March 2013
- NickMorgan
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March 2013
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.
Re: March 2013
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.
Re: March 2013
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:
![Image](http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r623/DM1067/Sept%202012%20to%20March%202013/c8d2e386-ca00-4be7-8671-2e3f9093513c_zpsab16c1a4.jpg)
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:
![Image](http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r623/DM1067/Sept%202012%20to%20March%202013/c8d2e386-ca00-4be7-8671-2e3f9093513c_zpsab16c1a4.jpg)
- NickMorgan
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Re: March 2013
And I saw my first butterfly for East Lothian today - a Small Tortoiseshell on a wall outiside Gifford. ![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Re: March 2013
That trumps my sighting, Nick, given your latitude.NickMorgan wrote:And I saw my first butterfly for East Lothian today - a Small Tortoiseshell on a wall outiside Gifford.
- NickMorgan
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Re: March 2013
But you remembered your camera!! There was one spotted in the Scottish Borders two weeks ago, by Iain Cowe (IAC).David M wrote:That trumps my sighting, Nick, given your latitude.NickMorgan wrote:And I saw my first butterfly for East Lothian today - a Small Tortoiseshell on a wall outiside Gifford.
Re: March 2013
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
- Posts: 112
- Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 3:29 pm
- Location: Torquay, Devon
Re: March 2013
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
- Stock Contributor
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- Location: Hampshire
Re: March 2013
A Peacock flew past my window at home just before midday today. My first butterfly of 2013.
Lee
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Lee
To butterfly meadows, chalk downlands and leafy glades; to summers eternal.
Re: March 2013
Hooray
A Brimstone flew through my Oxon garden 5 minutes ago
Mike
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Mike
Re: March 2013
A Brimstone and a Comma in our garden this morning in Bucks.
Nigel
Nigel
- Lee Hurrell
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- Location: Hampshire
Re: March 2013
Just back from a walk along the Pilgrims Way and I was rewarded with 2 male Brimstones, 1 Comma and a Red Admiral.
Lee
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Lee
To butterfly meadows, chalk downlands and leafy glades; to summers eternal.
Re: March 2013
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.....
More days like this please.....
"Conservation starts in small places, close to home..."
- Vince Massimo
- Administrator & Stock Contributor
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- Location: Crawley, Sussex
Re: March 2013
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.
After midday I walked to my local SSSI (Happy Valley, Coulsdon) which is a reliable place for butterflies.
Here I saw another 11 Brimstones (all males), 7 Commas, 1 Peacock and 1 Small Tortoiseshell.
Alas no Red Admiral today, but a great start to the season
.
Vince
After midday I walked to my local SSSI (Happy Valley, Coulsdon) which is a reliable place for butterflies.
Here I saw another 11 Brimstones (all males), 7 Commas, 1 Peacock and 1 Small Tortoiseshell.
Alas no Red Admiral today, but a great start to the season
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Vince
Re: March 2013
Denbies hillside today - five male brimstones.
Re: March 2013
Well I was gonna brag about my Comma in Egham today, but don't think I'll bother now, lol ![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
Raising £10,000 for Butterfly Conservation by WALKING 1200 miles from Land's End to John O'Groats!!!
See http://www.justgiving.com/epicbutterflywalk or look up Epic Butterfly Walk on Facebook.
See http://www.justgiving.com/epicbutterflywalk or look up Epic Butterfly Walk on Facebook.
Re: March 2013
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
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Re: March 2013
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.badgerbob wrote:.............one of them was much duller than I've seen before so I think its about to moult!!
Nice timing!
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
Vince
Re: March 2013
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.
The Brimstone did not seem at all concerned about providing a sunny perch for a Solitary Bee!
The Red Admiral looks a little the worse for wear and had chosen a 'prickly' spot to perch:
The Comma was purely a record shot - it only paused very briefly and I did not see it again.
I was particularly pleased to find a Small Tortoiseshell and this one looked in fine condition:
and finally, a Peacock, of which several were sunning themselves and occasionally spiralling up in aerial combat:
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]
The Brimstone did not seem at all concerned about providing a sunny perch for a Solitary Bee!
The Red Admiral looks a little the worse for wear and had chosen a 'prickly' spot to perch:
The Comma was purely a record shot - it only paused very briefly and I did not see it again.
I was particularly pleased to find a Small Tortoiseshell and this one looked in fine condition:
and finally, a Peacock, of which several were sunning themselves and occasionally spiralling up in aerial combat:
Three Buzzards were mewing overhead, Primroses were in flower and, overall, it was a magnificent day
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Mike
[Edited after Susie advised me that the 'passenger' on my Brimstone photo is a Solitary Bee]
Last edited by MikeOxon on Tue Mar 05, 2013 8:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: March 2013
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.