Butterflies!

[Gillykat]

Spring is on it's way in Northumberland

I nipped along to the sorting office yesterday lunchtime and saw my first butterfly of 2016 just outside Sainsburys ~ a Peacock

Anyone else started seeing butterflies yet?

[WendyC]

Are Peacocks one of the types that over winter? I have an early memory of sitting in my primary school classroom and seeing a sleepy butterfly on the high stone windowsill.

[chrisdb]

I saw a peacock yesterday. It was trapped inside my garage (in Nottingham) and trying to fly through the window so I carefully moved it outside. I was a bit surprised to see it - what's the minimum temperature that butterflies can survive?

[dogsbody]

Some butterflies do overwinter and Butterfly Conservation are looking for people to join their survey, details here https://web69.secure-secure.co.uk/ga....org/index.php They ask that you spend a few minutes each month recording which and how many you see in your garden.

[Lisasbolt]

They are out laying eggs like the end of time is around us here!

[Gillykat]

Saw my first Small Tortoiseshell at the allotment on Sunday 20th March and a VERY tatty Peacock sunbathing today

I had a total of nine different species of butterfly on the allotment last year which is pretty amazing as only half was in cultivation! This year I'm going all out to fill the plot with wildlife-friendly plants so it'll be interesting to see how many insects and bugs I can log.

[ancee]

Not seen butterflies yet, but the largest red bottomed bumble bee was trying to get in through the (closed) window yesterday - she was MASSIVE!

[MarkPelican]

Small Tortoiseshells at the allotment yesterday and a Brimstone in the garden. We've had Peacocks about when the sun shines brightly as well.

[Nicos]

Not seen any yet and I have been looking about whilst gardening.
I did however have a white bottomed bumble bee as a companion yesterday whilst I was weeding near the flowering currant bush.

[mothhawk]

Saw a small tortoiseshell and a lady brimstone at the weekend, and several bumble queens, white tailed and red tailed, and the solitary bees are starting to emerge from the bee hotel.

[Jimmy]

Spotted a red one in Penwortham Preston yesterday dinner time.
It didn't look to happy.
As children we used to call them Red Admirals, but I think that was a generic name we used for any pretty red butterfly.
Jimmy

[PyreneesPlot]

First swallowtail yesterday - a huge one. I think they overwinter in the chrysalis?
We are lucky to see butterflies pretty much right through the winter on warm sunny days, although I worry about what they are finding to feed on. A good excuse to leave the flowering weeds