Wurzel wrote: ↑Mon Apr 06, 2020 6:56 pm
Thirty six Small Torts is a cracking tally Neil - I thought I was doing well getting into the 20's during their peak last year!
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
:mrgreen
Wurzel
Cheers Wurzel, that was the most I have seen on one day for a good few years now.
Wurzel wrote: ↑Mon Apr 06, 2020 6:56 pm
... Your Peacock number three is a diopthalmica ab isn't it?
Wurzel
Possibly Wurzel, although I must admit that this is one of those 'abs' that I see often enough to consider as within normal variation.
David M wrote: ↑Tue Apr 07, 2020 7:49 am
Those are very encouraging numbers, Neil. Even though my area is usually good for Small Tortoiseshells I doubt if I could find concentrations like that.
From the reports I am seeing it seems to be a very good spring for Small Tortoiseshells around the midlands in general. Very encouraging indeed.
Goldie M wrote: ↑Wed Apr 08, 2020 5:10 pm
WoW! Neil, some lovely shots there, the Peacocks colours really stand out
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Goldie
Thanks Goldie, yes ,there are some lovely Peacocks around.
Tuesday 7th April.
We had some rain here during the night on Sunday and a further couple of showers on Monday morning so I didn't bother with my lunchtime walk and although the afternoon cleared up a bit there was still a cool feel to the breeze.
A clear night led to a bit of a frost this morning (Tuesday) but once the sun gained some height in the clear blue skies it turned into a pleasantly warm day.
I am still working from home and took my lunchtime exercise walk once again to my local park where I saw more of the same as last week, the only difference being that Peacocks and Commas were back after being mysteriously absent on my last visit here.
Numbers today were Small Tortoiseshell (11), Peacock (8) and Comma (3).
![Wagon Lane 07.04.2020 028 resize.JPG (766.3 KiB) Viewed 1038 times Peacock - Wagon Lane 07.04.2020](./files/thumb_10101_a8272380c952bd9ec5e689a1f4df8c93)
- Peacock - Wagon Lane 07.04.2020
![Wagon Lane 07.04.2020 010 resize.JPG (588.71 KiB) Viewed 1038 times Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 07.04.2020](./files/thumb_10101_88c1ffa3919a2718c33737f2988848f6)
- Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 07.04.2020
![Wagon Lane 07.04.2020 025 resize.JPG (613.69 KiB) Viewed 1038 times Comma - Wagon Lane 07.04.2020](./files/thumb_10101_f67d12a51d09d5340598df994122a88e)
- Comma - Wagon Lane 07.04.2020
No Orange-tips, Holly Blues or Speckled Wood seen today but I did spot a single female Small White.
![Wagon Lane 07.04.2020 029 resize.JPG (538.9 KiB) Viewed 1038 times Small White - Wagon Lane 07.04.2020](./files/thumb_10101_57e3ac896f1a6fc7488e6bd793f3e8e2)
- Small White - Wagon Lane 07.04.2020
Later in the afternoon, I was having coffee break in the garden and was joined by a Peacock and Comma.
![Coverdale 07.04.2020 001 resize.JPG (647.44 KiB) Viewed 1038 times Peacock - Coverdale 07.04.2020](./files/thumb_10101_7b4c60f5a463ae70392e4820607d7f82)
- Peacock - Coverdale 07.04.2020
![Coverdale 07.04.2020 012 resize.JPG (673.4 KiB) Viewed 1038 times Comma - Coverdale 07.04.2020](./files/thumb_10101_e91e8be9f3cbdf2a56e26b39ecf26f8e)
- Comma - Coverdale 07.04.2020
Whilst working in the back room I also spotted an unidentified white and my first Holly Blue of the year passing through.
A was also pleased with this photo I took of a Dunnock with the pick background provided by a large Magnolia that is in full flower in a neighbours garden.
![Coverdale 07.04.2020 015 resize.JPG (462.85 KiB) Viewed 1038 times Dunnock - Coverdale 07.04.2020](./files/thumb_10101_e9a2e8152c1f559a8fed0aef5e5aff24)
- Dunnock - Coverdale 07.04.2020
Wednesday 8th April.
More of the same today on my exercise walk to the same spot with Small Tortoiseshells and Peacocks in similar numbers, in fact probably most of the same butterflies as yesterday.
![Wagon Lane 08.04.2020 011 resize.JPG (676.66 KiB) Viewed 1038 times Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 08.04.2020](./files/thumb_10101_dcf26a3737ba20391880a3c9082ec960)
- Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 08.04.2020
The Peacock below is another of those possible ab.
diopthalmica
![Wagon Lane 08.04.2020 023 resize.JPG (774.25 KiB) Viewed 1038 times Peacock - Wagon Lane 08.04.2020](./files/thumb_10101_36e1bc8c174761c3f6416fb22a722a6e)
- Peacock - Wagon Lane 08.04.2020
I didn't see any Commas today but did see a patrolling male Orange-tip and an unidentified white that likewise didn't stop.
A number of Chiffchaffs were making themselves heard amongst the rest of the birdsong and I managed to get close enough for a couple of shots of one.
![Wagon Lane 08.04.2020 030 resize.JPG (709.34 KiB) Viewed 1038 times Chiffchaff - Wagon Lane 08.04.2020](./files/thumb_10101_f8fba123307ae3fad90fd776d544ee52)
- Chiffchaff - Wagon Lane 08.04.2020
The warmest afternoon of the week so far saw me popping into the garden a few times (to rest my eyes from the computer screen of course) during which I saw a couple of Peacocks and a single Comma. A passing male Orange-tip was the first seen in the garden this year and although I saw him come round a couple of times he was in constant motion so no chances for a photo.
I have been keeping a close eye on the garden lately, looking out for my first garden Speckled Wood this year and was finally rewarded with a fresh male this afternoon. He fluttered about a bit and settled a couple of times, albeit amongst some dead bramble stems where it was tricky to get a photo. Despite looking nice and fresh I noticed that he had already lost the tip of one antenna.
Edit; Not the best angle (that's my excuse) but looking again, that is a female.
![Coverdale 08.04.2020 003 resize.JPG (494.17 KiB) Viewed 1038 times Speckled Wood - Coverdale 08.04.2020](./files/thumb_10101_6eac9f060444d7e12d94f5cb12a37ab0)
- Speckled Wood - Coverdale 08.04.2020
At one point I was sitting quietly just chilling for a few minutes when I got the feeling that I was being watched...
![Coverdale 08.04.2020 001 resize.JPG (832.8 KiB) Viewed 1038 times Someone's watching me.](./files/thumb_10101_4ff3c86898995c845d05c1502c215915)
- Someone's watching me.
I have now been informed that as of Tomorrow (Thursday 9th) our team is going on furlough from work with this being reviewed on April 29th. Looking at the positive side of this, it will give me more flexibility for my daily exercise walk instead of being restricted to between 12.00 – 1.00pm as was the arrangement while working from home.
Hope everyone is well and keeping safe.
Bye for now,
Neil.