www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

It's all cloudy and cold today but yesterday was beautiful. I went for a long walk hoping for a Peacock or Comma out of hibernation. No luck with that but I did find my first Primrose of 2014 and here's a snap of it taken on my mobile phone Just when I'd thought a mild Winter could only be a good thing I read in yesterday's Times that "Butterflies have also suffered and not just from the winds and rain. The mild Winter has increased the diseases that attack eggs or caterpillars and warm days have also brought out butterflies too early, when there are few plants on which to feed".

Butterflies seem to come off the worst no matter what happens!

Don't believe everything you read Hoggers
From Butterfly conservation Website "Washout 2012 was the worst year for UK butterflies on record with 52 out of the 56 species monitored suffering declines, a scientific study today revealed."
and yet the progeny from last years "washout" again from Butterfly conservation website about farmland butterflies "For the fifth year in succession the Meadow Brown was the most widespread and abundant species. The butterfly was recorded in more than 90% of squares with 8,000 more butterflies counted in 2013 than 2012." don't you just love statistics

Wildlife charities have a most difficult job with regards to press releases. they need the funds, the membership, the volunteers and the support etc so if they say everything is fine then the chances are they would lose some of it.

Goodness me Hoggers! Primroses out already! I'm hoping that the really good numbers of a lot of the species that did so well last year will make up for the losses.

I've had a very exciting day! It's been so warm and sunny you'd think Spring had arrived but I wasn't expecting anything more than a Crocus or two. However, when I wandered up the garden this morning I discovered my first batch of frogspawn I usually have to wait until around 10th March

But here it is and looking very healthy indeed What pleased me most though is that it is in the pond I installed only last year, so it has very quickly become established as a wildlife pond ( and a Goldfish Free Zone! )

I was also delighted to see the Lesser Celandine that I rescued from a building site and planted in the garden is just coming into flower But best of all, I've seen my first butterfly of 2014 I came across this Peacock while strolling around Orlestone Forest at around mid-day.

It was basking on a woodpile but went for a flutter The afternoon had become pleasantly warm and I started to think I was in with a chance of more butterflies, I could so easily imagine a Brimstone flying along the woodland rides!

Little in the way of flowers to nectar from but I did see a few of these Colt'sfoot However, the Peacock was the only butterfly that I saw Still, I was delighted to see it. My 2014 Butterfly Year has begun!

Happy New (butterfly) Year Hoggers

Have a goodun

Wurzel

There's been a cold, strong wind blowing down here in Kent today. The sun did peep through now and again, and in sheltered spots it got quite warm. I went for a walk in the woods seeing Blackthorn in flower and hearing several birds singing including Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Chaffinch and from just over the fields a lone Skylark.

I came across some Snowdrops still looking very healthy But the Winter Aconites are almost over Walking home I found this Queen Red-Tailed Bumblebee in rather a sorry state She was in the middle of the field and in the full force of the cold wind. I popped her in my coat pocket and went looking for somewhere sheltered to put her. Luckily I found a patch of Dandelions out of the wind and she seemed to buck up quite quickly I've seen a Common Carder Bumblebee in the last week and a White-Tailed Bumblebee too, as well as a few Ladybirds Things seem to be moving in the right direction!

A lovely sunny morning. I took a walk along the river in the hope of seeing a Small Tortoiseshell. There are a number of good spots where at this time of year there's a chance of finding one basking in the sun. I did see a Kingfisher but no butterflies and I noticed that although the sun was out, the air felt a little cool. I saw no insects at all, not even a Bumblebee.

Walking home across the fields a bright yellow patch of Colt's Foot caught my eye amongst all the dead grass stalks and I thought it worth investigating. I could hardly believe my eyes when as I drew nearer I saw a Small Tortoiseshell on one of the flowers Sometimes it pays to think like a butterfly! I spend about 10 minutes in its company, marvelling at its lucky survival through the Winter and feeling very happy to be in the presence of a living thing that is more at home in Summertime It eventually took off towards the river and made for a most unusual sight, an unmistakable flying black silhouette against the deep blue of the empty March sky.

When I got home to look at the photographs I could also rather enjoy its weather-worn appearance and admire the battle scars of this brave little survivor

A gorgeous day and I had my first butterfly visitor to the garden Just managed to run indoors to get my camera before it was joined by a second Tortoiseshell and they both flew off at speed!

Lovely shots Hoggers Let's hope it's a taste of things to come and Small Torts have another great year

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Wurzel - I saw three Tortoiseshells this lunchtime in Canterbury so they seem to be around in noticeable numbers already.

