The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Pleased to see a male Brimstone, a Speckled Wood and a Peacock flitting around the garden during a sunny spell this morning.

Freddy

This morning while mowing the lawn (finally), I noted a male Orange Tip, Green-veined White and Peacock flitting around the garden in the sun.

The Orange Tip is especially attracted to crucifers (the caterpillars' foodplant), and my flowering Honesty delayed his departure for a time. He will have emerged from his chrysalis some time in March/April and despite the recent inclement weather has managed to survive somehow. However, his chances of finding a receptive female will have been very much reduced in the consistently wet and cold weather we have had and one wonders how many Orange Tips (and other Spring butterflies) we'll see next year.

Freddy

My first Large White of the spring flying around the garden in the sun this morning and nectaring on Clematis montana. Also frequent visitors male Orange Tip and Green-veined White.

Freddy

Eventually......my first Holly Blue in the garden today (Tue) in the fence to fence sunshine.
plus :
male Brimstone
male Orange Tip
Peacock
Small White
Green-veined White.

Freddy

After a really miserable late May and June weatherwise, I was pleased this afternoon to see a Meadow Brown flying around the garden and settling in the (rare) sunshine.

Freddy

A fresh male Ringlet, with almost black upperwings, was flying over ....and settling on.... the lawn in cloudy weather this morning. Fortunately, the Ringlet will remain surprisingly active in poor weather when every other butterfly is grounded, even flying in light rain. In general, the butterfly benefits from a rainy summer but declines in the year after a dry one.

Freddy

I cut the lawn this morning (finally) and it gave me ample opportunities to observe butterflies in the garden - a real bonanza in the sun :

Small Tortoiseshell - 2 (there must have been a local emergence)
Red Admiral - on Buddleia
Comma - on Buddleia
Gatekeeper - on Marjoram
Ringlet
Holly Blue
Large White
GV White - 5+

Freddy

In the sun earlier today in the garden before the rain arrived :

Comma - increased to 3
Holly Blue - male, nectaring on newly opened Sunflower
Small Tortoiseshell - on Buddleia
Ringlet - on Marjoram
Ssp Whites.

Freddy

This morning in the sun, there was a new arrival : a pristine Peacock on the Buddleia. Holly Blues had increased to two, regularly spiralling around the Hawthorns.

Freddy
PS....make that 2 Peacocks.

The awaited Peacock butterfly emergence has indeed happened locally here in Bracebridge Heath just 3 days after the first arrival........14 in the sun on one sheltered Buddleia in the garden this afternoon.

Freddy

5 large buddliea bushes in my garden flowering over past 10 days and iv,e only seen 1 peacock,
1 red ad, 1 comma, 3 meadow brown and a few whites, in a normal year i would see at least 40 peacock, 10 red ads etc.
regards John.

John,

It could be that your area emergence has been delayed by local cool sea breezes, etc. My first Peacock only appeared last Wednesday in our warm inland micro-climate pocket. A prolonged period of sunshine in your coastal area over the next few days could well see them arrive in your garden in "pullulating abundance", no less.

Freddy

A nice surprise in the garden this afternoon.......a Painted Lady (my first of the year) arrived on the Buddleia to join the Peacocks.
Also :
2 Holly Blues around the Hawthorns
2 Gatekeepers still enjoying the Marjoram
Spp Whites

Freddy

A smart, pristine Speckled Wood appeared in the garden in the sun this morning, being particularly attracted to the Sunflowers.
Also around :

Red Admiral
Peacock x 4
Holly Blue x 2
Large White
Small White.

Freddy

Red Admiral has now increased in number this afternoon (Fri) :

Red Admiral - 3
Peacock
Holly Blue
Large White.

Freddy