Trevor

[trevor]

I think we could all do with a foretaste of Spring !.

[Wurzel]

Lovely bit of colour Trevor It can't be much longer now surely? We seem to be having 'daddy and mummy bear' weather at the moment, it's either too cold, too grey, too wet or too windy; I can't wait for some days when we have 'baby bear' weather Although saying that somehow I've managed to get to three species for the year
Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

I think we could all do with a foretaste of Spring..

Agreed, Trevor, although spring is most definitely here in a flora perspective with daffodils, celandines and dandelions seemingly everywhere.

Good to see you off the mark. These sightings will continue to be haphazard until we finally get a calm, sunny day.

[trevor]

Many thanks, David. Let's hope, when the weather improves that species will
arrive in their various slots in the season, more or less on time, rather
than early, as has been the case in recent years.

Only one Red Admiral sighting so far.
Trevor.

[David M]

Many thanks, David. Let's hope, when the weather improves that species will
arrive in their various slots in the season, more or less on time, rather
than early, as has been the case in recent years.

Yes, Trevor. Every cloud has a silver lining, I suppose.

A fairly 'normal' season wouldn't be unwelcome.

[trevor]

Lighter winds and strong sunshine this morning gave me some optimism that the
old railway, which is quite sheltered, might produce the odd butterfly.
It was a good hunch as I quickly spotted a basking Comma, then a worn Peacock.
My only other find was an early Bee fly. It was also a good morning for Bumble bees.

It occurred to me that should ' self isolation ' become necessary then butterflying
could be a good way of avoiding contact with people, and at the same time enjoy
some fresh air and the butterflies.
This assumes that we are alone in the car, and visit a remote spot as the destination.

Let's hope we all stay healthy!,
Trevor.

[millerd]

Nice to see your local patch is winding up to productivity now, Trevor!

Your thoughts on "self-isolation" were running along similar lines to mine - I was out on my usual walk for an hour this afternoon and saw only one other person (an angler some distance away), but there were three Commas! I'm more concerned about not feeling well enough to go out when the sun is blazing down outside. Let's hope we can all avoid that scenario.

Cheers,

Dave

[essexbuzzard]

Well done Trevor. Largely cloudy in Essex today, but I was at work anyway. I echo your thoughts regarding self-isolation though, of course, I hope it doesn’t get to that stage.

[Neil Freeman]

Good to see you are off the mark Trevor
Nothing for me yet up here in the midlands but being stuck in work during the week doesn't help. I am seeing some reports from not far away so hopefully not long now.

Cheers,

Neil.

[bugboy]

Funny you should mention about self isolating, I put this as my facebook status this morning:
"This year I shall mostly be self isolating in what's left of the British countryside, like I do most years"

Good to see the butterflies are finally waking up, hopefully I'll get enough sun next week to bag myself a few species

[trevor]

Many thanks for your positive replies Dave, Mark, Paul & Neil.

Believe it or not, the Comma I found yesterday was the first one of the year
to be reported to the Sussex BC sightings page, I found that surprising at this stage in March!.
At the moment the weather forecast for next week looks pretty good, so hopefully
some Spring like weather is just around the corner.

Take care all,
Trevor.

[Wurzel]

I was stuck teaching all day Friday Trevor so for your brace of butterflies. also am looking forward to this self-isolation lark - I reckon almost all of my butterfly sites except Bentley Wood could count as my self isolation area I heard an expert on Radio 4 saying that 'getting out to remote areas during self isolation' was a good idea - so as far as I', concerned that's Official Permission.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

The very fine weather today prompted two trips out.
This morning it was the old railway where three Peacocks, a patrolling male Brimstone
and an extremely battered Comma were found. If there is a competition at the end of
the year for the butterfly with the most wear, I should win outright!. It was barely recognisable.

After lunch it was over to Rowland Wood, and some immaculate butterflies, here two Commas,
and possibly more than two fresh looking Peacocks were seen, along with another non stop Brimstone.
Obviously the hibernators are responding to the improving weather, lets hope it lasts!.

Trevor.

[Wurzel]

Great stuff Trevor It a;ways amazes me that butterflies like that Comma can still fly even when in such a state Saving you a few Small Torts (8 today )...

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

Cheers Wurzel, I've now seen four of the five hibernators.
Great to read of your haul of eight Small Torts, that's more than I saw in E.Sussex
for the whole of last season!. The farm buildings at Halnaker may produce a few
in the next week or two.
I have never seen butterfly in such bad condition as that Comma before.

Keep well,
Trevor.

[Andrew555]

Well done Trevor. The Peacocks are lovely.

[Old Wolf]

Hello Trevor, congrats on the lovely Peacocks. Definately a sight for sore eyes

The Comma looks like it has seen better days and amazing that it can still get off the ground in that condition.

[trevor]

Many thanks, Andrew, Old Wolf & Wurzel.

Life is full of surprises, and one was waiting for me today.
After photographing several Commas at the old railway this morning,
I had to do a double take when what I was expecting , from a distance,
to be another Comma, turned out to be a Small Tortoiseshell, a most
surprising find. I have visited this site every Spring for many years and
this was the first Small Tort ever to be seen there by myself. I was very excited
by this discovery, especially in my home town, as they have been so scarce
locally in recent years.

Other sightings were of Commas, and mostly active Peacocks. No Brimstones today.

Keep safe,
Trevor.

[Wurzel]

Great news about the Small Tort Trevor - I'll let the Wiltshire ones know that they don;t have to hang around now then It looks in good nick too - better than the final Comma anyway, does that one count as a whole Comma or 3/4?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[millerd]

That's excellent, Trevor. It just shows those Torties are still hanging on down your way despite their best efforts to avoid you! Also, that ragged Comma in your previous post was amazing! I imagine it was probably invisible to any predators in that state, which may have ironically helped it survive. Let's hope it manages to start another generation.

Cheers,

Dave