Thanks for your kind comments, they are much appreciated.
I live in central Ashford (Kent) and whilst out with the dogs this morning I was buzzed by a Painted Lady. Time : 07.15 !
"Good sign" I thought.
By 10am I was at Dungeness : more Painted Ladies in amongst the gorgeous flowers
I saw 8 there during the course of my walk
There were Hummingbird Hawk Moths, quite a lot of them!
I saw 6
Bearing in mind I also saw 2 Red Admirals it looks like there's some migration going on.
I was on the look out for Small Coppers as I wondered if any of the first generation were still around. Throughout my whole walk I managed to find just the one
So I think it's reasonable to conclude that the first brood are over now.
Looking at my records for this year I can plot the progress of this first brood at Dungeness:
8th April - None
18th April - 8
21st April - 15
4th May - 99
9th May - 33 (but on a very windy day )
16th May - 77
22nd May - 29
24th May - 16
6th June - 1
Roll on the second brood!
But while I'm waiting for them there's plenty to see. Small Heaths
Brown Argus
Common Blues
Which included a smashing blue female
In fact, I haven't seen a brown female so far this year
I was delighted to find her.
But for me today was about another lady, the Painted Lady and the beautiful flowers of Dungeness