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Saturday February 27th

Saturday was another pleasant day, similar to Friday but with a bit less cloud in the afternoon. I ended up spending most of my time in the garden, but no butterflies showed up. The problem with my garden this early in the season is that a good 75-80% of it still lies all day in the shade cast by some of my boundary trees and shrubs and the sun needs to get just that bit higher in the sky to start warming it up.

Sunday February 28th

The last day of February, which means that Meteorological Spring starts tomorrow on March 1st (or I should say started today as I write this on Monday evening), as opposed to Astronomical Spring which starts on March 20th this year. It turned out to a cracker of a day too with wall-to-wall blue skies and uninterrupted sunshine all day.

In the afternoon, I decided to have another walk down to my local spot by Wagon Lane Park, feeling sure that the conditions over the weekend would have brought some more butterflies out. I went straight to the sheltered spot where I had seen the Small Tortoiseshells and Peacock on Friday but despite waiting around for a while, nothing showed up. I then walked through to the other end of this site where there is another likely spot, in a south facing corner that would have caught the maximum amount of sun over the past couple of days. Sure enough, as I approached, I spotted the bright colours of Small Tortoiseshell basking on the ground.
I took a few photos and then it took off and I saw that it had gone to intercept another Small Tortoiseshell that had intruded into his space. I watched as they circled up into the sky and tried to track them both as they separated and came back down to settle on different sides of a large bramble patch.
After watching these two for a while I started to circle back and about fifty yards along spotted another Small Tortoiseshell, making it three different individuals in this area.
I made my way back to the original spot but there was still no sign of any butterflies. Perhaps those I had seen the other day had gone off to look for some sustenance in some nearby gardens, as it was noticeable that there was nothing flowering around this spot yet for them to feed on.

This coming week looks like it is back to more normal weather for February around here, that is a lot of cloud and much cooler temperatures.

Bye for now and stay safe,

Neil.

I agree with Trevor's for those Small Tortoiseshells, Neil. They usually don't appear near to me until the dandelions come out - which they are yet to do. Here's hoping there will be some as they were thin on the ground in 2020. It always amazes me how different the situation is just a hundred miles away in your part of the world!. Another for that!

Cheers,

Dave

It's not often us londeners falls behind in sightings from further north, lovely Tortoiseshells though, can't wait to find some myself

Lovely set of Torts Neil It never ceases to amaze me how a few butterflies at this time of year can so drastically change my mood Things have got noticeably cooler round our way so I hope the Torts upround your way manage to find somewhere to hunker down til the fine weather returns

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Great stuff, Neil. Nice way for you to start your first butterfly season in retirement!

Must say round my way the Torties are usually to be found wherever there are decent numbers of celandines, which is usually close to streams. Of course, nettles grow here to which is another thing that attracts them.

The weather is much cooler here too now but we aren't due any frosts so that should ensure these early-rising butterflies aren't too disadvantaged.

Thanks for the comments Trevor, Dave, Bugboy, Wurzel and David.

After the few days of 'Fools Spring' that we had last week, things have been dismal here, not only cold but with an almost constant layer of thick grey cloud. There doesn't seem to be any sign of things warming up much for the foreseeable future either.

Cheers,

Neil.

Plenty of Sunshine here recently, but air always icy cool. Nothing else seen.

Not much sun here Trevor, it tried a bit on Sunday but very feebly and was soon covered by clouds again. Yesterday (Monday) was another dull grey day but today was a bit better, for a while anyway.

Tuesday 9th March.

After a pretty dismal week of cold, dull and cloudy weather, this morning was much better with some decent sun which certainly brightened things a bit although there was still a bit of a nip in the air to start with after a frosty start.
Early afternoon I decided to have a walk down to my local spot by Wagon Lane Park although by now there was quite a bit of cloud building up (again).
I did my usual circuit without seeing anything until I spotted a splash of colour which turned out to be a rather raggedy looking Small Tortoiseshell basking on a clump of dead grass.
This turned out to be the only butterfly seen and with the clouds becoming 100% cover once again and looking like they may contain some rain, I headed back home.

I had checked out the stands of blackthorn and noted that the flower buds have come on a bit but are still a few days from flowing, depending on the weather of course.
Having said that, I did find one solitary blossom standing out like a little light against the darker hedge.
I put the moth trap out a couple of nights back and had a single Hebrew Character but that is the only time I have bothered over the past couple of weeks. The weather has just not been suitable here, either too cold or windy.

