What butterflies are flying around your garden today?

Deb London · #31 (**permalink**) 03-04-2011, 08:32 PM

Green Hairstreak!

Yes, lots of luck has been sent your way Robin. I want to see pictures and hear of successes, mind you.

Deb London · #32 (**permalink**) 07-04-2011, 03:43 PM

Two garden firsts this afternoon. A Holly Blue (too skittish for shots) and a Speckled Wood. No idea of sex. BUT JUST HOW HAIRY IS THIS BUTTERFLY!?! I couldn't believe it when I looked at the shots.

Deb London · #33 (**permalink**) 10-04-2011, 06:16 AM

Just a brief glimpse of an unidentified white and two Holly Blues yesterday. One seemed to be patrolling the garden. When the other came they seemed to fight. And then there was just one for the remainder of the day. Never settled for long enough to take a shot.

Deb London · #34 (**permalink**) 10-04-2011, 03:06 PM

First ever Orange Tip spotted in the garden today, along with the usual Holly Blues and Small Whites. We have a small city garden so methinks maybe I've died and gone to heaven.

aeshna5 · #35 (**permalink**) 11-04-2011, 05:05 AM

When I left the house midday on Friday there was both Speckled Wood + Holly Blue in the front garden + my partner saw an Orange Tip + Holly Blue in my neighbour's garden while I was away yesterday.

Susie · #36 (**permalink**) 11-04-2011, 07:09 AM

Orange tips and brimstone egg laying in my garden yesterday

Hedera · #37 (**permalink**) 20-04-2011, 06:36 PM

Two, or a pair? These Speckled woods have been around for three days now, patrolling the same part of the garden.

Gemini21 · #38 (**permalink**) 21-04-2011, 07:11 PM

I think it was a Holly Blue. It was flitting around by the bluebells and lilac trees. When it came to rest, its wings were up showing the undersides. Wingspan approx. 2.5cm. Very pretty.

Deb London · #39 (**permalink**) 21-04-2011, 08:00 PM

Sounds exactly right doesn't it.

That's the one that is most common in my garden at the moment. One patrols the rose arch and I think I've seen courtship behaviour with another.

All very exciting, but there is no holly in flower (the bush is too young) so I am a little concerned that my garden is far from ideal.

EDIT The rose arch is in a coppiced "hedge" containing a sp. of Dogwood, so maybe that's what it has discovered.

aeshna5 · #40 (**permalink**) 22-04-2011, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deb London

Sounds exactly right doesn't it.

That's the one that is most common in my garden at the moment. One patrols the rose arch and I think I've seen courtship behaviour with another.

All very exciting, but there is no holly in flower (the bush is too young) so I am a little concerned that my garden is far from ideal.

EDIT The rose arch is in a coppiced "hedge" containing a sp. of Dogwood, so maybe that's what it has discovered.

Holly Blues don't need Holly, though that is the common native host for the first brood. They will use a wide range of woody plants including dogwoods, Pyracantha, Snowberry + many more.

I've seen them in abundance in countries where there's no Holly.