Re: Padfield
Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2023 7:23 pm
Hi Wurzel. I think UK small tortoiseshells are just as tough! Despite the air temperature here, the radiant heat on the south-facing vineyards is something special.
Today again, small tortoiseshells and Queens were flying in the valley - as they have probably been all week, as it has been sunny every day. There was a chilly wind still today, and it actually felt cold, but it didn't deter them.
Here are three different Queens:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2023/lathonia11feb2023b.jpg)
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2023/lathonia11feb2023f.jpg)
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2023/lathonia11feb2023a.jpg)
As usual, the real hotspot was this crumbling bank:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2023/11feb2023a.jpg)
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2023/minnielathonia11feb2023a.jpg)
The main nectar source at the moment is speedwell, which grows in straggling clumps in the stepped vineyards:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2023/urticae11feb2023d.jpg)
The snow has almost entirely gone from the valley floor:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2023/11feb2023c.jpg)
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2023/11feb2023b.jpg)
Firebugs were out last week but in much greater numbers today - almost always running around in pairs:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2023/firebugs11feb2023a.jpg)
Guy
Today again, small tortoiseshells and Queens were flying in the valley - as they have probably been all week, as it has been sunny every day. There was a chilly wind still today, and it actually felt cold, but it didn't deter them.
Here are three different Queens:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2023/lathonia11feb2023b.jpg)
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2023/lathonia11feb2023f.jpg)
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2023/lathonia11feb2023a.jpg)
As usual, the real hotspot was this crumbling bank:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2023/11feb2023a.jpg)
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2023/minnielathonia11feb2023a.jpg)
The main nectar source at the moment is speedwell, which grows in straggling clumps in the stepped vineyards:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2023/urticae11feb2023d.jpg)
The snow has almost entirely gone from the valley floor:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2023/11feb2023c.jpg)
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2023/11feb2023b.jpg)
Firebugs were out last week but in much greater numbers today - almost always running around in pairs:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2023/firebugs11feb2023a.jpg)
Guy