First of the new brood butterflies?

Susie · #1 (**permalink**) 27-03-2008, 08:34 AM

Yesterday I saw an Orange Tip male and Small White male butterfly in the garden. These are the first butterflies I have heard of that are definitely this seasons and not over wintered from last year. Has anyone else had any sightings?

polygro · #2 (**permalink**) 27-03-2008, 09:13 AM

Oh, lucky you

The sun is shining here this morning, no wind and a promise of a nice morning (probably be gales later

). I will be going outside very soon....

Polly

CloudedYellow · #3 (**permalink**) 27-03-2008, 05:07 PM

My first Brimstone of the year earlier on today - newly emerged and struggling to warm up. (in South Notts)

Richard

Kayleigh · #4 (**permalink**) 27-03-2008, 05:18 PM

Not butterflies, but I got a bee on my winter honeysuckle

Susie · #5 (**permalink**) 27-03-2008, 08:36 PM

Great, isn't it!

aeshna5 · #6 (**permalink**) 27-03-2008, 09:19 PM

I did see a Small/ Green-veined White a couple of weeks back, but it was over 50 metres away in flight, so a positive ID wasn't possible. Otherwise only 2 overwintering Red Admirals.

I did see my first Beefly, Bombylius sp. today at some Brunnera flowers, as well as some droneflies.

GuyF · #7 (**permalink**) 27-03-2008, 09:50 PM

Good to hear that Orange-tips and Bee-flies are starting to emerge, those are 2 species that I really can't wait to see this year.
Guy

vole-woman · #8 (**permalink**) 30-03-2008, 01:08 PM

I've just seen a peacock and a brimstone in my garden - haven't seen one of the latter for years and years. What a treat!

JonSadler · #9 (**permalink**) 30-03-2008, 03:08 PM

Just seen a comma while walking in the park. No Brimstones yet though.

Regards
Jon

A Wildlife Diary from my Local Patch

tristanba · #10 (**permalink**) 30-03-2008, 05:12 PM

Had a Bee Fly in late Feb here in London, which seems very early, but no butterflies yet other than Red Admiral.

Kayleigh · #11 (**permalink**) 30-03-2008, 06:02 PM

I saw a brown/redish butterfly in my garden today it was too quick to id

CloudedYellow · #12 (**permalink**) 30-03-2008, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonSadler

Just seen a comma while walking in the park. No Brimstones yet though.

A Wildlife Diary from my Local Patch

I too saw a Comma today, looked a bit worn already.... I don't suppose it could have over-wintered???

Richard

Cheryl · #13 (**permalink**) 30-03-2008, 07:11 PM

It's too early here for Orange-tips - I've seen my first Brimstone today and a decidedly dodgy looking Peacock - Bumble Bees have been around for a few weeks.

I've not bothered to keep a record of my sightings before - think I will from now on

UB4 gardener · #14 (**permalink**) 30-03-2008, 11:09 PM

dozens of brimstones today, quite a few commas and peacocks, 1 red admiral and small tortoiseshell. absolutely a great day for sitting out in the garden.

Chris

derekmc · #15 (**permalink**) 31-03-2008, 08:06 AM

It's nice to see that the spring has finally started after the snow and cold wind we had over the Easter holidays. Down here (Calcot, just to the west of West Reading) we had 2 male Brimstones, a Peacock and a Small Tortoiseshell in the woodland & water meadows at Holybrook Linear Park, just a few hundred yards from my house. I thought that was pretty good until I read some of these other posts, but I was looking for early damselflies at the time so perhaps I didn't do too badly!

There were plenty of bumblebees and a few queen wasps as well. Less welcome was the finding of my first harlequin ladybird for 2008 in our back garden, sitting on the bedsheet we had hanging on the washing line.

Good hunting!
Derek

tigger · #16 (**permalink**) 31-03-2008, 08:10 AM

Peacock and brimstones for me as well.

I took a small bit of video of the sunbathing peacocks, for anyone who wants a "slice of spring"

Jane

Mr Mag00 · #17 (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 01:34 PM

lucky u susie, no orange tips yet, but have just seen my first brimstone which is about 2 weeks later than i normally see them.

aeshna5 · #18 (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 07:22 PM

I haven't seen any butterflies since before Easter despite some pleasantly warm days this week! The bad news is that it's turning cold again at the weekend, with possible sleet/snow in the eastern side of the country!

Susie · #19 (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 07:25 PM

Every time the sun comes out (which does happen occasionally, honest!) I am looking around for the next butterfly but apart from those two last week I have seen ZERO.

polygro · #20 (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 07:51 PM

We had a very warm day here yesterday and I saw 2 butterflies

but they were flying so fast that all I could see was that they were both dark, probably Peacock or Red Admiral.

I am looking everywhere for any fluttering that might just be a butterfly... maybe just a little more consistent warmth

Polly

Gaina · #21 (**permalink**) 03-04-2008, 07:28 PM

I saw my first peacock of the season when I was having my cup of tea in my this afternoon. Made me happy to say the least

.

The Black Rabbit · #22 (**permalink**) 03-04-2008, 08:00 PM

Must have missed this thread.
We had two large whites emerge from their pupae almost 3 weeks ago here in sub tropical Reading...

Please click the thumbnails and then the images to sharpen them up...

TBR

Emerged March 17th, 2008

Kayleigh · #23 (**permalink**) 03-04-2008, 08:02 PM

Lovely detail Rabbit. I love the cheeky one

Wild-Woman · #24 (**permalink**) 03-04-2008, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Black Rabbit

Must have missed this thread.
We had two large whites emerge from their pupae almost 3 weeks ago here in sub tropical Reading...

Please click the thumbnails and then the images to sharpen them up...

TBR

Emerged March 17th, 2008

Excellent shots! That first image is an absolute cracker. Hope they are in the Gallery!

aeshna5 · #25 (**permalink**) 03-04-2008, 08:20 PM

Did manage to spot a Peacock today that had been basking on a flagstone + then flew off as I disturbed it (unfortunately I hadn't seen it until it took flight!).