Not the best photograph of a Peacock butterfly, but what a surprise after the last few days of grey skies and chilly temperatures! This afternoon we saw:
- 1 female Brimstone, too quick to photograph
- 5 Peacock butterflies
- 11 Comma butterflies
- 2 Bee-flies
- In excess of 15 7-spot Ladybirds, including one outside our house
We were not expecting Newbourne Springs to produce such riches in a couple of hours, if that; but how wonderful, at last, to feel that the insect seasons are underway.
The photos below are a bit of a mixed bag, but I hope they give an impression of the seasonal sights we enjoyed.
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| Wild Arum |
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| We watched this bee climb into the undergrowth |
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| Wonderful blossom |
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| Butterbur |
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| Seasonal first: Peacock butterfly |
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| Lesser Celandine |
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| Seasonal First: Comma butterfly |
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| 7-spot Ladybird (this top one outside our house) |
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| Robin |
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| Two more 7-spots |
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| I love the feathery reflection! |
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| Another Comma |
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| And another 7-spot ... |
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| ... perhaps laying an egg? |
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| Bee fly, one of two seen this afternoon |
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| Peacock |
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| Primroses above the stream |
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| Primroses |
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| Hard to resist a ripple over the sandy stream bed |
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| ?Greater Stitchwort |
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| close-up |
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| Wild strawberry flowers |
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| The stream at Newbourne Springs |
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| Back to the house, where our spring bulbs are adding a splash of colour. |
Lovely to see signs of Spring. I have still not seen many butterflies or Bee Flies yet just a few Bumble Bees.
ReplyDeleteWe had another Bee Fly in the garden today, making a total of three so far! And yes, RR, it suddenly feels as if spring is underway, though the evenings are chilly and we are waking to frost.
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