Thanks for the comments. It would seem most of us are finally off the mark but it remains to be seen if we will be able to enjoy the rest of early spring
March 2020.
Monday 16th. Finally some relief from the dreadful weather to get me out into the countryside chasing butterflies at last. Through a series of events my occasional chauffeur was also free and so I was able to be responsible and avoid public transport for a long-distance trip. (I’m not sure when next any rail company will be able prize money out of my bank account!)
Despite the almost endless amount of rain we’ve had I plumped for a trip down to the North Stoke site. For those not familiar with this site, it’s part of a low laying flood plane near the River Arun and gets very boggy even after a small amount of wet weather. I really wouldn’t bother going here if you don’t have wellies!
As promised, it was a beautiful day and an hour after arriving the first butterfly of the day floated past me, settled and sat soaking up the rays.
Shortly after that a female Brimstone played hard to get (I suspect deliberately) which signaled it was ‘Brimstone O’clock’. Males appeared everywhere, all in full patrol mode and with no clouds, there was little chance to get my camera on them, but if there’s one thing that signals the end of winter, it’s a Brimstone flying along against a backdrop of the still leafless trees.
Another Peacock was found feeding on Sallow catkins before we sat down for our packed lunch.
After lunch we wandered further afield, walking along the river but all I saw was a single Peacock flyby. I was a little surprised to find a few patches of Cuckooflower already in full bloom.
Whilst my Chauffeur explored another dryer path, I braved the mud again. The local Rooks looked like they had chicks to feed, stuffing their throat pouches full of whatever they could find and Rabbits had been doing what Rabbits do
!
A few clouds had bubbled up which gave me the chance to grab a few Brimstones who were otherwise still very active. Peacocks also turned up fairly regularly, mostly males staking out territories from the behaviour exhibited.
And finally another species turned up, a trio of Comma. Two flew up into the air (looked like a courting pair rather than males battling) whilst the third sat for me.
It was on my on my return that I finally succumbed to the mud, one foot slid one way whilst suction kept the other firmly in place and over I went, camera and all! All the hardware survived it’s brief encounter with the soggy ground but a towel had to be put down for me in the car for the drive home
for them!
), this time the early bird being a Mistle Thrush.
Especially like the Song Thrush - it's throwing an unusual shape there, caught in mid riff 
Good work with the Kestrel down on the deck, don;t often see that 
.
Lets hope your next shots are Butterflies 
