The sun came out and the temperature has started to go up here on the North East Essex coast. A few hours at Great Holland Pits, and for us a transformation in our butterfly numbers. 12 species seen, plenty of Brimstone, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Large and Small White and for us, 3 first for t...

It's been really quiet up here for butterflies been cold and windy David.
Really surprised you hadn't see a Holly Blue yet
You seem to being plenty of everything else, still early in the season.

A wander around Essex Wildlife Trust The Naze lunchtime, stiff breeze of the sea and 13c. Wasn't expecting much but got our first Essex Holly Blue along with Peacock, Red Admiral and Comma.
A weeks early then the last 2 years

Red Admiral flying around our garden this evening And sad news, one of our Large White pupa is getting a bit of interest from a parasitoid wasp

Red Admiral been flying around our garden today DSCF9234.JPG Also had the chance for a close-up photo of a Green-veined White in our garden, such beautiful detail on there wings. DSCF9343.JPG Still no Speckled Wood or Holly Blue, hope they will appear in the next week here going by previous years. 7...

I am lucky to see a single butterfly a day up here in North East Essex. Been so cool and windy. A very sad man Julian As Julian quite rightly said, you have to be lucky to see one butterfly a day in the north-east of Essex. It feels like a different country up there. 😢 I decided yesterday, full sun...

I am lucky to see a single butterfly a day up here in North East Essex. Been so cool and windy.
Found this Large White hidden in our hedge this afternoon.
A very sad man
Julian

A great start to April……our first Holly Blue Nice, Julian, and congratulations on the Orange-tip - nice record shot 😀 I was hoping Brian had seen 100 Holly Blue along Eastcliff Path by now. 😉 Thanks David, have to thank my spotter (the wife) for both finds but does put pressure on me to get the pho...

A great start to April.
Up in Norfolk today and had a wander around Holt Country Park.
Our first Holly Blue along with Brimstone, Comma and Peacock

March drawing to an end and the month is finishing of very well here in North East Essex.
Along with the Large White from yesterday i have a Orange Tip enjoying my wild space in our garden.

Julian

A very early garden visiter this afternoon, Large White.
11 days earlier than last year.

Hi Allan, thanks for the post on the back ground to these sightings .
Julian

Thanks for the reply bugboy.
I will have to look at doing a quick trip over the bridge next year to see them.
Or maybe one will pop over and see us in North East Essex. Had a Small Blue do this a couple of summers ago. We will keep a look out.

Are these sightings coming from someone doing a release ?

No Brimstone on the wing yet, Julian? [The Purple Emperor might enjoy the poo :roll: ] [/quote] Not yet David, that was our hope today. Be very surprised if they are not about latter part of this week looking at the forecast. Good place to see them, sit on the long seat at the top of Farmers Row wit...

A lovely sunny but still chilli day spent at Essex Wildlife Trust Great Holland Pits today. 2 Red Admiral on the wing but didn't stop for photo. Did see 3 Adder enjoying sunny spots. DSCF7349.JPG Sadly yet again the day was spoilt by out of control dogs and poo everywhere. Sadly it has got to the po...

Great work again David. Would be interested to see how pre covid records compare.

Excellent David. A question if I can, you probably don't know :shock: compared to previous years how does the abundance compare and with so many low counts at most sites, do we / or can we have any idea of population size for each site? What i mean is if 3 butterflies are seen most years for the las...

Hi David, as always the info is very informative, I have to take my hat off to you for all the work you have done and will be doing over the coming years. I love getting out locally looking for new colonies of the Hairstreaks. Was great to find the Green Hairstreak behind out cottage and a Purple Ha...

A very good read as always David, I appreciate all the work you put into these reports. As I don't own a computer, all my viewing is done though my phone which makes looking at and making best use of these web sites very hard if not near impossible alot of the time. I was very fortunate to find a sm...