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The final photo of the aberration Peacock.

It was a pure privilege to have found and photographed this delightful butterfly and,the only way to show you the true beauty of this individual aberration Peacock was to put a photo of a normal Peacock along side it, and let the picture do the talking for me.The butterfly overall is more colourful, the eye-rings on the hindwings are much lighter and more pronounced, the blue on the eyes on the forewings much richer, the first small spots by these eyes are much larger than normal with a smudge of black on one end towards the wing margins. Plus the two extra spots on the hindwings just off to one side from the eyes, must make this Peacock unique.

So not "blind" but a "four eyes" Nice

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Wurzel, it would have been nice if it was a Blind one, but not as beautiful.

All the best, Nick.

Saturday morning i ventured over to Chiddingfold Wood where i was to meet up with my good friend Mark Colvin at midday, but by the time Mark arrived i had had enough. The wind being bitterly cold for the first couple of hours, and seeing no butterflies at all, i thought i would return home for a spot of DIY. I stayed long enough to meet Mark, explaining it was pretty pointless staying any longer, so we both went our seperate ways. Within minutes of leaving the wet stuff came pouring down from the sky above. So a good decision. So once i got home, i got on with my work, and then out came the sun, typical. As i worked i kept looking out of the window, and the sun was still shinning brightly. In the end it became to much, me indoors, the sun out doors, i had to go, and so cleaned up, got my camera and, disappeared into the countryside. The wind was still quite bitter, but warmer than it had been earlier in the day, but when i arrived at my chosen destination i thought maybe i should of stayed at home, no butterflies, "its going to be one of those disappointing days where i go home without a single sighting of a butterfly and no photos" i said to myself. Well, being one not to give up easily i plodded on, then i got my first sighting of the day, a Small Tortoiseshell, then a second one, which i soon lost sight of. I wandered off, my hopes higher, but nothing, so i returned to where i had seen the two S.T. and, this time i got lucky and, managed a few photos that i was pleased with. So instead of going home all grumpy, i had a smile on my face.I have two photos taken today which are my favourites, this one below, and another which i will post when i manage to resize it.P.S. i was using my Lumix

This is my other favourite photo from saturday afternoon, resized at last. I had to paint in the background, which is why its taken a bit longer to post, don`t think much of my brush strokes though, could have been better but, it will have to do.

A short walk to and fro from work [under 20 min.]at lunchtime today produced two Orange-tip males [one in the garden], Comma, Small White, and two firsts for me this year, two male Holly Blues [one in the garden] and a Green-veined White. Things look to be picking up around here, lets hope it continues.

Saturday, 4th May.
After working all morning i thought i would try my luck out at my favourite site for Orange-tips. The weather was warm, but cloudy, so i hoped to find one or two roosting. There are four small areas, each divided by thickets of Blackthorn, the first two conjured up a couple of Comma and, a Peacock, then moving on to area three i found my first Orange-tip, a female, and in area four my first Orange-tip egg of the year. Eventually with the sun making an appearance a few males showed themselves, plus anther female, and it was the females i stuck with, giving me a very enjoyable three hours.

Cracking shots Nick Female Orange-tips are so much nicer than some of the other whites aren't they?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Wurzel, appreciated. I`m glad you said "female Orange-tips are nicer than some of the whites" and not all, as the Wood White is one of my favourite butterflies, shame its not flying as yet, and probably won`t be for at least another week.

Nice work, Nick ...

I particularly like the second shot, which I assume is pictured on the blackthorn

Thanks Mark, appreciated, and yes she is on the Blackthorn.

All the best, Nick.

Another picture from the same day, the same butterfly on Blackthorn again, where she seemed quite content to perch throughout much of the afternoon.

Sunday, May 5th

My trip to Chiddingfold Wood today was solely to find a Wood White and, after an extensive search i came up with nothing, not a single Wood White. Normally i would have seen my first one around the 20th April, no earlier. Looking for the caterpillars food plant, which is mainly Bird`s-foot Trefoil here in this wood, i found it just starting to show, about 5mm, and from my experience the plant needs to be 50mm in height to accomodate the egg laying female Wood White. Another plant well behind, is Dyer`s GreenWeed the main larval food plant of the Green Hairstreak in these parts. So i don`t expect to see a Wood White until this weekend coming, but not in great numbers and, the Green Hairstreak not until the 20th May or later. On the other hand some plants are doing much better this year in C.W., Cowslips and Cuckoo Flower along with Early Purple Orchid having all improved their numbers.

May 5th continued

Last breath, ............. of a Bee-fly...........

if it's any consolation a few bees may have been saved by the spider by taking the bee-fly
lovely coloured individual.

Chris

May 5th continued
Whilst the day was warm, the sun stayed away for the whole of my visit, and butterflies were really hard to come by. But this Willow Warbler caught my attention, with it`s beak full of feathers to line it`s nest.I watched it at a distance fly down to the ground, and enter it`s nest. After it flew away i had a very quick look for the nest, and took this photograph showing the top of the domed shaped nest.I only saw three butterflies all afternoon, one male Orange-tip on arrival, my first Speckled Wood of the year and, a single Peacock which obliged me with my only picture of a butterfly.

Hopefully it'll get better by the weekend Nick but at least you managed to get that great shot in the mean time:D

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Wurzel, hopefully i will be posting a photo of a Wood White over the weekend, you have always got stay positive, looking on the bright side of life.

Have a great weekend yourself.

All the best, Nick.

Hi Nick,

With the fallen oak leaves, that is a deceptively autumnal looking Peacock photo, unusual shot for spring, I like it.

Cheers,

Neil F.

Thanks Neil, appreciated, the photo was taken in an area where the vegetation has been cut back hard, and the new growth does not seem to have materialized as yet.

Denbies, May 6th. Just a quick post, until i have more time to do the trip justice.
I visited this location to photograph the Green Hairstreaks, seeing three individuals, my first this year, also saw my first Grizzled skippers of the year, six in number. Here are a couple of record shots.

Denbies, May 6th
My visit to this area of the North Downs was solely to photograph the Green Hairstreak. As soon as i arrived i found this individual sitting high up on this Hawthorn, could not of wished for a better start to the day.Other butterflies seen. Speckled Wood, Peacock, Holly Blue, Orange-tip, Grizzled Skipper, Brimstone, Small, Large and Green-vained White. Also three Adders, one male adult and, two immature, probably last years young, and a Red Kite that flew just a few feet above my head. All in all, a well spent few hours.