Looks like a wet and windy one tonight and then the rest of the week is looking pretty grotty too.

Bye for now and stay safe,

Neil.

Another Small Tort.

Good to see the Small Tort Neil I like the term 'Fools Spring' - it sums it up perfectly And after the briefest of respites today the next few days like pretty dire down our way as well Oh well it'll have to 'turn out nice again soon'

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Ragged though it was, Neil, you did really well to see a butterfly of any kind this last week or so. It’s been pretty chilly (and often cloudy) every day round my way so I haven’t even bothered looking.

I have noticed the odd blackthorn flower though. There’s plenty growing on the private estate where I live, and it’s strange how every year the odd flower blooms in isolation a good 3 or 4 weeks before the rest. Nice to see and a sign of better things ahead.

Sorry Trevor Although I reckon the tables will turn soon enough when you get those Blues and Fritillaries that I don't get around here.

Cheers Wurzel. I first heard the term 'fools spring' a few years ago and it certainly seems apt when you see the way some people behave these days.

Thanks David. It is still much the same around here and I haven't seen another butterfly since that one.

Monday 15th March

Like most parts of the country this year it seems, it is still slow to get going around here. Almost constant cloud cover has only occasionally broken up to allow some brief sunny spells, none of which have been long enough or strong enough to do much against the chilly breeze.
A couple of walks down to the spot by my local park have failed to produce any more butterflies. The birds in my garden must think spring is here though as I am seeing lots of courtship behaviour with all the usual species chasing each other about.
A pair of Redwings have been visiting on most days, usually staying well out of reach of a decent photo by sticking to the far end of the garden and taking flight as soon as I try to sneak outside. The shot below is a crop from one taken through my kitchen window.
Due to the mostly cold or windy conditions, I have still only had the moth trap out a couple of times this month. The night of March 9th produced a single Clouded Drab, a variable species that can have some quite attractive forms but this was one of the more drab looking ones that gives the species its name.
A far more attractive species and one of my favourite spring moths is the Oak Beauty. I was pleased to see the first one of this year turn up on the night of 15th March which was only the second night I have put the trap out so far this month.
Still a lot of cloud in the forecasts for around here for the next week or so but at least it looks like it might be a bit milder again next week.

Bye for now and stay safe,

Neil.

If the Redwings are hanging around then it may be a while yet til the butterflies come out - they're arrival is usually the sign for me that the season is wrapping up They do like to stay out of the way as you describe

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Neil Freeman wrote: ↑Wed Mar 17, 2021 7:05 pmLike most parts of the country this year it seems, it is still slow to get going around here. Almost constant cloud cover has only occasionally broken up to allow some brief sunny spells, none of which have been long enough or strong enough to do much against the chilly breeze.
A couple of walks down to the spot by my local park have failed to produce any more butterflies. The birds in my garden must think spring is here though as I am seeing lots of courtship behaviour with all the usual species chasing each other about.
A pair of Redwings have been visiting on most days, usually staying well out of reach of a decent photo by sticking to the far end of the garden and taking flight as soon as I try to sneak outside. The shot below is a crop from one taken through my kitchen window.

Agree with your thoughts, Neil. It's been a strange March up till now. Lots of high pressure but accompanied by almost constant cloud and cool temperatures.

The birds round my way seem to have taken it in their stride - they are picking up material for their nests and are very active. The plants are growing too, since night-time temperatures have been benign. All that's missing is sunshine, and that's probably why the butterflies are missing too.

Good to see you have a pair of redwings as well as a small number of moths visiting. There's always something to lift the spirits even when things aren't ideal.

Cheers Wurzel. I've not seen them since before the weekend so maybe they have now departed back to their summer haunts.

Thanks David. Yes, that cloud is getting a bit monotonous now

Tuesday 23rd March.

I've still not seen any more butterflies. Yesterday had looked promising with a forecast for scattered sunny spells and temperatures up to 12c...until it got here and we ended up with yet another day of solid grey cloud which didn't start breaking up until late in the afternoon. It was cool as well with a maximum temperature in my garden of 7 degrees.

