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Lincolnshire Approaching Spring Equinox 2022
Some pictures from March 19th 2022, Lincolnshire. (Pupae not indoors at room temperature).
Overwintered pupae:
#NaturesCalendar (possible facebook hashtag).

My first Peacock yesterday and a comma that didn’t quite get the idea of camouflage

Good stuff, Owen. I think as next week progresses we should see up to a dozen species on the wing.

Hope so, the ones i've seen so far have all been very close to him but we're getting close to species I'll need to travel for, Grizzled Skipper being the main one I really want in the next month or so.

Sunday 20th, Lower Kilvey Hill & Dan-y-Graig cemetery:

Small Tortoiseshell 14
Brimstone 10
Small White 3
Comma 1
Speckled Wood 1

My first Holly Blue of the year. A male in the garden this lunchtime. Melksham, Wiltshire

Stevieb wrote: ↑Mon Mar 21, 2022 2:29 pmMy first Holly Blue of the year...

Excellent, Steve. I hope to track down my first of 2022 tomorrow if the forecast is correct.

David M wrote: ↑Mon Mar 21, 2022 4:35 pm Excellent, Steve. I hope to track down my first of 2022 tomorrow if the forecast is correct.

David, I'll be on the hunt for Orange-tips

Good luck on the OT hunt.....I noticed some Lady's Smock in full flower yesterday, just waiting for them.

Doubled my work species total today. A male and female Brimstone were flying (but not stopping) and this Small Tortoiseshell may have been a bit battered and bruised but it was certainly enjoying the lunchtime sun.

Brimstone flying through my Wetherby garden just now.
Also a Comma.

Stevieb wrote: ↑Mon Mar 21, 2022 4:53 pmDavid, I'll be on the hunt for Orange-tips.

Good luck with that, Steve. I'm sure they'll be out by the end of the week.

David M wrote: ↑Tue Mar 22, 2022 3:01 pm I'm sure they'll be out by the end of the week.

How right you were, David.

The first one appeared today (22nd) on my local patch near Heathrow. With very few flowers available for nectar and constant bothering by Commas and Peacocks, it hardly stopped and gave no good photo opportunities. I managed one in-flight shot and one from a distance during the briefest of pauses. Dave

The Brimstone that mated in my garden on 15 March remained coupled until the afternoon of the 18th when the male departed. The female remained in situ until mid-morning on 22. Apart from the day of Saharan rain the other days saw plenty of butterfly action, I guess she would rather sit tight and safe until ready to lay.

Spent the day at Bookham. Only 3 species seen but all in good numbers, somewhere in the region of 40-45 butterflies seen, not too bad for March . Photo's will appear in due course.

millerd wrote: ↑Tue Mar 22, 2022 4:09 pm

David M wrote: ↑Tue Mar 22, 2022 3:01 pm I'm sure they'll be out by the end of the week.

How right you were, David.

The first one appeared today (22nd) on my local patch near Heathrow. With very few flowers available for nectar and constant bothering by Commas and Peacocks, it hardly stopped and gave no good photo opportunities. I managed one in-flight shot and one from a distance during the briefest of pauses.

Great stuff, Dave. Always one of the moments of the season!

No Orange Tips seen so far today on my local patch, but mid-morning the pure white of a new male Green-veined White bumbled past me as I was watching a Red Admiral on some willow flowers. I also caught a glimpse of its underside, confirming that this wasn't another Small White, but it failed to stop for a photo unfortunately.

Dave

Monday 21st - Mill Wood, Parkmill, Swansea:

Comma 3
Peacock 1
Brimstone 1

Tuesday 22nd - Cwm Ivy, NW Gower coast:

Brimstone 39
Comma 5
Peacock 5
Red Admiral 2
Small Tortoiseshell 1

Half a dozen peacock butterflies in my Aberdeen garden today.

My first post of 2022 and it is great to be back for another season. That was another tough winter to grind through in terms of the number of days of being spiritually starved. I made it through. We made it through.

I enjoy reading all of your posts and absorbing all of your knowledge and wisdom. The photos are wonderful too.

I get an enormous amount from what everyone posts and it contributes greatly to my itinerary in terms of where, when and why to go to particular places. I have had so many days out butterfly spotting courtesy of you all. Thank you for all of those memories.

In terms of a report from my corner of South Derbyshire, I have seen 177 butterflies so far in 2022. They are 104 Small Tortoiseshell, 36 Comma, 24 Peacock, 11 Brimstone and 2 Small White.