March 2025
Thursday 6th. I stayed local once again, this time Tottenham Marshes. As I did the day before, I got there early to do a recce circuit but the temperature had already warmed up the Brimstones, well one at least, a male who sailed past. A little while later I came across a second male at the other end of the site, again not stopping for anyone. That was it until after 1pm when I found a Red Admiral laying eggs and as I was taken her picture a Comma zoomed past.
I wandered around here for a bit until I noticed a couple of Comma on a Cherry in full bloom.
They were soon joined by a Peacock whilst a couple of male Brimstone fluttered around. (As I was looking through my pictures to post, I realise there were actually two Peacocks)
At another of my regular hotspots I found a couple more Comma who were full of the joys of spring and not interested in having their picture taken.
Back to the start of my wanderings more Comma’s had appeared along with a second Red Admiral laying eggs. I only managed a couple of Comma pictures, the two found were one of each sex and as soon as they encountered each other a round of butterfly kiss chase ensued. I did hope to get to see them consummate the relationship but they preferred some privacy.
The earlier uncooperative individuals had settled down a bit when I returned although in-between posing they also had a couple of rounds of kiss chase before the female decided to give him the slip.
A third Peacock also turned up here. In a couple of weeks this little grassy alley will be full of both species along with other species currently still snuggled up in pupae.
In the end I probably also saw around six Brimstone although not a single one settled for a second. I also kept a keen eye out for any Small Torts but found none, perhaps still a week or so early.
It’s been interesting to note a few mini waves as these overwinters emerge. It’s no coincidence that Red Admirals made up the bulk of sightings at the first hint of warm weather, since they don’t actually hibernate and can react pretty much instantly. Brimstone and Comma being the second wave to show themselves with any regularity as they hibernate in quite exposed places and only now after a week of warm weather have Peacock and Small Torts started to appear in more than odds and ends, their preferred hibernation spots probably needing extra time for the warmth to percolate down to them.
Tottenham Marshes has a lot of
Prunus for these hibernators to feed from, making it quite easy to gauge the season at this early stage. I’d say we’re one or two weeks behind last year at the moment.
Mind you I did see Short-eared Owls, Marsh Harrier and Lesser Scaup 
. Anyway, to avoid similar crowds I went down to the Amberley hills where I found very few people and even fewer butterflies, just a (probable) Peacock flyby.
The new lens is brill - thanks for the info 
Great shots of the Large Tortoiseshells, Paul.
. No picture but that makes 7 species for the year so far
