Another newly-emerged Orange Tip sighted today. This one didn't get away as I had my camera to hand! This splendid male Orange Tip was one of several observed this morning in Zebon Copse, Church Crookham, along with a number of other expected early spring species, including Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, and Peacock, though no Holly Blues were sighted on this occasion. [Posted by Michael Jameson]
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| Freshly emerged Orange Tip (M) Church Crookham Photo © Michael Jameson |
Update to recent post. On review of my Fishlake photos, it appears that one of my Small Whites appears to be a Green-veined White (See the attached image taken as it took off.) [Posted by Kevin Haggar]
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| Green-veined White? Photo © Kevin Haggar |
Another Orange-tip (and a Speckled Wood). A morning stroll around Fishlake Meadows proved surprisingly productive for butterflies, especially along the Barge Canal path, where an Orange-tip posed beautifully for photos, and 50m further up the path I chanced upon a Speckled Wood which did the same. (Also seen 2 Small White and a single Peacock.) [Posted by Kevin Haggar]
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| Male Orange-tip (Much more co-operative than Monday's Marwell example) Photo © Kevin Haggar | Fresh Speckled Wood Photo © Kevin Haggar |
Orange Tip and Holly Blue - unusually early emergence. To my surprise, 3 male Orange-tips were sighted during a morning traversal of our local woods in Church Crookham. Regrettably, I had no camera to hand, having not expected to see anything except the usual Brimstones and early Nymphalids emerging from hibernation. The same local perambulation also yielded the first male Holly Blue seen here this year. [Posted by Michael Jameson]
Orange Tip and Holly Blue - unusually early emergence. To my surprise, 3 male Orange-tips were sighted during a morning traversal of our local woods in Church Crookham. Regrettably, I had no camera to hand, having not expected to see anything except the usual Brimstones and early Nymphalids emerging from hibernation. The same local perambulation also yielded the first male Holly Blue seen here this year. [Posted by Michael Jameson]
Another day. another early butterfly at Marwell. A day trip to Marwell produced a surprise sighting of a male Orange-tip flying around the Wallaby Enclosure. I just managed to grab a photo as it flew by. This is my earliest ever sighting of one of my favourite butterflies and made my day. (The attached image is the best I could do. but does allow confirmation of id) [Posted by Kevin Haggar]
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| Male Orange-tip (fly by) Photo © Kevin Haggar |
Small Tortoiseshells emerge from hibernation.. Today's sunshine heralded the appearance of 2 Small Tortoiseshell on a south facing bank between Enham Alamein and Woodhouse, they were joined by at least 5 very flighty Peacock and 2 Comma, but the only Brimstone seen was a brief visitor to my garden in the early afternoon. [Posted by Kevin Haggar]
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| Small Tortoiseshell Photo © Kevin Haggar | Comma Photo © Kevin Haggar |
Hummingbird Hawkmoth at Freshwater.. A Hummingbird Hawkmoth observed this afternoon in my Freshwater garden nectaring on the few flowers that are out at the moment. [Posted by Peter Hunt]
Large Tortoiseshell at Yarmouth.. A first visit of the season produced 7 Brimstone,along with Comma,Peacock,and a Red Admiral.However I hit the jackpot with this Large Tortoiseshell observed along a forest path.It unfortunately did not settle for more than a few seconds before speeding off and despite a search could not be relocated. [Posted by Peter Hunt]
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| Photo © Peter Hunt |
Bedhampton Sightings. Today I walked around Mill Lane, Bedhampton and around the nearby park. Here I saw my first Small Whites this year. Totals: Brimstone 2M, Small White 2. [Posted by Roy Symonds]
Butterflies in Rownhams. Today has brought the butterflies out. I saw Brimstone, 4 Peacocks, 2 Commas and a unidentified white. Someone reported a Speckled Wood. [Posted by Sue Lambert]
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| Comma Photo © Sue Lambert |
Brimstone bonanza (and a Small White) near Andover. Whilst walking back from Andover to Enham Alamein this morning, there seemed to be Brimstones everywhere, with an absolute minimum of 10 seen in a 2 mile walk. (30+ sightings of single insects, with at least 3 groups of 3 seen), with a bonus of my first Small White of the year.(Plus 3 Comma, 2 Peacock and a Beefly). [Posted by Kevin Haggar]
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| Phone pic of today's Small White on Holly Photo © Kevin Haggar | Same individual on a nettle Photo © Kevin Haggar |
Monks Walk, Gosport. March got underway here with three species recorded today (1245-1410, 12.5-13 deg C, light cool breeze). The area is a veritable quagmire necessitating wellington boots and many areas are impassable as yet. It was a year ago today that my first butterfly of the year was recorded here (a Peacock) so despite the near biblical winter rains, the 2026 butterfly season is well established. Total: Comma (8); Red Admiral (1); Peacock (3). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Comma Photo © Francis Plowman | Red Admiral Photo © Francis Plowman | Peacock Photo © Francis Plowman |
Spring arrivals in Southampton. Southampton Common, cloudless sky, 14 degrees C, 30-minute walk around midday revealed the following: Brimstone (F) 3, Brimstone (M) 4, Comma (M) 1 - the latter was very fresh & somewhat undersized. [Posted by Jon Holden-Dye]
Brimstone in Rownhams area. A Brimstone was flying around the estate. [Posted by Sue Lambert]
Small mercies at Great Fontley. Given the sublime weather, the appearance of just a solitary Peacock, nectaring on Prunus x blireana, at Great Fontley was a profound disappointment. The damson tree was flowering as never before, but only attracted a few bumblebees. [Posted by Andrew Brookes]