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Saw my first Small Coppers of the year braving the Wolstonbury wind today.

Sunday 25th - another visit to Cwm Ivy on the NW Gower coast, but I also spent time on the adjacent Whiteford Burrows dunes.

Lots of Holly Blues in the woodland glade, along with Orange Tips, Large & Green Veined Whites, Brimstones, Speckled Woods and solitary Peacock and Red Admiral.

The dunes threw up three different species - a Small Tortoiseshell, my first Dingy Skipper of the year and five very early Brown Argus:

My skipper fix at Waterford Heath , Hertford

When I lived just south of Cambridge, I would make an annual pilgrimage to Waterford Heath.  Grizzled Skippers were never guaranteed but I saw them a few times.  So well done Andy - and lucky you.

Jack

What a bizarre spring so far. There was a Holly Blue in Cambridgeshire on 31st March, then another on 16th April, but no reports of any so far in the whole of Essex

That's a lovely Grizzly shot, Andy02

Oodles of Dingy and Grizzled Skippers on Denbies today. Also good numbers of Green Hairstreaks dotted over the place, leking in the scrubby corners of the hillside. Also found my first Small Heath and Small Coppers of the year.

bugboy wrote: ↑Tue Apr 27, 2021 5:36 pm...Also found my first Small Heath and Small Coppers of the year.

Thanks for putting that one on my radar, Paul. Must get out and see if there are any out round my way once this cool, cloudy period ends.

bugboy wrote: ↑Tue Apr 27, 2021 5:36 pm Oodles of Dingy and Grizzled Skippers on Denbies today. Also good numbers of Green Hairstreaks dotted over the place, leking in the scrubby corners of the hillside. Also found my first Small Heath and Small Coppers of the year.

Good to see you today, Buggy, and thank you for pointing out where you found the Small Heath. Here's one of them, plus a Small Copper from the path up the side of Steers Field. My first Small Heath of the year too. Cheers,

Dave

Nice to see Small Heath out and about. Still being quite new to the hobby I didn't expect them to be out in late April.

Otep wrote: ↑Wed Apr 28, 2021 9:07 pm Nice to see Small Heath out and about. Still being quite new to the hobby I didn't expect them to be out in late April.

They are more usually on the wing in early May, Otep, but late April isn't too surprising if we have the right conditions.

Thursday 29th - Green Hairstreaks finally out on the Gower Commons:

Managed to get a photo of an orange tip today. All photos taken at hogganfield loch, glasgow. Peacocks and tortoiseshell around as well.

Friday 30th - Good numbers (three dozen or so) of Pearl Bordered Fritillaries flying today at Ewyas Harold Common, near Pontrilas in Herefordshire:

Small Heaths and a Wall Brown on the last day of April alongside my first sighting of a Swallowtail here in Brittany. No photo yet...hoping it’ll be back tomorrow!

Nice PBF photos David. Having seen a few photos over the last few days, I have noted that they have blue eyes. I have done a little bit of research since and would I be right in saying it is only the male that has the blue eyes?

Otep wrote: ↑Sat May 01, 2021 4:52 pm...I have done a little bit of research since and would I be right in saying it is only the male that has the blue eyes?

That's a good question, Otep, and one which I cannot answer, but your comments will certainly make me check this feature out going forward.