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Another glorious day near Heathrow with temperatures over 23 degrees for several hours this afternoon. However, I was out a bit earlier and found my first Orange Tip of the year. It settled, but a bit of a way off at the back of a substantial bramble patch, but here it is for the record. Cheers,

Dave

Aah! Great sighting, Dave. Spring truly IS here.

Hoping they'll be out routinely by Easter with another couple of warm, sunny days on their way.

Nice sighting of the Orange-tip, Dave, Spring has arrived.

Two Holly Blues, a Speckled Wood, single Comma and numerous Brimstones in our garden today. No shots as we were busy and my camera was indoors but they weren't stopping anyway

Large Tort seen in Bucks yesterday!
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My first Speckled Wood of the year ( my first in 2020 was on the 16th March ) Melksham, Wiltshire

Male Orange-tip seen in our garden this morning

kentishman wrote: ↑Wed Mar 31, 2021 10:03 am Large Tort seen in Bucks yesterday!
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Great stuff! A bit further north and away from the coast from where they're usually recorded.

Weds 31st - wonderful day here in south Wales; 16c with mainly clear blue skies. Lots of butterflies on the wing at Cwm Ivy on the north Gower coast:

Brimstone 16
Holly Blue 8
Comma 4
Peacock 4
Orange Tip 4
Speckled Wood 3
Small Tortoiseshell 1
Red Admiral 1

Fantastic photos David and Stevie. I had not noticed before how the Brimstone has such a friendly little face.

8 different species too David ! Incredible.

- On 30 March I saw 78 butterflies (45 Peacock, 22 Small Tortoiseshell, 8 Brimstone, 3 Comma).

- On 31 March I saw 48 butterflies (29 Peacock, 15 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Brimstone, 3 Comma).

I have only seen the 4 species so far in South Derbyshire. Well strictly speaking I have seen 5. Fleetingly I saw a male Orange Tip yesterday. It set off like a greyhound when I disturbed it in some undergrowth. I saw the distinctive orange tips from a distance. However, it wasn't close enough for me to record an actual sighting.

My records show that I have seen 162 butterflies so far in 2021 compared to 117 on this day in 2020.

A few photos from the last few days of March. With the last photo I thought I would try something a bit different to my usual sought after 'sunny side up' butterfly photo and I quite like it.

Like it, Otep....and you've seen more butterflies than me so far this year I would say.

David M wrote: ↑Fri Apr 02, 2021 5:23 pm Like it, Otep....and you've seen more butterflies than me so far this year I would say.

Thank you David. Seeing more butterflies than you so far is a badge of honour. It won't last. I think that by the end of April you will probably have seen 1,000 more butterflies than I and probably 10 more species. I have done the equivalent of sprinting the first 100m in a marathon.

Otep wrote: ↑Fri Apr 02, 2021 5:38 pm..I think that by the end of April you will probably have seen 1,000 more butterflies than I and probably 10 more species.

I doubt I'll have seen so many more, Otep. Whilst my local area has an excellent range of species (about 35 within a 20 mile radius), it's rare to see daily numbers into three figures before the Meadow Browns and Ringlets arrive in June. In fact, I doubt I'll have seen 1,000 butterflies by the end of May, but it won't be for the want of trying!