Neil Freeman

[Neil Freeman]

Cheers Wurzel. It was just one of those random sightings rather than the beginning of any proper waking up. Not seen anything since...until today

Thanks Goldie. The fox(s) have been back a few times but I have'nt managed any more photos.

A Glimpse of Spring ?

We have had all sorts of weather here this past week or so, from pleasant sunshine (Monday 13th), to dull and damp fog (most of Tuesday 14th) and frosty mornings (Wednesday 15th). Yesterday (Thursday 16th) was one of those non-event sort of days with lots of cloud and sort of feeling milder but still jumper and winter coat weather.

Today (Friday) was much better and despite a blustery wind, there was enough sun to make it feel rather pleasant. In fact when the wind dropped occasionally it would feel like a proper spring day at last. After popping round to see my mom this morning and then doing a bit of shopping, I decided to have a walk down to my local spot at Wagon Lane to see if anything had been tempted out.
At first all I saw were a few dead leaves being blown about but around half way around my normal circuit I spotted a brighter looking orange spot by some brambles and sneaked up for closer look. This proved to be a Comma, my first of the year and my second butterfly so far, making it the first time that I have ever seen more than a single species in February.

Comma - Wagon Lane 17.02.2023

This was the only butterfly seen and looking at the forecast for the next few days here I don't expect there will be any more just yet.

Bye for now,

Neil.

[David M]

Today (Friday) was much better and despite a blustery wind, there was enough sun to make it feel rather pleasant. In fact when the wind dropped occasionally it would feel like a proper spring day at last. After popping round to see my mom this morning and then doing a bit of shopping, I decided to have a walk down to my local spot at Wagon Lane to see if anything had been tempted out.
At first all I saw were a few dead leaves being blown about but around half way around my normal circuit I spotted a brighter looking orange spot by some brambles and sneaked up for closer look. This proved to be a Comma, my first of the year and my second butterfly so far, making it the first time that I have ever seen more than a single species in February.

Fabulous, Neil. Cloud never shifted round my way today but clearly butterflies are ready to respond if the sun comes out.

Two species by 17th February would be creditable on the south coast so I'm sure you're feeling on a high having recorded such a statistic in the Midlands.

[Goldie M]

I bet you were pleased with sight of the Comma Neil. I certainly would have been, Goldie

[Wurzel]

That is a cracking find that Comma Neil They're generally the fourth or fifth species I see so to get one this early is a great find

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Neil Freeman]

Thanks David. I must be on a roll, I saw my third species today

I was indeed Goldie. Any butterfly at this time of year is a bonus

Cheers Wurzel. Between Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Comma, it is always a toss up as to which will be my first species here. They have all had the honour in the past.

Monday 20th February.

After a mild but windy weekend with just the occasional glimpse of the sun, today was much better. The wind dropped somewhat although there was still a chilly breeze but clearer skies with more sunshine mad it feel almost pleasant, especially early this afternoon before the sun started to get lower in the sky.
I had time for a quick wander down to my local spot by Wagon Lane and was just appraching the first large bank of brambles when I spotted a splash of colour low down in the grass. I slowly approached to find my first Small Tortoiseshell of the year which makes species number three for me, an unheard of occurance before the end of February for me here.
I watched it for a while as it attempted to warm up and occasionally 'shivered' its wings when a cloud covered the sun.

Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 20.02.2023

The rest of my circuit failed to produce anything else and on my return there was no further sight of the one seen eariler, which just goes to show that that it really is a matter of luck in being at the right place at the right time this early in the season. And it still is very early in the season here as evidenced by the state of the vegetation with no dandelions yet and the cherry plum and blackthorn blossom still in small tight buds.
With it looking to be going colder again as the week progresses I reckon it will still be at least a couple of weeks or longer until things start to get going properly here, obviously depending on the weather we have over that period.

Bye for now,

Neil.

