With the ice recently gone and sun truly in control, so starts another year of butterflies here in Lithuania. Hope to see somewhere close to 100 species again this year, but also concentrate on dragonflies a little more too.
MARCH.
24-25 March, snow still in the woodlands, lakes and pools still under the grip of ice, but it is a time of change - temperatures climbing to above 5C, skeins of geese heading north, White Storks and Cranes newly arrived.
And, despite the temperatures remaining low, just enough sun these couple of days to kick the season off - in vivid yellow, a male Brimstone on the 24th, then a Small Tortoiseshell the next day, one Siberian Winter Damselfly too.
APRIL.
Back after a splendid week of butterflies in Greece, I returned to Lithuania just in time was a major upswing in the temperature - cold and snowy when I departed, 20 C and sun when I returned on the 7th. And with the rise in temperature, a dramatic flush of early season butterflies, even to the extent of seeing a half dozen Small Tortoiseshells at the airport! It was however the next day that the more impressive numbers were to be seen. Visiting meadows not far from the capital, things were immediately looking good - four species in no time at all, Brimstones fluttering along, plenty of Small Tortoiseshells along woodland edge, a dozen Peacocks and a couple of Commas. Within a couple of hours, my tally of butterflies had already reached about 140 individuals, a very good number for so early in the season. Six Siberian Winter Damselflies too.
The real piece de la resistance however was to come as I exited the site - spying an area of recently cut birches, I noticed that the stumps were actively oozing sap. And around the sap, butterflies. Exploring more widely, the stumps proved totally amazing - a source of rich nectar at a time when flowers are few and far between, every single stump had gatherings of butterflies, amounting to a massive 195 individuals in total! Small Tortoiseshells in the main, but also Peacocks and Commas, it was very much a candy store for butterflies.
Total counts for the day:
- Brimstone - 44
- Small Tortoiseshell - 242
- Peacock - 25
- Comma - 12
A week later, continuing good weather, sun and 18C today. First Swallows of the year at Labanoras, plus booming Bitterns and displaying Marsh Harriers too. As the day warmed, Brimstones, Commas and Small Tortoiseshells on the wing, then Peacocks too. Butterfly of the day however, patrolling a sunny fringe to woodland, a classic beauty - Camberwell Beauty, glorious and fresh. Failed to find either of the larger tortoiseshells - should be flying any day.
MARCH.
24-25 March, snow still in the woodlands, lakes and pools still under the grip of ice, but it is a time of change - temperatures climbing to above 5C, skeins of geese heading north, White Storks and Cranes newly arrived.
And, despite the temperatures remaining low, just enough sun these couple of days to kick the season off - in vivid yellow, a male Brimstone on the 24th, then a Small Tortoiseshell the next day, one Siberian Winter Damselfly too.
APRIL.
Back after a splendid week of butterflies in Greece, I returned to Lithuania just in time was a major upswing in the temperature - cold and snowy when I departed, 20 C and sun when I returned on the 7th. And with the rise in temperature, a dramatic flush of early season butterflies, even to the extent of seeing a half dozen Small Tortoiseshells at the airport! It was however the next day that the more impressive numbers were to be seen. Visiting meadows not far from the capital, things were immediately looking good - four species in no time at all, Brimstones fluttering along, plenty of Small Tortoiseshells along woodland edge, a dozen Peacocks and a couple of Commas. Within a couple of hours, my tally of butterflies had already reached about 140 individuals, a very good number for so early in the season. Six Siberian Winter Damselflies too.
The real piece de la resistance however was to come as I exited the site - spying an area of recently cut birches, I noticed that the stumps were actively oozing sap. And around the sap, butterflies. Exploring more widely, the stumps proved totally amazing - a source of rich nectar at a time when flowers are few and far between, every single stump had gatherings of butterflies, amounting to a massive 195 individuals in total! Small Tortoiseshells in the main, but also Peacocks and Commas, it was very much a candy store for butterflies.
Total counts for the day:
- Brimstone - 44
- Small Tortoiseshell - 242
- Peacock - 25
- Comma - 12
A week later, continuing good weather, sun and 18C today. First Swallows of the year at Labanoras, plus booming Bitterns and displaying Marsh Harriers too. As the day warmed, Brimstones, Commas and Small Tortoiseshells on the wing, then Peacocks too. Butterfly of the day however, patrolling a sunny fringe to woodland, a classic beauty - Camberwell Beauty, glorious and fresh. Failed to find either of the larger tortoiseshells - should be flying any day.
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