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Having seen Neil Hulme's post about a Large Tortoiseshell sighting at Rowland Wood ( again ! ),
I rushed through the early morning necessities, and jumped in the car, arriving dead on 09.00.
Where do you start looking ?. I soon found a basking Comma, and later an Adder on the path.
I thought a good bet was to search flowering Salllow trees, indeed each tree searched contained
several Peacocks and the odd Comma and Small Tortoiseshell, but not their large cousin.

Neil's expert eyes had not tracked our quarry down by lunchtime, when I headed home suffering
with neckache after repeatedly looking up a Sallows!.

Good to meet you again Neil, and thanks for a morning of keen anticipation !.

Trevor.

A walk along the old railway this morning in gorgeous weather, produced two male
Speckled Woods, both fresh. I am positive they were not around on Tuesday.
Also a second Small White was seen basking, along with several Peacocks.
The most unusual sighting today was a flyby Large White, this was confirmed
when a male Brimstone encountered it and took no notice and carried on.

Trevor.

Wow ! An adder. Fantastic Trevor. I spend so long in the countryside and I never, ever see a snake. I have not seen one in my whole life. Maybe this year.

Lovely Specklies, Trevor. Fresh spring brood examples are the best of the lot. Hopefully that path will be graced by Orange Tips shortly...

That Small White is almost unmarked - I wondered whether it was a GVW at first.

Cheers,

Dave

Thanks Otep. It's just me, but I would rather not encounter an Adder.
That one was warming up on the track, and soon moved on when it saw me.

Cheers Dave. I would like to be wrong but things aren't quite right for OT's
there at the moment. Every year in the past the Cow Parsley has been in
flower when OT's first appear, It's their go to plant when it clouds over.
No flowers there yet.

Keep well both,
Trevor.

Today was a day of variety and a mystery.
Walking slowly along the old railway I found a Small Tortoiseshell, these are always scarce there.
I then found another fresh, nicely marked Speckled Wood. The next Specklie find came as a shock.
How did this specimen get in such an appalling condition, in about a week ?, hence the mystery.

Whilst photographing a Small White a male Brimstone landed nearby, and I had time with it for a few shots.
It then flew further down the path and then returned to the same bramble patch as before, this time I was
able to obtain some ' stained glass ' shots. Finally I could not resist another Peacock against the sky shot.

All in all not a bad day.
Trevor.

Lovely photos Trevor. That Speckled Wood does look like it has been in a few fights in its short life doesn't it. It made me stop and think though. Is it possible that some non-hibernating species will start to hibernate, with climate change and the constant evolution that goes on? How would we know if one or two examples of a particular species did decide to do that? Maybe it has started to happen in recent years and we are unaware of it.

What I have noticed so far this year, which is probably what has happened with the Speckled Wood, is how incredibly feisty the butterflies are in my area at present. When not squabbling with each other, it seems that Bumblebees are getting a tough time from the butterflies, being chased extremely aggressively.

Great set of posts recently Trevor Unfortunately the curse of Mock Exams and the subsequent marking has hit at just the wrong time - so I;m playing catch-up Mind you it'll mean I might accrue a few Brownie points

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Otep. I think the condition of that Speckled Wood in such a short time will remain a mystery.
Cheers Wurzel. When you have finished your marking you may be able to play snowballs next week.

I took a wander along the old railway this morning only to find things very quiet, and cool.
No wonder, at 10.30, it was 9.30 yesterday .
When the sun got to work the butterflies became active. Most often seen were Peacocks.
I was pleased to find three faded Red Admirals, and a few more Speckled Woods.
Small Whites are now common place along the old line, but still no Orange Tips or Holly Blues.

Winter woollies by the end of next week?.
Trevor.

A rather splendid quartet there, Trevor. I saw you had another sunny day down there while we were plagued with cloud until it was too late for anything to fly (just as was predicted by the Met Office). I try not to let the clock change affect me - it makes no difference to how much daylight there is!

Cheers,

Dave

Nice array of species you've had lately, Trevor. Things going much colder from tomorrow so Orange Tips might have to wait till April!

That is a particularly nice Small White Trevor I reckon the Holly Blues knew something that the weather forecasters have only just cottoned onto With three more sets of Exams to mark - the poor weather has come as somewhat of a relief - it's a right nightmare trying to focus on work whilst the sun streams through the window The wait will make the OTs all the more enjoyable

Have a goodun

Wurzel

This morning during a sunny spell I quickly toured the edge of the meadow at Halnaker.
Considering how cool it was I was surprised to find a lone Small Tortoiseshell nectaring on a Dandelion.
When a cloud came over it took off and conveniently landed of a leaf, where it remained.

Trevor.

PS. Thanks Wurzel & David. As you can see I had some luck today.

The brilliant sunshine this morning provided the temptation for a visit to the old railway.
On arrival a large cloud blocked out the sun, and I regretted only having two tops on.
When the sun reappeared I found a male Speckled Wood doing it's best to warm up.
Then came a period of hectic activity ( for me ) when a very fresh male Large White
was seen in the distance, stopping frequently to nectar, but spending only a few seconds
on each flower. After much chasing I eventually obtained several usable images.

It was on the way back to the car that I found the prize of the morning, a fresh female
Speckled Wood. Females are rarely seen compared to the squabbling males, hence I
don't have many images of females. So I went home happy to have seen three butterflies
in very cool and often cloudy conditions.

Trevor.

Cracking images of the Large White Trevor They can be very difficult to photograph during the spring so the cooler air must have helped, I was hoping for the same yesterday but only the battle hardened Small Torts came out to play

Have a goodun

Wurzel

That's a welcome, placid Large White, Trevor. Must admit, the only one I've seen this year was similarly well behaved.

I had to make the most of what is forecast to be the best day of weather for the rest of this week.
My first visit was to High and Over to search for Holly Blues. Just one male was found, and it was
at a fairly manageable height, but I still had to hold the camera above my head !. It only partially
opened up before flying off.
My next session was at the old railway. Here I found a very beautifully marked female Speckled Wood,
with bold cream markings. Other butterflies that obliged for the camera were a male Brimstone,
and a Small White. There are now enough male Speckled Woods present for squabbles to break out,
and a Large White was seen off, and a Red Admiral was challenged.
No OT's yet but the whole site look ready to welcome them with Cow Parsley and Garlic Mustard
starting to flower.

Trevor.

Excellent set of photos Trevor. Extremely clear and crisp.I particularly like the Speckled Wood. More butterflies where you are than where I am. It was dull, extremely windy and the air had a chill to it.

Thanks Otep and Wurzel & David earlier.
The butterflies are there Otep, we just need the right weather, this does not
look too good for the South East in the coming days.

Stay well all,
Trevor.

That's a lovely set of shots, Trevor! My turn to give you a for that Holly Blue - plus another for having sunshine today...

Cheers,

Dave