Saturday night (20th March) was my best night so far this year with the moth trap. Cloud cover all night meant it stayed reasonably mild and with just a light breeze the result was 13 moths of 5 species. These were Common Quaker (7), Hebrew Character (3), Chestnut (1), Oak Beauty (1) and Early Grey (NFY 1).
Two different colour forms of Hebrew Character once again showed how variable these moths can be.
The forecast for last night (Monday 22nd) had tempted me to put the moth trap out, light cloud with a gentle breeze and a minimum temperature of 5 degrees didn't look too bad. Sods Law however meant that it went clear as a bell and the temperature dropped like a stone with the result that I ended up with just two moths, both Hebrew Characters.

There may be a couple of windows of opportunity to find a few more butterflies later in the week, but I expect this will change before we get there.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2637546

Bye now and stay safe,

Neil

Wednesday 24th March.

After a dull and drizzly first half to the morning, it brightened up later and by early afternoon was beginning to look like a walk down to my local spot by Wagon Lane Park might produce a butterfly or two. I wandered down there with the clouds thinning more and more until it was actually feeling quite pleasant. There was still a cool breeze in evidence, but this didn’t feel anywhere near as cold as it had been recently.
Setting off around my usual circuit, I was looking out for signs of movement or splashes of colour against clumps of dead grass which are favoured basking spots at this time of year, and I hadn’t gone far when I spotted a Small Tortoiseshell skimming along the hedge line. I watched as the sun was covered by a cloud which prompted it to settle so I slowly approached to take a few shots. As it stayed there while the cloud covered the sun, I watched it do that wing shivering that they do to keep their flight muscles warm when they start to cool down. After a couple of minutes, the sun came back out and it was off again, patrolling up and down the hedge.
Over the next hour or so as I slowly circled around, I reckon I saw six different Small Tortoiseshells, identified by differences in markings, wear and damage, plus three Commas, the latter being my first this year.
By now the clouds had thinned out much more and the butterflies were becoming more active and consequently more difficult to photograph so I mostly just enjoyed watching them chasing each other about and spiralling up into the sky.
There was also a bit of courtship activity going on and I watched one pair settle and managed to sneak up on them for a few photos before they were off again with the male in pursuit of the female.
I did notice that the blackthorn is now almost flowering and there are indeed a few more random flowers out but the bulk of it needs a few days yet.
After a colder few days toward the weekend again, it looks like next week will be warming up (yeah, I know) and I am thinking that most of the blossom will be bursting out just in time for the spring hibernators to properly emerge in numbers.

Although it seems a slow start to the year, this time in March is actually the usual period during which I would expect to start seeing my first butterflies around here. I think that seeing a few at the end of February this year, only the second time that I have actually done this around here, gave me a bit of a false expectation. I know that others further south are more used to seeing butterflies much earlier than I am but it is easy to forget how early it actually is still for my patch here.

Now for something a bit different albeit still with wings.
We get fairly regular sightings here of RAF aircraft coming to and from Birmingham Airport which is only a couple miles from my house. These have increased during the pandemic with the airport otherwise being quieter and are usually C17s or occasionally an A400m doing practice circuits. This afternoon, whilst down at Wagon Lane, I noticed an A400m climbing away from the airport in the distance and grabbed a couple of quick shots.
We have also recently seen occasional AH64 Apache gunship helicopters transiting through, usually in pairs. Back home later in the afternoon I was in the house when I heard the sound of rather loud helicopter engines, rather louder than the police helicopter that we regularly see here going back and forth from the airport. I went out into the back garden with the camera just in time to see a couple of Apache gunships flying overhead.
All in all, a decent afternoon and much better than expected.

Bye for now and stay safe,

Neil.

My turn for a cloudy day today. I'm a little bit jealous of your small tortoiseshell's still, I keep disturbing them before I spot them. Hopefully I'll catch up with some tomorrow, there's some sun predicted....for what it's worth

Cracking shots there Neil - that first Small Tort is quite a swarthy looking chap You're doing better than me for Commas - I've only seen one so far this season but fingers crossed the promised nice weather does arrive next week and I'll catch you up

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Nice to see you've had some more butterfly action round your way, Neil. I think once we go beyond the equinox, any relatively sunny day should see a few on the wing and as you rightly say, warmer weather next week (hopefully) should see plenty more taking to the air at the same time as the blackthorn blossom emerges. This is a precious time of year, with the promise of Orange Tips not far away.