First Butterflies Seen Today 1.3.14

A lovely spring like day today with plenty of warm sunshine after a frosty start (-3), just after noon I saw 2 Peacock butterflies, 1 Brimstone and 1 Tortoiseshell enjoying the warmth , possibly the earliest I've seen butterflies myself

 

Wow, how lovely. Not seen any here yet.

 

Had a few Red Admirals around last month but nothing else yet although a few more sunny days may wake more up.

 

Seen a red admiral and a brimstone today, encouraging signs indeed. Also seen more ladybirds, a few different bees and a couple of lacewings

 

Accidentally trod on a Ladybird that must have overwintered in the bog

 

seen a few bee's about, 1 butterfly and a few ladybirds

What are you doing with your foot in the bog ????

 

Saw a bumblebee and some other bees when i went to the GC with OH on Wednesday. They were visiting the Hellebore display...my first sighting of the year. Still not seen any in the garden though.

 

Just come back from hombase and the hellebore over 40 of them all in flower covered in bumble bees and honey bees

 

A Hellebore or three are now on my shopping list!

 

good time to buy as you can choose the colour , I cant stand the washed out ones though

 

A very large bee today, over indulging on catkin pollen

 

two butterflies or it could of been the same one , just thought of that

red admiral sunbathing on the decking , I am surprised we dont have more as they feed on stinging nettles ?

 

Well what a fantastic day!!, 19 degrees in the sun and 15 in the shade by early afternoon.........and out came the flutterbies , it was a true butterfly fest, quite surreal at times, having 3 or 4 fluttering around me.

Today I saw a Brimstone, Peacock, Red Admiral, 2 Small Tortoiseshell together, 2 Commas together and a Painted Lady!!, managed to get a photo of a Comma and Small Tortoiseshell, I'll post them up when I've uploaded them

 

Rescued this one from the jaws of Reggie