Trevor

[bugboy]

Nice one Trevor, not long to wait until they're all over the place again

[Andrew555]

It begins.. Well done Trevor.

[Goldie M]

Great news Trevor, you've cheered me up no end lovely shot as well Goldie

[Wurzel]

Cracking stuff Trevor, good to see you tearing out of the starting blocks

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

Many thanks everyone. The first Butterfly of the year is always special.
The Spring like weather we enjoyed here in the South East brought out
several of the hibernators in the latter half of last week.
Unfortunately our friends in the East are sending over an icy blast for us to enjoy,
so more Spring like weather has been put on hold for a while.

[David M]

What a wonderful start to the year for you, Trevor, and yes, the anticipated cold weather means it may be a while before the rest of us enjoy a similar uplifting experience! To be honest, I don't mind cold weather in late winter, because in previous years this has often led to a good general butterfly season. Let's hope the same is true this year!

[trevor]

I totally agree David. The experts all seem to say that a good Butterfly season
needs to be preceded by a ' real Winter '. Even here in the South East we've had
quite a few frosts and some snow ( with more to come ? ). Some parts of the country
have had something approaching a severe Winter, so let's hope this is to the benefit
of our Butterflies.

[trevor]

Violets are blue, and they are also a damn nuisance .

Some years ago I foolishly ignored a Dog Violet plant in my garden.
Blissfully unaware of their exploding seed pods, and the amount of seed per pod,
this one plant has been responsible for many seedlings, hence a healthy, unwanted
population in my garden.
On one of Neil Hulme's work parties at Rowland Wood, a chance conversation with
Gary Norman revealed that he and Theresa were looking after some Pearl Bordered Fritillary
caterpillars, which at the time were in hibernation, but would soon be active again and very hungry.
So I arranged with Gary that I would pot up some of my Dog Violets and put them to good use !.
In this case VERY good use. Hopefully an unwanted weed will help to produce some beautiful Pearls
this coming Spring.

Trevor

[Wurzel]

That sounds like you've mastered modern day Alchemy Trevor Violets turned into Pearls, sounds like a magnificent usage of weeds

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Good work, Trevor! There's a use for everything, and you are putting this seemingly surplus plant to very GOOD use.

Let's hope it does indeed turn into a 'salad bar'!

[Andrew555]

That's great Trevor.

[trevor]

Many thanks all, those PBF cats should now resume munching, after the arctic blast of last week.

For my second Butterfly of 2018 I had to look no further than my garden this afternoon.
I just happened to notice a Red Admiral swoop over a boundary hedge, and then watched it
flutter around the garden. Fortunately it seemed attracted to the sweet perfume of my
Daphne Odora and nectared on some of the few flowers to survive last weeks weather.
I have a Skimia next to the Daphne, and this was chosen for basking.

Fortunately my camera was handy !.
Trevor.

[millerd]

Brilliant, Trevor. That one did well to survive last week.

Not a squeak round here yet.

Dave

[Goldie M]

Awful weather here today Trevor, Snow and sleet, glad some ones seeing Butterflies , no chance here for a while. Goldie

[Wurzel]

Great stuff Trevor Where was that one hiding last week then

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

HI Dave, Goldie & Wurzel,

That Red Admiral was a very welcome sight, tatty yes, but still good for the spirits !.
It shouldn't be too long before Butterflies are being seen up and down the country.
Remember my Orange Tip sighting at the end of March last year ?.

Good luck,
Trevor.

[David M]

For my second Butterfly of 2018 I had to look no further than my garden this afternoon.
I just happened to notice a Red Admiral swoop over a boundary hedge, and then watched it
flutter around the garden. Fortunately it seemed attracted to the sweet perfume of my
Daphne Odora and nectared on some of the few flowers to survive last weeks weather.
I have a Skimia next to the Daphne, and this was chosen for basking.

Heartwarming stuff to see a butterfly so soon after that Siberian blast, Trevor. Sadly, we now seem to have something equally irritating in the form of a low pressure system stuck to the south west to contend with.

Just one nice day in March would be nice, though even if we get several I fear Orange Tips prior to April are out of the question.

[trevor]

A Large Tortoiseshell spotted and photographed at Woods mill, West Sussex.
See BC Sussex, sightings page.

Nothing seen in Wiltshire yesterday, despite some warm sunshine.

Trevor.

[Wurzel]

The Large Tort is a bit of a drive for me Trevor but cheers for the heads up I see that you're becoming familiar with the weather bubble that exists over Wiltshire I saw a measly single Peacock yesterday - is spring going to happen this year or are we going to go straight into summer?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

Primroses putting on a brave face this morning.