-
Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.
Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
First Butterfly of the year? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter KenM
- Start date
Farnboro John
Well-known member
My first Orange Tip of the year, a male, between Farnborough and Fleet this morning. There is not a better colour in nature than that orange. (Discuss!)
John
John
WalterRayle
Well-known member
Large White in S. Hants on Friday 11/04
Southern Viking
Well-known member
Southern Viking
Well-known member
In other news, very early Pearl-bordered Frits were seen from Friday in West Sussex https://www.sussex-butterflies.org.uk/sightings/index.php
Farnboro John
Well-known member
One at Fleet Pond the same day along with a couple of Holly Blues: the latter since seen in my back garden too.
John
dantheman
Bah humbug
Don't know about everyone else (well actually kinda do, looking at the thread ;-) ), but I'm currently stuck on c3.5 butterfly sps. for the year.
After the hibernating Peacock disturbed early in the year, saw a Small White in late March whilst working outside, feeding on dandelion. In the sunny (but still cold and windy) weather a few weeks back had a Red Admiral/Peacock fly over the windscreen whilst I was driving in the lanes, and then a few days later flushed another from the garden. Both views so brief, but probably should have id'ed both if I had my wits about me.
Speckled Wood at a garden I was working at on the 8th April, with another flying in the garden at home on the 11th April. And then another definite Peacock resting at the field last week.
Did find (and photograph) stick insect in the garden whilst tidying up bramble at the beginning of March.
After the hibernating Peacock disturbed early in the year, saw a Small White in late March whilst working outside, feeding on dandelion. In the sunny (but still cold and windy) weather a few weeks back had a Red Admiral/Peacock fly over the windscreen whilst I was driving in the lanes, and then a few days later flushed another from the garden. Both views so brief, but probably should have id'ed both if I had my wits about me.
Speckled Wood at a garden I was working at on the 8th April, with another flying in the garden at home on the 11th April. And then another definite Peacock resting at the field last week.
Did find (and photograph) stick insect in the garden whilst tidying up bramble at the beginning of March.
A week in Albania gave me Small, Large, Wood & Eastern Dappled White, Orange Tip, Brimstone, Cleopatra, Clouded Yellow, Speckled Wood, Small Heath, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Peacock, Large Tortoiseshell, Holly Blue, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Small Copper, Nettle-tree Butterfly, Mallow Skipper, Swallowtail, Scarce Swallowtail & Eastern Festoon.
So far in Aberdeen I've seen Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White, Green-veined White and Speckled Wood, all in the last two weeks.
Xenospiza
Distracted
I had my earliest ever Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow (for NW Europe) today: one week earlier for Painted Lady, three weeks earlier for Clouded Yellow.
I had a Swallowtail in the Netherlands on the 20th, nice (the first I saw in my home village), but no record.
I had a Swallowtail in the Netherlands on the 20th, nice (the first I saw in my home village), but no record.
Last edited:
Southern Viking
Well-known member
My earliest ever attached... 21.04.2015 West Suissex UK
Attachments
I'm hoping with the warm weather & change in wind direction we might get a fair few migrant insects turning up. Despite living in the south I didn't see a single Clouded Yellow in the UK the last 2 seasons, though a few on the continent. Doubt I saw more than a dozen Painted Ladies last year.My earliest ever attached... 21.04.2015 West Suissex UK
dantheman
Bah humbug
A week on the Scillies netted me* a few more, but still hard work; Large White, Red Admiral (at last - 5 or so on Peninnis Head), and singles of Painted Lady and Small Copper, with 2 more Speckled Wood (the rufous brown form, made me think of the Wall initially!)
(not literally)
(not literally)
One new for the year today. Doing my regular Sunday patch & saw a blue flying low across the ground. Had a hunch it was a Common Blue & fortunately it briefly settled allowing a view of the underwing pattern, confirming my thoughts. I don't normally see them until May, but we are in the last few days of April.
earthdragon64
Lurker
My first Pearl-bordered Fritillary of the year and first Speckled Wood too at a local site. Also Green-veined White and male and female Orange-tip.
My first dedicated butterfly trip today to the other side of town to Hutchinson's & the adjacent Chapel Banks, near Croydon.
14 species seen.
Most abundant was Brimstone with c30 individuals.
New for the year were Small Heath (2), Small Copper, Small Blue, Grizzled Skipper (2), Dingy Skipper (7) & Duke of Burgundy (7). The latter species are from an introduced population which seems to be thriving.
Also seen: Peacock, Comma, Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Speckled Wood, Holly & Common Blue.
Dipped on Green Hairstreak which somebody else saw.
14 species seen.
Most abundant was Brimstone with c30 individuals.
New for the year were Small Heath (2), Small Copper, Small Blue, Grizzled Skipper (2), Dingy Skipper (7) & Duke of Burgundy (7). The latter species are from an introduced population which seems to be thriving.
Also seen: Peacock, Comma, Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Speckled Wood, Holly & Common Blue.
Dipped on Green Hairstreak which somebody else saw.
