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We have had a beautiful sunny day in Norfolk today.

My first 2008 butterfly made an appearance.

A Brimstone fluttered round me , mistaking my orange t-shirt for a nectar source. Once it realised I was of no value to it off it went refusing to hang around for the photo shoot that I had planned!!

A bumble bee & a Ladybird also made brief appearances but also seemed to be camera shy!

Still it made me happy to see those little glimpses of the New Season ahead.

Angie

Spring arrived for me this morning, well for at least a couple of hours.
Just going out of Salisbury I saw my first Brimstone of the year.

Me too - saw a female Brimstone in my garden at midday - first of the year!

Cheers,

- Pete

Still rubbish oopt North... not a single butterfly in 08, yet!

However, the reptiles have been a little more kind and I've seen adder, slow worm and common lizard.

The fieldfare and redwing have gone from the back field, the curlew have been piping, the robins have been fighting and the sparrows are stuffing my gutters with small twigs so Spring is definitely coming.

A month ago i saw a few small tortoise shells out in the sunshine....

I'd begun to think the seasons were going backwards this week. The fieldfare returned to the field, the curlews have stopped piping and we had snow for 5 consecutive days! However, today I went for a walk along the disused railway and saw not one, not two, but three Small Tortoiseshell! About jeffing time! My first butterflies of the year.

Saw my third species of the year today...a Brimstone flying across a London suburb High street!

Martin.

Still nothing near me!!!!

A beautiful afternoon here in Cumbria but no sign of any Butterflies yet,though I have seen Honey Bees and white tailed Bumble Bees.
Ian

Woo-hoo! Went out this afternoon to test drive a new zoom lens, expecting only to find birds really, but was very pleasantly surprised to find 2 comma butterflies chasing a peacock butterfly in the warm sunshine. Snap of one of the Commas below. Also saw a brimstone. All were seen at Madingley Hall near Cambridge.



British Summer Time is here !!!!

Trev

There is a sheltered spot near home in South Cambs where I can virtually guarantee to see a Comma in early spring. Today there was one basking within 3 or 4 metres of the same spot used this time last year and the previous year. The individual butterflies seem to remain within a small area occasionally flying but always landing quite close to the previous perch. This particular "hot spot" is conveniently within walking distance of home, but I do know of two or three other localities further away where similar behaviour has been observed.

Although a common enough species in this area, I have never seen a Comma in this particular "hot spot" at any time other than in early spring.

Jack

jackharr wrote:There is a sheltered spot near home in South Cambs where I can virtually guarantee to see a Comma in early spring. Today there was one basking within 3 or 4 metres of the same spot used this time last year and the previous year. The individual butterflies seem to remain within a small area occasionally flying but always landing quite close to the previous perch.

Jack

Indeed - saw two Commas flying togther (mating or aggressive dance, I can't say) in the Cemetery near me yesterday; went back to same spot today and was "bombed" by one of them who obviously has staked his claim to that place, tho' it could also be that there are so few nectar sources available and he wants it for himself! Once I stood still he calmed down and started to feed....
Nick

Another sunny day in Norfolk.
I was rewarded with 2 Small Tortoiseshells They were very camera shy! They quickly fled from me at a flying speed I've not witnessed before, must have just hatched with lots of energy or found a rich nectar lunch!

I may have seen a Comma too but again the flight was too fast for me to identify for certain.

Angie

Went to Wells next Sea, North Norfolk today, on family outing.

Several Brimstones seen en-route from Cambridge and at Brancaster on the N.Norfolk coast, a Small White or GV white flew across in front of the car. Both wife and I saw it and simultaneously commented "that's not a Brimstone - its' a white". So species uncertain by most likely to have been Small rather than GV White. Whatever it was, it was my first ever "white" sighting in March.

Jack

Saw my first butterfly of 2008 today - Peacock in Richmond

Saw my first swallow on 15th March and several of them swooping around together on 29th. They should be with you soon, if they're not there already...

Guy

Sand Martins here already, by 30/3!!

3 small tortoiseshells and a peacock I saw yesterday, but they did not stop long enough to get a pic, hope weather gets better so we can see more. I even had a dream that my dad said he saw a small copper on this plant at this sea area as it was getting dark and when I went to see, it was not a small copper but an oversized brown hairstreak with wings open.

A brimstone on the wing yesterday and sand martins over a lake at Thorpe Underwood, near York. The butterfly was my first since early November. Wonder if I can remember how to use the camera?

My first Peacock of the year today, bit like Bristol buses, wait for ages then three come together! Also two comma and a Brimstone in my garden this afternoon.

Denise