First butterfly of 2023 (1 Viewer)

[Farnboro John]

My first two Brimstones today at Thursley Common on a very warm morning.

John

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

Red Admiral on Saturday

 

[aeshna5]

Another male Brimstone & a Comma in Kew Gardens this afternoon.

 

[dantheman]

A briefest of brief Small Tortoiseshell today nr Falmouth. Nicest day of the year imo

 

[dantheman]

However, driving to the train station later did see a bona fide Clouded Yellow in flight.

Back in the UK now however, so that might be the end of things for me for a while at least, looking at the weather forecast too, unless happening to disturb anything whilst working perhaps.

Been bugging me that this was unfortunately probably a misid/string. It was yellowish, and the last Clouded Yellows I saw last year were both the pale Helice form iirc. I looked up images a few days later and confirmed my error - Large White would have been what it was. Oops!

Was back in France 7th - 12th March again. Butterflies seen - plenty of Brimstone, Red Admiral, Peacock and Wall.

 

[Richard Prior]

Been bugging me that this was unfortunately probably a misid/string. It was yellowish, and the last Clouded Yellows I saw last year were both the pale Helice form iirc. I looked up images a few days later and confirmed my error - Large White would have been what it was. Oops!

Was back in France 7th - 12th March again. Butterflies seen - plenty of Brimstone, Red Admiral, Peacock and Wall.

You may have been right the first time Dan, I saw a couple of Clouded Yellow at 1000m asl here in the Alps a few weeks ago and there are reports from Département 31 (if that's the right one for you) from mid February.

 

[dantheman]

You may have been right the first time Dan, I saw a couple of Clouded Yellow at 1000m asl here in the Alps a few weeks ago and there are reports from Département 31 (if that's the right one for you) from mid February.

I kind of still have an image of a large double black spot. But I was driving and it was brief, so maybe I should leave it ;-) (I do recall seeing Clouded Yellow feeding on a roadside verge in early March in France one year). Cheers ...

 

[SustainabilityCarmen]

I was filming this bee among purple flowers and then I think I saw a Cabbage White. Not sure because it was far away. Apparently I can't attach a video here. They were cute and I had fun filming them.

 

[aeshna5]

Added my first (male) Small White in the front garden this afternoon, which settled on Erysimum "Bowles Mauve".

 

[Euan Buchan]

Saw my first Peacock Butterfly in the garden today. Actually helped it out the green house to freedom.

 

[Owene]

Pretty sure I had my first holly blue today. Seen from a (barely) moving car so I’m not sure enough to year tick it but can’t imagine any other blues are flying yet.

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

Added Brimstone, Peacock and Orange Tip yesterday at Burton Mere.

 

[Michaelgg]

In the last couple of days in Somerset I have also seen a couple of peacock butterflies and in the distance a couple of brimstones (I think).

 

[dantheman]

Monday 3rd April - tripled my UK 2023 Butterfly List with Red Admiral and Peacock up at my place (Falmouth, Cornwall)

Thursday 6th April - a four butterfly species day (sunny but windy) - Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, 2 Peacock and Speckled Wood.

(I also dreamt I'd seen a Large White for the UK list, but can't count that lol)

 

[earthdragon64]

Finally saw my first butterfly of the year, but had to visit Nairn to see it, Small Tortoiseshell.

 

[Xenospiza]

The first warmish days in weeks had me add Orange-tip and Speckled Wood on Saturday, Holly Blue on Sunday.

 

[earthdragon64]

Delighted to see my first ever Scottish Comma in my Aviemore garden this afternoon. As VC95 butterfly recorder I've received a few Comma records over the last 5 years, so I'm glad to have finally seen one myself.

 

[aeshna5]

Delighted to see my first ever Scottish Comma in my Aviemore garden this afternoon. As VC95 butterfly recorder I've received a few Comma records over the last 5 years, so I'm glad to have finally seen one myself.

Well done. Take them for granted down here & forget how scarce they are in the extreme north.

 

[earthdragon64]

Well done. Take them for granted down here & forget how scarce they are in the extreme north.

They're getting more common, particularly in VC95, they've been seen right up to the coast at Spey Bay. There have been a few reports in the Black Isle and one was even found just 4KM south of Dunnet Head a couple of years ago.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

First White-letter Hairstreak of the year giving great views through a hand lens from my position up a ladder, as it hung motionless on its twig in an elm tree. Hopefully it'll make it to adult stage in a month or so.