[trevor]

A couple of rewarding February sightings there Neil, especially the Small Tort which is
probably the last of the hibernators I would expect to see around here.

Nothing here today, just grey gloom!

Take care,
Trevor.

[Neil Freeman]

Thanks Trevor. Small Tortortoise is often the first one I see here although as mentioned above it can be a toss up between those, Peacock and Comma.

Nothing else since, after Monday we have been under the grey gloom and temperatures are dropping again.

Cheers,

Neil.

[Wurzel]

Great shot Neil You're right about the element of luck needed at this time of the year, I've been out before in prime conditions at a prime haunt only for nothing to show yet when the sun wentin and I put a scraggy bit of grund there was a butterfly

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Thanks David. I must be on a roll, I saw my third species today

Indeed you are, Neil. Fabulous find.

Surprised I haven't seen any Torties round my way in all honesty. It's been all Red Admirals and a solitary Peacock.

[Neil Freeman]

Cheers Wurzel. No more luck since, the weather here feels like it has gone back in time a few weeks.

Thanks David. The roll has come to a full stop here due to a return to scabby weather.

Garden Moths - a slow start.

The weather over the past week or so here has been pretty miserable with most days being dull and cloudy and pretty wet with light rain or drizzle.
The nights have been cold as well with temperatures usually dropping below the threshold (around 5 degress)that experince has taught me that it is worth running the moth trap. Despite this, there were a few nights in February when a lack of wind and slightly milder nights with temps around 8 degrees, tempted me to give it a go.

The first of these nights was that of the 11th February which resulted in a single moth, a Satellite. This is a species that overwinters as an adult which makes it one that it is possible to see on any milder night though the winter months.

Satellite - Coverdale 11.02.2023

The night of the 17th also produced a single moth, a Red-green Carpet. I think I have mentioned before that this species emerges in the autumn and after mating the females overwinter to re-emerge and lay their eggs in the spring, thus making it another species that may be seen on milder winter nights.

Red-green Carpet - 17.02.2023

The night of the 20th produced my first Common Quaker this year, this being the first of the species that emerge from overwintering pupae and usually a sign that things are starting to get going.

Common Quaker - Coverdale 20.02.2023

Also in the trap on that morning was a Dotted Border, a supposedly common and widespread species but one that I have only had here twice before.

Dotted Border - 20.02.2023

Even better, my usual seach around the outside of the trap produced a second Dotted Border, thus doubling the number of these that I have had here.

Dotted Border #2 - 20.02.2023

Since then the nights have turned colder again and from what I have seen posted by other moth trappers around the area things are slow to get going around here this year. Most of the usual early spring species are starting to turn up but only in low numbers so far.

Given the forecast for next week with colder temperatures and wintry showers, it looks like we will have to hang on a bit yet.

Bye for now,

Neil

[Neil Freeman]

Saturday 25th March

The February sightings that I had here proved to be very much the exceptions that prove the rule and up until yesterday (Saturday 25th March) I had not seen another butterfly. This is not surprising given the weather we have had with a few days of snow earlier in the month and since then it has either been cold or when it has turned milder it has been wet and windy. The few periods of sun that we have seen have not lasted long enough or have occured too late in the day to be of much use. During this period I have wandered down to my local spot at Wagon Lane to keep an eye on the state of the vegetation, all of which (in common wth my garden) seems to be running approximately a week or so later than has been the norm over the past few years.

Yesterday afternoon, with some nice sunny spells making it feel quite pleasant in between gusts of blustery wind, I went down to Wagon Lane for a look and did my usual slow circuit around the area. I concentrated on the more sheltered spots and was about half way around when I spotted the bright splash of colour of a Small Tortoiseshell on one of the few dandelions that are out here.

Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 25.03.2023

I then carried on my way and eventaully spotted another one basking low down on a patch of brambles. A just manged to take of couple of shots before a gust of wind sent him up and I watched as it flew down a nearby fox hole.

Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 25.03.2023

These proved to be the only two butterflies seen here and given the forecast here for the next few days it could well be into April now before I see any more.

Garden Moths.

The recent conditions have been just as poor for moths and even though we have had some mild and cloudy nights, these have usually been with either heavy rain or strong winds (or both). Consequently I have only run the trap once so far in March, this being on the night of the 17th when a cloudy and mild night produced the result of 14 moths of 7 species. Most of these were Common Quakers (7) with the rest made up of singles of Oak Beauty, Pale Pinion and Hebrew Character plus a couple of Common Plumes and single Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) and Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella agg.
I was particularly pleased to see the Oak Beauty as it is one of my favourite spring moths but one I missed last year due to a lack of trapping because of poor weather during its flight period.

Oak Beauty - Coverdale 17.03.2023

Looking at the forecast for the week ahead, after another cold snap, I may be able to squeeze in another night later in the week when the conditions improve a bit before the end of the month - fingers crossed.

Bye for now,

Neil.

[Wurzel]

Nice to see those Small Torts Neil they've been in short supply round this way (along with everything else ) and usually by now Id be seeing them in double numbers. Still when spring finally does arrive hopefully there will still be plenty out there

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Well done with those Small Tortoiseshells, Neil. It's been hard work, hasn't it (at least until today which has finally seen things take off)?

[Neil Freeman]

Cheers Wurzel. Yes, hopefully they are out there waiting...although I can't help having some niggling concerns after the drought last summer.

...at least until today which has finally seen things take off...

Glad to see things are taking off for you David although still not happening here. Yesterday saw some early sunshine here but the clouds built up leaving us with a cold and breezy day with temperatures stuck in single figures. Today (Tuesday) looks to be a complete washout.

Cheers,

Neil.

[Neil Freeman]

Thursday 30th March.

After a cold couple of days to begin the week, it became milder again on Wednesday but also much wetter with almost constant rain from sometime during Tuesday night, through most of Wednesday and the following night and well into Thursday morning. The rain finally eased off around midday on Thursday and the cloud began to thin out until around 3.00pm we had a spell of decent warm sunshine.
Having had such a scabby few days I felt like getting out for some fresh air so decided to make the most of this bit of sun and wandered down to my local spot by Wagon Lane. I soon discovered that some of the paths had turned into muddy quagmires which limited my access to some sections of the site and I only ended up covering about half of my usual circuit.
Nevertheless, I found the sunshine had brought out a couple of Commas and given the locations where I saw them, I figured there were at least two and possibly three different individuals. On returning home and checking my photos and comparing differences in markings it appears that there were indeed three different Commas.

Comma - Wagon Lane 30.03.2023

Comma - Wagon Lane 30.03.2023

Comma - Wagon Lane 30.03.2023

The first stand of blackthorn here is now in full flower but there were no butterflies around it today, probably due to it the wind which was still quite blustery and blowing directly on the sunny side of this stand.

Blackthorn blossom - Wagon Lane 30.03.2023

When I had set out there had been a line of dark clouds on the horizon and I kept an eye on these as they got closer and after around 40 minutes they had reached us and I felt the first spots of the next band of rain so stepped it out back home. Apart from the Commas I saw no other butterflies.

Another wet night followed by more rain most of today (Friday) and I am not seeing much promise in the forecast for the foreseeable future. This is already a late season here so here’s hoping things start to improve a bit before too long.

Bye for now.

Neil.

[Wurzel]

Certainly looks better round your way Neil - glad you were able to make the most of the sunshine

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Lovely Commas, Neil, and that spread of blackthorn blossom is something else! It's barely in flower at all round my way.

Things look a bit more promising on the weather front. Seems like by Good Friday we may be into the 60s(f) with a good deal of sunshine.

Not before time!

[Neil Freeman]

Cheers Wurzel. That was the best bit of sky seen all week and even then a view over my shoulder would have shown a thick band of dark clouds approaching from behind me.

