April 2014

[Lee Hurrell]

A lunchtime stroll to the gardens in Acton where I normally see my first Holly Blue of the year proved negative today. I did see one Small White though.

One day this week for Holly Blue I would imagine.

Lee

[badgerbob]

I had a Holly Blue this morning as I was leaving the house in Seaford.

[Mark Senior]

First brand spanking new Speckled Wood on my little transect on Tarring Road adjacent to the railway near West Worthing Station . Adds to Peacock , Small T , Comma , Brimstone and Small White seen here already this year .

[Trev Sawyer]

Spring has definitely arrived in Cambridge... During my lunchtime walk near the river Cam, I saw over 40 Small Tortoiseshells, 11 Brimstones, 8 Peacocks and finally, my first definite new hatchings of 2014... A male Orange Tip and a male Small White

Trev

[Marc Heath]

A look in East Blean Woods, Kent this afternoon produced 3 HEATH FRITILLARY caterpillars ( 1cm long). A shot is posted below with more shots on my Blog: http://www.marcheath.blogspot.com. Also noted were 1 male Orange Tip, 1 Small White with a few Comma and Peacock. Nearby I had 2 Speckled Wood, 1 Small White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Comma and 4 Peacock.

Marc

[Neil Hulme]

Nice Heath cats Marc, particularly the first one.

Grizzled Skipper now on the wing in Sussex. More at viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4065&start=1520

BWs, Neil

[David M]

This thread is turning me green!

Great sightings and a sign that this spring could be highly advantageous to UK butterflies so long as we don't relapse into an extreme spell of cool/wet weather.

Fingers crossed.

[essexbuzzard]

Like in 2012,David?

Grizzled Skipper? I can feel a trip to Sussex coming up soon!

[Paul Harfield]

I have seen a patch both Cowslips (Winchester) and Garlic Mustard (Colden Common) in flower today as well as a Peacock still on the wing at gone 6pm this evening Is this unusual for April 1st

[Lee Hurrell]

I saw quite a few Cowslips last Friday at Howell Hill, Ewell in Surrey.

Lee

[adrian riley]

News from Norfolk
Two Orange-tip in the south of the county yesterday (Apr. 1) and one Green-veined White today at Pensthorpe.
Adrian
http://www.bugalert.net

[jasonbirder]

Male Orange Tip in Nottinghamshire yesterday April 1st (Whitwell Wood LNR)

[Marc Heath]

One of my favourite butterflies, the male Orange Tip seen yesterday near Reculver, Kent. More shots on my Blog: http://www.marcheath.blogspot.com

Marc

[Lee Hurrell]

Lovely photo, Marc.

Any day now...

Best wishes,

Lee

[Testudo Man]

Almost captured a photo of a Holly Blue today, but since i was at work, my camera was some distance away(in my car) and my prehistoric mobile phone failed when i needed it the most!!! Im sure if i had one of those new fandangled smart phones(with awesome mega pixel camera/zoom) i would have definitely got the shot!
Anyway, great to see the the Holy Blue all the same. Saw the holly blue at approx 2.30pm. 3/4/14.

Peacock and Small White once again seen in the garden. Location - Kent.

[Marc Heath]

I made another trip back to East Blean Woods after work today in warm but cloudy conditions to see if I could find any Heath Fritillary caterpillars and after a good search was pleased to find 3 in a raised area with lots of moss, the biggest about 7mm long. Despite the lack of light I think I got my best shot yet using my new Sigma 150mm macro lens which I appear to be getting used too. No doubt I shall be back for more! Some more shots are on my Blog: www.marcheath.blogspot.com

[Padfield]

Lovely weather on the Suffolk coast today. I went in search of large tortoiseshells but found none - not that surprising! But it was lovely to see the numbers of peacocks, small tortoiseshells, orange tips and commas about this spring.







And the first butterfly of the day, in the garden, a holly blue:



Guy

[Hoggers]

Two firsts for me today: a Holly Blue

And an Orange Tip

Both in my garden (Ashford, Kent)

Best Wishes

Hoggers

[Lee Hurrell]

One day this week for Holly Blue I would imagine.

Or maybe this week!

My first Holly Blue of the year seen this morning near Baron's Court underground station, west London. A stroll around the gardens in Acton again proved negative. 1 male Brimstone though.

Lee

[Mark Senior]

Three first of the year for me today on my short transect along the railway at Tarring Road , West Worthing .
Single Holly Blue , Large White and Female Green Veined White . Surprisingly not a single Nymphalid but 3 x Speckled Woods , 3 Male and 1 Female Brimstone and 6 or so Small Whites