www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Your doing well with the sightings so far Mike, wish I could join you Goldie

Nice shots of the Green-veined White, Mike. It's not yet listed on BC's first sightings of 2015

Maximus wrote:Nice shots of the Green-veined White, Mike. It's not yet listed on BC's first sightings of 2015

Looks like another appearance on March 30th has been noticed: https://twitter.com/RichardFoxBC/status ... 4370157568

Will Tweet this so that Mike's record is recognised also.

Cheers,

- Pete

Pete:

Thanks; I think Richard Fox's Picture per his Twitter of 30 March is a Library Picture.

Kind regards ~ Mike ….

Wow; it all kicked off today for me down on the Erith Marshes.

After being fortunate enough to see a couple of newly arrived Little Ringed Plovers I was kept busy by the Butterflies.

Lots of Peacocks, forty plus and my first Brimstone, Orange-Tip and Small White Butterflies of the year.

I was particularly pleased to see the Orange-Tip. A gorgeous looking arrangement viz.

Another day and some more Butterflies.

A visit to a local Open Space provided some tip-top views of lots more Peacocks (at least fifteeen) and a handful of Small Tortoiseshells; plus I managed some pictures too:
A few weeks ago I had wondered if I would be able to see any Cowslips locally this year.

The place where I had hoped to see some had been the subject of a brutal Strimmer Attack. However, I didn't need to worry; within a couple of weeks of the Attack the Cowslips were beginning to show and many have subsequently flowered.

And today; I saw many more plants in flower. Such as these super looking arrangements:

HI Mike,

Your Peacock duet is surely a prize winner. The shot of a lifetime !! .

Very best wishes,
TREVOR.

Trevor; you are kind to notice them.
Thank you.
Kind regards ~ Mike ...

I Agree, thats a spectacular Peacock image!

Me too Mike, great Peacock image, well done.

The Small Tortoiseshells are good too

Cheers,

Neil

Agreed, that is a cracker of a Peacock shot Mike

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I hadn't intended to add anything more for a few days (not wanting to outstay my welcome) but I photographed this Comma Butterfly today.

I got a surprise when I looked at the picture on the Computer. Until now, I have thought as Commas being just an Orange colour.

But the colour of this Butterfly is way beyond Orange; for me, it gives off a lovely warm glow.

The light perhaps but to me, the Butterfly looks absolutely stunning.
This Butterfly watching game is really great fun. I really never know what I will stumble across next ...

HI Mike,

There is one problem with your Peacock image. I didn't take it!! .

All the best,
TREVOR.

I agree Mike, this spring sun, slightly hazy is really bringing out the colours, the reds and oranges really are very rich.

A trip down to Lesnes Abbey Park and the nearby Woods to hopefully find some Cowslips, a Blackcap and a few Butterflies was fairly successful insofar as I managed to find some Cowslips and Butterflies. However; no Blackcap. But of course, there's always tomorrow.

And anyway; the flowers in the Park and Woods, including Bluebells, Common Dog-Violets, Cowslips, Honesty, Lesser Celandine, Wood Anemones and Wood-Sorrel were looking lovely.

I particularly liked the Common Dog-Violet:
In terms of Butterflies, I spotted 2/3 Brimstones, at least 2 Commas, 10+ Peacocks and at least 2 Small Tortoiseshells.

And I was fortunate enough to see this Brimstone Butterfly flitting from plant to plant in a Bluebell filled clearing:

Ah yes!, a Brimstone on a Bluebell, a lovely spring combination

Cheers,

Neil.

I'll second that - and so difficult to capture before they move on. Good stuff.

Dave

Hi! Mike, your so lucky to have the Blue Bells out so soon, no sign here yet, your Brimstone photos are great really Spring like love the flower pics as well Goldie

millerd: thanks for noticing this. I was really lucky since the Butterfly was moving from Bluebell to Bluebell giving me plenty of chances to take pictures. The only other Brimstones I have seen this year have whooshed past me!

Goldie M.: thanks for noticing this. The Wild Daffodils in the local Woods have run their course now and both the Wood Anemones and Bluebells are starting to carpet the ground. I hope you won't have too long to wait for your Bluebells.

Wow; almost two months to the day since I last added anything.

But I have been out and about; generally locally and thoroughly enjoying myself.

But although it's always nice to see Butterflies &c., I think that for me, the principle joy of looking for Butterflies is to photograph them; and that any photographs will often include some lovely colourful flowers.

Such as we can see here in a couple of recent pictures:
I imagine that others must think the same?

I'm looking forward to lots more in the coming months; hopefully anyway.