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And so it begins.............

I vowed to start my personal diary the day I photographed my first butterfly in 2014,that day has now arrived.

A wander around my local patch,Buchan Park and adjacent woodlands, produced the first spring entries into my field notes.

Comma Oh so lovely as always.

The adders were waking up and surprisingly spritely. The Common Lizards were also having a spot of sunbathing in the mild conditions,15C,March 8th,brilliant. A few Brimstones around as well,and something resembling a Peacock wizzed by at top speed.

Lovely. I like Buchan cp and woofer likes swimming in the dog pond. A trip there could be on the cards tomorrow.

I am looking forward to seeing more entries in your diary

Very nice shots BB, the Adders are fab, look forward to more

Mike

Wow your day was almost a carbon copy of mine! What are the chances I didn't see any lizards but my day was one of Commas and Adders too.

Sunday 9th March 2014

Lovely morning/day,just had to be out today.I wandered down to the Broadfield Pond to see if there was anything showing,a few Brimstones were already on the wing but not a lot else.However,noticing a commotion in the margins of the pond,I found the local population of Common Frogs were in full-on breeding mode.Sat down and studied them for half an hour,what joy. I then had a quick scout round and moved onto Buchan Park to see if anything was going on.The first Tiger Beetles were flying,but not too many reptiles around yet,found a spot in a clearing in the woods that was just spot on for early Nymphalids.A good hour was spent watching and stalking for photographs,a joyous mid afternoon spent in barmy temperatures,in March. Enjoyed that.

Hi BB,

Good start to your diary, looking forward to more as the season gets going.

Neil F.

A great start to the PD Buchan - long may it continue

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Friday 14th March 2014

North West Crawley in the North East of West Sussex.....in the middle of the Wield has a strip of "common land", that has sort of been left aside of any further expansion of the new town project. I suspect the long term arrangement is it will be devoured by a second runway when a government with some balls finally makes a decision about these matters. Until then I have this land to roam in search of wildlife and suchlike, and todays preoccupation was the plethora of Commas and Small Tortoiseshells that have majestically appeared with the coming of late winter sun. I actually don't recall seeing so many of the aforementioned species before in this area.This area is much famed for its Brown Hairstreak populations that I will be reporting on later..........hopefully.In the meantime some of the post hibernators photographed today.
About 25-30 Small Tortoiseshells seen,10-15 Commas,1 Brimstone(where did they all go?) and 2 Peacocks that I couldn't follow.No Red Admirals yet?????. Its only the 14th of March, it was the Arctic this time last year, completely mad!
Thanks

Hi Buchan boy, another good post. I look forward to reading more about your brown hairstreaks. I saw one last year flying over the car boot market at Pease pottage!

Saturday 15th March 2014

Another corking day after 11am,over to Buchan Park for a look around. I'm still amazed at the amount of Commas around at the moment, truly brilliant. Not so many Small Torts over this side of Crawley,I've only seen one in Buchan Park itself,and none today,good habitat as well.Still struggling with seeing snakes,perhaps they are weary of popping out this early,did spot my first Grass Snake but it exploded into action as I rounded the thicket it was bathing on the edge of,no chance,but I know now where one likes to bathe.I reckon some Speckled Woods will be on the wing very soon at this rate. The first Orthopteranian of the year,they can be found all year round,but hide in leaf litter through the winter. Plenty of common lizards starting to show, they'll begin their mating soon. The Common Toads are all mating up and I found a rather magic spot where they have all congregated,plan to get back up there tomorrow for some further study. Oh to be camouflaged! Oh to be loud! Same again tomorrow,thinking Toads and Grass Snakes.
Thanks

Greta stuff Buchan Boy The Green Tiger Beelte is a good get as they tricky little bu££er$ to get shots of, and you're right I always see Specklies and Green Tiger beetles at around the same time so soon...

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Magnificent Shots Buchan Boy, particularly the lizard, toad and final Comma - stunning

Sunday 16th March 2014

Thanks for the kind comments people.

Checked in on the small reserve at Broadfield Pond,it did get rather warm rather early today,not much stopping.
A couple of Small Tortoiseshells around. My first Speckled Wood of the year,March the 16th. Nearly got a male Brimstone but naaa.......couple of Commas and a couple of Peacocks around as well.

Seeing the Speckled Wood made me ponder if there were any other emergences this early,I shot up to Newdigate Brickworks where good colonies of Specklies and Orange Tips are normally found,but nothing.
One Peacock was showing. The Newdigate site is looking more and more as an absolute dead cert for Brown Hairstreaks later on in the year,a huge bank of Blackthorn facing the sun all day long,I believe they have now been found here,anyone out there know much about Hairstreaks here?,I'll probably be finding out August time.
Back to work...............

They must be there. I've found them on the Sussex border by the a24 so they must be further north too

Oooh, a Specklie

I wondered if I might see one today, not quite yet around here but can't be long now.

Cheer,

Neil.

Great stuff Buchan Boy Looks like I was right about the Green Tiger Beetle and the Specklie

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I spent half an hour in Linda Vista Gardens in Abergavenny this morning looking for Speckled Woods and/or Whites. No joy but I'm sure it won't be long.

Well done for spotting yours, BB.

Saturday 29th March 2014

Joy of joy,spring has sprung!

Today,I decided that a sweep of South-West Crawley was in order.With the wonderful weather and nursing a slight hangover,from seeing a Madness tribute band the night before,a walk was called for.

Started at my usual haunt of Buchan Park,but decided to have a look at the "island" of deciduous woodland behind the nature centre,an island because of the two roads that taper it towards a junction,erm,noisy I guess is the word I'm looking

for!Quite chuffed really,although I've seen bucketloads of Brimstones this year,i haven't managed to photograph one yet.(Note to self,try harder with Brimstones).

Just having a warm up before not stopping at all today.............
A slow-worm was spotted,also first of the year Then towards where the roads meet a small clearing has been formed where some Hawthorn was in bloom and Peacocks were nectaring
I'll spend a bit more time here in the future,potential looks good.Also Small Tortoiseshell and Brimstones loitering but no success with photos. Moved on and went up to the reserve on Target Hill,Broadfield,same as,Peacocks and Brimstones and Commas Moved round to the Southern side of the reserve where upon I tripped over the Small Tortoiseshell bombardment,i was surprised,but it is their world at the moment.An amazing year for them,never seen anything like this around this town. A particularly hairy lady! Frayed wings It was great to spend time with 20/30 urticaes in one small area,watching them go about their daily chores!
Time to shift down to the small wood and environs at Broadfield Pond,expecting the Specklies to be emerging,all was good. Probably 5/6 all told,tomorrow I will go again and see some more.
I liked this shot,as with the Tortoiseshells,its been marvellous this year. Some are looking pretty knackered! This Peacock was very approachable.... So I studied the wing markings,Its quite remarkable really when looked at so close,I ponder the variations in these,and also is there "a face of Christ out there somewhere" (hairs stand up on back of neck!) And that was that,thought I might go and see if I could find some Brimstones settling down to roost but a chicken madras won!
One more Comma? Oh go on then. That was my day......
Thanks

Some lovely clean shots, thanks for sharing them. I have to agree on the numbers of of Small Tortoiseshells so far this spring but no sign of Speckled Woods in my part of the fens yet,

Rob

Great close up shots But I'm really envious of your Specklies - I was hoping for one today but no joy still

Have a goodun

Wurzel