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At last, things seem to be taking an upward turn, with sunshine and double figure temperatures forecast for the next week and even beyond!

Brown Hairstreak egg, Ruishton, Somerset today.

Another Brimstone seen in flight on my local patch toay after the fog lifted, and then a bit later a Red Admiral appeared and my youngest offspring managed a shot. Dave

In a Sunny warmish walk in Orlestone forest earlier ,was pleased to find 5 Butterflies .....3 Peacock and 2 Red Admirals .If the weather hadn,t pulled in ,may well have had one or two more !

One Red Admiral today at Havering Country Park, Essex. Yet to find any Brimstones or Commas, hopefully soon!

One mystery butterfly at Havering Country Park. It was on a mission to go south... looked like a Peacock but could well have been a Red Admiral

I also had a peek around Hainault Forest which is close by. There is tons of gorse there but not a single butterfly, and very few other insects... strange as it's in good sun. I wonder if any hibernating insects are less appealed to emerge due to the woodland right behind them (the temp is cooler within).

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. Sadly yet again the day was spoilt by out of control dogs and poo everywhere. Sadly it has got to the point now that we can't be Essex Wildlife Trust members any more until keeping dogs on leads is enforced on there reserves.

Julian

essexbutterflyer wrote: ↑Sun Mar 02, 2025 2:43 pm..I wonder if any hibernating insects are less appealed to emerge due to the woodland right behind them (the temp is cooler within).

Woodland clearings are fine, Zayed, especially if they are south facing. That's probably your best bet for both Peacock and Comma. I find both Brimstones and Small Tortoiseshells like damp areas where there are streams. The Brimstones go for primroses at this time of year whilst the Tortoiseshells love celandines.

Butterfly_Julian wrote: ↑Sun Mar 02, 2025 3:30 pm 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.

No Brimstone on the wing yet, Julian?

[The Purple Emperor might enjoy the poo ]

My first butterfly of the year today when what looked like a Comma or Small Tortoiseshell flew past me as I was walking down to my local spot by Wagon Lane. It flew across a couple of gardens and disappeared between two houses, unfortunatly it happened too quickly and it was gone before I could get a confirmed ID.
Down at Wagon Lane, a circuit of the usual spots failed to produce anything. In truth, it is still a bit early here and despite some nice sun it still feels a bit chilly, so much so that by the time I retuned home my fingers and nose were feeling quite cold.
Next week looks to be getting a bit warmer from mid week on and that extra couple of degrees could make all the difference.

Cheers,

Neil.

Another sharp frost overnight, followed by a beautiful sunny day today in my part of the world. I spotted a Peacock up near the link road to LHR T5 and then nearer home a Red Admiral was flying around a sheltered spot where they can often be found in the summer months. It was kind enough to stop for a moment or two.All three Red Admirals I've seen this year have been different individuals; on this limited evidence at this admittedly early point in the season, they seem to have had some overwintering success - considering they weren't especially numerous in the autumn.

Dave

No Brimstone on the wing yet, Julian?

[The Purple Emperor might enjoy the poo ]
[/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 with a flask of tea and a sandwich and watch them race past you, along Violet Passage and down Wood Passage and Hazel Row before whizzing pass again.

First butterfly of the year !

A male Brimstone at Pegsdon Hills Bedfordshire

Off the mark today with 18 Red Admiral and one Comma between 12.15 and 12.45, all on the winter-flowering beds at Tilgate Park, Crawley.
12 of the Admirals plus the Comma were on Heather and the other 6 on Daphne.
It was a sunny 9.5C at the time in almost calm conditions after a hard overnight frost.

Vince

My first butterfly of the year today in Cambridgeshire, VC29 - a Brimstone.

Vince Massimo wrote: ↑Mon Mar 03, 2025 3:22 pm Off the mark today with 18 Red Admiral and one Comma...

Vince

That's quite a display of Red Admirals, Vince! Had they all been overwintering in the same spot, do you think?

Very frosty overnight again here near Heathrow too, but after a minus 2 minimum, this afternoon it was nudging 14 degrees in unbroken sunshine. I managed to find a Brimstone, a Red Admiral and two Commas. The Brimstone looked immaculate......and the second of the Commas was in pretty good condition as well. Dave

MARCH 3RD 2025
Spent the last few days searching for Vanessids in this non stop glorious Devon sunshine,without any luck, but had the surprise of my recent life today, a Small White flew past me down a Devon country Lane, never settled but I did video it going down the lane and then over into a farm meadow.
I have never seen in Small White in early March before, but it was truly lovely to see.
Cant wait to see what the rest of this week brings as the weather set fine until Friday.

millerd wrote: ↑Mon Mar 03, 2025 5:23 pm

Vince Massimo wrote: ↑Mon Mar 03, 2025 3:22 pm Off the mark today with 18 Red Admiral and one Comma...

That's quite a display of Red Admirals, Vince! Had they all been overwintering in the same spot, do you think?

Hi Dave, there is no shortage of suitable overwintering habitat in Tilgate Park and the adjacent Tilgate Forest, but I think there is bit more going on here. The winter flower beds in the park, where the butterflies are seen, are sheltered and mainly south-facing and they are also located at a high point in the landscape, so my theory is that this is a congregation area due to the combination of accessible nectar and an element of hill-topping. Whatever the reason, I can almost guarantee a winter sighting of this species here if the temperature gets to 9C.

Vince

I got off the mark today in South Derbyshire with a pristine Comma. It feels with that sighting that the season has started and that many joyous months lie ahead. A few Blackthorn have started to flower (though the vast majority are budding), a few dandelions, some young nettles and garlic mustard, a few bumblebees, more bird species and half an ago there were 5 badgers wandering about on the lawn.

Vince Massimo wrote: ↑Mon Mar 03, 2025 3:22 pmOff the mark today with 18 Red Admiral and one Comma between 12.15 and 12.45, all on the winter-flowering beds at Tilgate Park, Crawley...

That start is worthy of Usain Bolt!