstones.

[Gibster]

Well I was gonna brag about my Comma in Egham today, but don't think I'll bother now, lol

[badgerbob]

The Wall Brown larvae went back to sleep during the cold February, today though they woke up. 2 found and one of them was much duller than I've seen before so I think its about to moult!! The other one was still the normal greenish colour. A Small Tortoiseshell flew around the site as well. 2 pics attached with a habitat shot with the larva and a close up of the duller specimen. Only slight growth since the end of January. About 2 cm in length. All through February apart from the cold weather the breeze was blowing straight onto High and Over.

[Vince Massimo]

.............one of them was much duller than I've seen before so I think its about to moult!!

Actually Bob, I think that the moult has just started. If you look at the head you can see that the old capsule is in the process of being pushed back and the new one is emerging from underneath.

Wall Brown larva (badgerbob)

Nice timing!

Vince

[MikeOxon]

Sorry Gibster but I'm very chuffed after seeing five species at Dry Sandford Pit, near Abingdon, this afternoon. This small BBOWT reserve is in an old quarry and an excellent sun-trap, so I went there immediately after seeing a Brimstone in my own garden.

Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon - 5th March 2013
Nikon D300s with 18-70 lens - 1/250s@f/11 ISO400

The Brimstone did not seem at all concerned about providing a sunny perch for a Solitary Bee!

Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon - 5th March 2013
Nikon D300s with 70-300VR lens - 1/180s@f/13 ISO400

The Red Admiral looks a little the worse for wear and had chosen a 'prickly' spot to perch:

Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon - 5th March 2013
Nikon D300s with 70-300VR lens - 1/250s@f/8 ISO400

The Comma was purely a record shot - it only paused very briefly and I did not see it again.

Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon - 5th March 2013
Nikon D300s with 300f4 lens + 1.4X TC - 1/350s@f/9.5 ISO400

I was particularly pleased to find a Small Tortoiseshell and this one looked in fine condition:

Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon - 5th March 2013
Nikon D300s with 300f4 lens + 1.4X TC - 1/180s@f/9.5 ISO400

and finally, a Peacock, of which several were sunning themselves and occasionally spiralling up in aerial combat:

Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon - 5th March 2013
Nikon D300s with 300f4 lens + 1.4X TC - 1/180s@f/9.5 ISO400

Three Buzzards were mewing overhead, Primroses were in flower and, overall, it was a magnificent day . Pity the forecast is for rain through the rest of the week!

Mike
[Edited after Susie advised me that the 'passenger' on my Brimstone photo is a Solitary Bee]

[aeshna5]

Yesterday I had my first butterfly of the year- a Red Admiral in a garden close to Wandsworth Common station in London. Today another + a Comma near Canons Park tube in north London.