Starting off 2023 list already! 7 Winter moths - Operophtera brumata around the front door
Last years thread for newcomers can be found here https://community.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/f/all-creatures/279008/butterflies-and-moths-2022
Not sure what I will find this year as I will be possibly be doing more travelling in the UK
Cin J
(Pardon the Scottish Accent)
Cabbage white on my kale flowers, feeding away to later wage war on my newly planted kale plants for this year.
In background is a bee, legs fully loaded with pollen. This is the reason why I let my kale (and some other over wintered crops) go to flower. A valuable source of nectar for insects.
Unfortunately, there appears to be a colony of aphids as well. I'll leave those for ladybird larvae.
90% luck, 5% field craft, 5% camera skills.
The underside of an Orange Tip Butterfly. Not the best image but had to get a photo before it flew away. Love the camouflage :-)
Ed
It finally feels like things might be starting to wake up (fingers very firmly crossed). I haven't run a moth trap yet this year as its been too wet, too windy, too cold or all three at once!
I got that desperate for some insect activity I've made the 14 week old grandchild a buggy romper
This weeks transects things started to improve
Yippee - the Green Hairstreaks are emerging - I think either my memory is faulty or eyesight is playing up but a number of them appear to be really small
Had the highest count of Wall Browns that I've had in years - really active and busy patrolling so only very poor photos
Brown Argus playing hide and seek and checking each other out
Common Blue just starting to emerge
I'm head off to the UK again for a few weeks -- excited to see what I may find on the wing
Germain said:I'm head off to the UK again for a few weeks -- excited to see what I may find on the wing
Lovely selection Caroline, here in SEKent we are plagued with northerly to easterly winds, at leasr til end of month, plenty of sunshine but with a distinct chill so not much to be seen! Plus buddleia's ot in bloom yet!
PimperneBloke said: Your last sentence confused me?
I will be on the mainland for about 3 weeks so hope to see Butterflies we don't get on the Island - like maybe Small Blue, Silver Studded and perhaps I will go Frit hunting :)