first flowers,ladybirds+butterfly

[goosey]

At last, we have a bit of potential colour in the garden. Our first snow drop appeared today and will probably be fully open tomorrow as did the first muscari but what surprised me is that the iris reticulata are ready to open, last year the irises didn't flower untill the end of April. I was out painting the wall ,taking advantage of the glorious sun shine (13 degrees)and saw two active 7 spot ladybirds and a Red Admiral, I just hope we don't have a temperature drop now or everything will suffer.

[Gill Catton]

First cocksfoot yesterday, first celendine and first chaffinch in song today.... spring's a comin'!!!

[davewalker]

First Bumble bee and first Honey bee on very late/early flowers of Mahonia.Also seven spot Ladybirds all over the garden,counted 14. The sun was really warm on my back as I snapped away.

davew

[jennyb]

I have already seen more ladybirds this year than in the whole of 2006!

Jenny

[aeshna5]

Seen quite a few wild flowers out now. 3 days ago saw a clump of Lesser Celandine in full flower in a nearby garden + on Friday my first Field speedwll at Wetland Centre.

Managed 5 butterflies in Jan (4 Red Admiral, f. Brimstone)- last year didn't see my first until late March!

Yesterday went with a friend to a reserve near Bracknell + saw a further 3 Red Admirals flying about + 3 7-spot Ladybirds basking in the sun at the top of a small pine sapling.

My friend is a keen spider enthusiast so took his beating tray to find what was about- prettiest was a crab spider called Diaea dorsata. Good numbers of ladybirds were found- 16-spot, Cream-spot, 2 Pine + 6 Orange (latter from Holly) + a couple of shieldbugs- Juniper SB on a pine + my first Troilus luridus from overhanging Ivy.

A great day with sunshine, some friendly hirsute Highland Cattle, displaying Kestrel, Stonechat + Dartford Warblers. I'm hoping we can return in summer as it has great potential + the noticeboard mentions Silver-studded Blue, Keeled Skimmer + Bog Bush-cricket.

[schlocky]

Saw a Red Admiral probing the snowdrops on friday. Dont know if its a suitable supply of nectar. Also a honey bee flying about more sloppily than it would normally - dont know why this is but I suppose its something to do with it being the wrong time of year to emerge.

[cherrybee]

I saw Lesser Celandines today on a public pathway through fields near the River Otter in Budleigh.Also I saw a very fat Buff-tailed Bumbly on some gorse,Quickly took a pic but he was too fast just got a lovely shot of gorse flowers against the bright blue sky Lovely splash of yellow on a beautiful sunny day

[mrs fish]

Last week in the sun I saw a honey bee and some two spotted ladybirds, I have just come back from a walk and saw some purple violets out

[cherrybee]

Went to Snowdrop Valley on Exmoor today and saw a primrose right beside a carpet of snowdrops