Warm, sunny and at the weekend too! What a treat!

I went for a walk in Orlestone Forest this afternoon and saw four species of butterfly in just over an hour.

The first was the butterfly I most wanted to see, a Brimstone. I guess it was top of my list because I wanted confirmation that Spring really has arrived. It made for a wonderful sight flying through the bare trees and bushes, a jaunty, energetic flash of vivid colour. It was far too busy to settle and so this was the best of my efforts at taking its photograph Doesn't do it justice! But I felt enormously happy to see it.

Next came a fine Peacock There's a particular open ride through the forest where I'm always lucky with Commas at this time of year and it didn't disappoint today I so admire the way they blend in with the surroundings.

I also saw a single Red Admiral there but it eluded my every effort at taking its picture!

So that was butterfly number four. Most satisfying.

Quite a few Bumblebees about, including this one which I think is a Common Carder I also saw an orgy of frogs and mounds of frogspawn in one of the forest ponds. There'll be plenty of Mozzies for the froglets to eat if Orlestone lives up to its reputation!

It's still warm and sunny as I write and it's set to stay awhile yet: Marvellous!

Today was all that the weather forecasters promised it would be: warm and sunny. The butterflies are obviously making the most of it. In total I've seen six whilst in the garden and on my walk with the dogs. At home I had fly-pasts from a Peacock and a Small Tortoiseshell. On the walk I saw another Peacock, a gorgeous Brimstone and two Small Tortoiseshells.

This photo gives a flavour of what it's like along the riverbank with small islands of Dandelions in a sea of dead brown grass but now that the sun is out these islands are brightened even further with hungry butterflies It's grand to see the hibernating butterflies up and at it again after so long, but so warm and Spring-like was it today I half expected to see an Orange Tip come fluttering along the riverbank. Not long now!

Hoggers wrote:...but so warm and Spring-like was it today I half expected to see an Orange Tip come fluttering along the riverbank. Not long now!

Too right. I can see the first Orange Tips emerging before the spring equinox. Like you, I had them in mind today whilst I was out in Abergavenny.

Great reports Hoggers and great shots of the Small Torts There have a been a few Small Whites reported so I'm keeping my eye open for the OT's and keep expecting to see them even though I know it's still to early.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

ps - just looked back at the Bee - it looks like a Tree Bee more than a Carder

Thanks for the bumblebee ID Wurzel. I'm a member of Bumblebee Conservation but am sorry to say I can only identify a Red-Tailed Bumblebee! I'd never even heard of a Tree Bee but now you've pointed it out I think you're absolutely right.

I'm keeping an eye open for Small Whites and (hopefully!) an Orange Tip if this weather continues.

Cheers

Hi Hoggers

Your Bumblebee shot is interesting and unlikely to be a Common Carder Bee as they normally have a ginger head and pale brown banding over the entire abdomen. It is possibly a dark form of the Tree Bee Bombus hypnorum which is a recent colonist in the UK from the continent.

I'm no expert and could be incorrect but it is an unusual specimen nonetheless.

Thanks for sharing.

Fascinating, Paul, I had no idea.

I took the photo because I'm trying to make an effort to learn how to identify bumblebees. It's not as easy as I'd hoped!

Best wishes

Hoggers

I was lucky to finish work early on this beautiful,warm and sunny day and by 1pm I'd collected my spaniel and we were walking along the riverbank. It was absolutely gorgeous and the butterflies were out. I saw 12 Small Tortoiseshells along the river either feeding on Dandelions or chasing around after each other It's marvellous that so many have survived the winter.

Just as I walked back home I came across two Small Tortoiseshells and a Peacock dog fighting and took a couple of snaps They were really going for it, fast and close,up high and down low. Good to see.

More Tortoiseshells! A short stroll along the river this afternoon produced 11 of them

This time, unlike yesterday, not nectaring but patrolling up and down the riverbank and giving chase whenever they came across each other. At one point I sat watching 4 together. One would generally peel off from the game and continue searching low over the growing nettles, suddenly nose diving then immediately flying back up again.

I came across these two involved in courtship activity During my walk I also saw 2 Peacocks and 2 Brimstones as well as many bumblebees.

When I went out with the hounds this morning it wasn't quiet as warm as it has been these last few days but I did see two Small Tortoiseshells As well as good numbers of bumblebees.

In the garden the Borage I planted has now begun to sprout up so I should have lots of happy bees come summer.

And there's plenty still going on in the ponds. I saw this chap sitting on a mound of spawn (If he's a she I extend my apologies!) A mighty fine looking beast.