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A couple of sightings to start my butterfly year off. On Monday 9th Feb a trip to Soussons Plantation up on Dartmoor to do some birding produced 6 Peacocks and 3 Red Admirals Quite surprising really as i hadn't managed a sighting in 2015 and if i was purposely looking i doubt i would have chose that area being quite high up Dartmoor and snow still on the ground in the shaded areas
But as it was the rides/tracks that were south facing were completely sheltered from what little breeze there was and bathed in unbroken sunshine throughout the day and temperatures were well into double figures

Yesterday (Tue 17th Feb) at the same site with conditions still pleasant but a little cooler a further 6 Red Admirals were seen

Six Peacocks so early in February is extraordinary, Paul.

Yes indeed, i was pleased to see my first Red Ad but even more so to see the Peacocks. I think that area (the same on both days) produced due to its sheltered nature and the temperature being higher there than elsewhere. I recorded 14c outside the plantation and i'm pretty sure it was a warmer within the rides.

A Small Tortoiseshell in the garden today. It basked, nectared on snowdrops for quite a while, and then flew off at speed over the garden wall.

Happy 2015 One and All.

First Report of a Brimstone seen on the wing today near Salisbury.

Over to you Wurzel!

Flutter on!

CJB

Saw my first butterfly of the year today a Peacock it flew past me as I was walking the dog. We were at Otterspool promenade Liverpool.

An amazing 14c in Swansea this afternoon but sadly I was unable to get out looking for butterflies.

I sure some will have been about though given the conditions and I daresay this warm blast will have awakened a few for spring.

Peacock today 27th February at midday in a garden at Longrock near Penzance, temp about 8 degrees

A visit to my local Red Admiral hot-spot in Crawley at lunch time today produced two individuals. They were first spotted at 13.15 engaged in an aerial battle. The victor stayed on station until 14.15 when the cloud cover increased. He was challenged briefly again at 14.00.
The characteristic wing damage reveals this individual to be the same one seen (but not photographed) in this location on 17th February. It is not clear whether this is one that has over-wintered in the UK or is a migrant which has established a territory here. In any event it seems to me that this sheltered little hilltop site is a congregation area for this species.

The air temperature was 10C with a light westerly wind.

Vince

I too had a brief visit from a Red Admiral this afternoon. It spent a few seconds investigating the metal stanchions of the smoking shelter in our works car park before ascending a nearby tree and depositing itself on a leaf to bask in the 10c sunshine.

Thank you Vince for your help.
I am a novice.
I saw a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly with a damaged wing at the end of February in our back garden in Gloucestershire.
This is the earliest in the year that I have seen a butterfly here.
Is this common please?

Hi Bob,

Small Tortoiseshells hibernate during our winter months. and it is possible to see this butterfly on any given day of the year, as long as it is warm enough for it to be flying, and is quite a common sight.

All the best, Nick.

I think once February has arrived, if you get a day where air temperatures are at least 7c, sunshine is almost constant and there are light winds blowing, you can go to virtually any sheltered spot in the southern third of the UK and have a decent chance of seeing a Small Tortoiseshell. Even better if there are nectar sources on tap.

I believe they'll all be stirring right now with March having arrived. I expect to see my first specimens within the next 7 days.