Thanks David. Some nice sun in the forecast here for the next couple of days but underlying temperatures still on the low side. Towards the end of the week and into the Easter weekend, our current forecast shows a lot of cloud but at least not much rain, plenty of time for that to change though.

Sunday 2nd April.

After lots of rain on Friday and for most of Saturday, this finally cleared up later on Saturday to leave overnight cloud which lasted into Sunday giving us a dull and gloomy morning. These clouds started to thin out after midday so that by 2.30pm there was enough blue sky and sunshine to tempt me to have a walk down to my local spot by Wagon lane.

It soon beacame apparent that it was one of those days that looked better from inside the house than it actually was as despite plenty of sunshine, a cool breeze was holding the underlying temperature down somewhat and when the occasional cloud covered the sun it still felt quite nippy.
Nevertheless, I headed straight for the first sheltered spot and found a nice Small Tortoiseshell.

Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 02.04.2023

After taking a few shots I left it alone and carried on around the parts of the site that I could get to as the recent rain had left some bits of path in an even worse state than they were when I came here last Thursday. Once again, I found three Commas, two of which look to be ones that I had seen here on Thursday with one looking to be a new individual.

Comma - Wagon Lane 02.04.2023

Comma - Wagon Lane 02.04.2023

I reckon this is the new one...

Comma - Wagon Lane 02.04.2023

Fingers crossed for an improvement in the weather but this week looks to be another cool one overall despite lots of sun for the next two days.

Bye for now,

Neil.

[trevor]

Judging by your butterfly posts, which go back to February, you've had better butterfly weather
than we have had down here. Apart from a March Red Admiral I've not seen anything much until the last two days.
Hopefully things will pick up now for all of us, with the new emergent species yet to come.

Keep up the good work!
Trevor.

[Neil Freeman]

Thanks Trevor. Those February sightings turned out to be the exceptions that prove the rule, it was over a month before I saw any more. There has been a trickle of Small Torts and Commas for a week or so here but no Peacocks or Brimstones yet. Today was much better with double figures seen for the first time this year as reported below.

Monday 3rd April - Getting better.

A clear and cold night led to a light frost this morning and a chilly start before the sun got high enough to start warming things up a bit. I had to stop in this morning as we had some guys coming to fit some new double glazing panels to a few of our windows which had been misting up between the panes of glass (they were 25 years old so I suppose they had lasted well enough). Whilst I was waiting, I pottered about outside for a bit and had my first garden visitor this year, a Small Tortoiseshell that flew past without stopping.

By early afternoon the window guys had finished and I decided to take advantage of what was looking to be a cracking afternoon and have another wander down to Wagon Lane. It was feeling warmer than yesterday (Sunday), mostly due to a lighter wind and fewer clouds, although an underlying coolness could still be felt on occasion.
I put my wellies on today in order to get past the wetter and muddier spots and spent an hour or so doing my full usual circuit. It soon became apparent that there were more butterflies about today and I ended up with a score of at least 8 Small Tortoiseshells and 7 Commas.

Comma - Wagon Lane 03.04.2023

Comma - Wagon Lane 03.04.2023

Comma - Wagon Lane 03.04.2023

Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 03.04.2023

Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 03.04.2023

Even better, I finally managed to find a couple Small Tortoiseshells on the blackthorn blossom and spent some time taking my favourite type of spring photos as they moved around on it.

Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 03.04.2023

Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 03.04.2023

Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 03.04.2023

Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 03.04.2023

I also saw my first Bee flies this year and heard my first Chiff-chaffs calling.

Tomorrow looks to be similar but I have an opticians appointment late morning and it is one where they will be putting drops into my eyes which leave your vision blurry for a couple of hours, so not sure if I will be able to get out.
Wednesday onwards looks to be clouding up again for a few days but given how often the forecasts change before we get there, let’s hope that things will be better than they currently look.

Bye for now,

Neil.