www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Thats a stunning Orange Tip image Nick, hugely envious. I got within a hairs breadth of getting one today a few times but he just wouldn't long enough little bugger!

Indeed that is a cracking shot of an OT . All of my one's this year have either been seen from teh car or just don't stop moving

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi Buggy and Wurzel,

thank you for your kind comments. Appreciated as always.

The photo was taken in the garden. I was just raking the soil to get a nice even level ready for seeding, when i was evaded by three Orange-tips and got lucky. The brown background colour is the soil i had just been raking and, what will be my new lawn.

All the best, Nick.

Hi! Nick, I love your Orange Tip photo's can't wait to see one myself Goldie

Beautiful Orange-tip photo, Nick

Mike

Hi Goldie and Mike,

thank you both for your kind comments, appreciated as always.

Goldie i'm sure the Orange-tips will be flying in your area soon, they emerged about one week early where i live.

All the best, Nick.

Fresh water Great Ramshorn Snail.

On Sunday the 19th April even though cold and overcast i went for a short walk to check on the state of the Brown Hairstreak ovum which i hope to monitor when the larva hatch. One larva had emerged, while the other ovum about 70mm below the hatched egg was still intact, even though rather ravaged by the weather over the last seven months since it was laid. This picture shows an excellent and accurate portrait of the ovum as it looked on the 19th April, [but you will need to click on the photo]. Walking on, i came across a Small Tortoiseshell low down on Common Nettle with her wings fully expanded. I thought its got to be to cold for this butterfly to be laying eggs, but she was, just over one hundred ovum were laid on the back of the Nettle leaf in this single batch, and was a first for me which shows how well this butterfly is doing in my neck of the woods. You would never have come across this a couple of years ago. Orange-tips had also been busy laying eggs, some were very fresh, some were a few days old since the ovum was laid, having already turned orange.A couple of Comma were seen, but they were buried deep down in the vegetation, also a Peacock and, when the sun made an appearance my first Speckled Wood of the year also made a showing.

19th April

Here are some more photos from last weekend.
There is a fence between me and the subject and, couldn't get any distance from the butterfly to get a decent photo.Went back a few days later to obtain this photo, as i couldn't get a photo on the day.My first Speckled Wood of the year.I also found this roosting female Orange-tip.

I have also photographed a male Orange-tip emerging from it's pupa to complete the life cycle of photos, which are all on my blog. [bottom left hand corner of this post]

Excellent life cycle photos on your blog, Nick
Thanks for pointing it out.

Vince

Great photos Nick you were right about the OT Goldie

Hi Vince and Goldie,

thank you for your kind comments. Appreciated as always.

All the best, Nick.

A walk in Chiddingfold Wood on Sat., 25th April produced very little in the way of butterflies. With a dozen or more Brimstone, a handful of Peacock, the odd Small Tortoiseshell and a few Large and Small Whites. No wood Whites were flying and, to my surprise not a single Comma. On the same walk, in slightly warmer conditions last year in March i counted 22. I have noted a lack of these butterflies locally, compared to previous years, so not looking so good for the Comma in these parts.This male Brimstone has landed on a bank late afternoon, to bask in the weakening sun, soaking up as much heat as possible [a common habit] before going to roost for the night.Brimstone ovum, one of many found on one Common Buckthorn plant.

Neat photo of the egg Nick and the Brimstone Goldie

Hi Goldie,

thank you for the kind comments again, appreciated. Glad you liked the pictures.

I hope your eye is still on its way to making a full recovery.

All the best, Nick.

Orange-tip ovum, unusually on the top edge of a garlic Mustard leaf.

I revisited the Small Tortoiseshell ovum i found two weeks ago, and something has been helping itself to the contents of the eggs. Hopefully another visit from the hungry little critter will not be imminent.

On a short walk yesterday produced, Peacock, Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell, Holly Blue, Large White, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Orange-tip and Comma.

A couple more photos from yesterday.Peacock sunbathing on Nettles, just imagine humans doing that. Close-up of a different Peacock.

Cheers Nick,the PBF's were worth the effort.
How are the Wood Whites doing at BB ?. I've never photographed the Spring brood.
Hope to this year.

All the best ,
TREVOR.