Last year I didn't see a Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly all through the season. Reports showed that they had declined somewhat during the year because of the appalling weather.
So it was a surprise to see that my first sighting of a butterfly this year was one of that species.
Clearly it is a well worn over winter specimen, but is intact and I was only able to take a few shots and then it was on its way. They are not a colonising species and fly across the countryside and can be found anywhere.
Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)
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| Lumix GH3. 100-300mm lens. 1/640 at f5.3 - 246mm(492) ISO200 |
I was pleased to see a few on Sunday but with the strong wind they weren't in view long enough to identify.
ReplyDeleteThe Peacock is on the move quite a lot John and it just looks very dark when flying. I have seen one from a distance.
DeleteGreat to see some butterfly shots again Roy, hopefully 2013 will be much better than 2012 was for flutterbies :-)
ReplyDeleteCertainly is David, hopefully it will be a good year as they need to be able to recover as much as possible.
DeleteWell spotted Roy. I've only seen one butterfly so far this year and that was also a Small Tortoiseshell basking in the sun on a bramble bush at Lynford Arboretum in Norfolk on 28th. February!! Lets hope the butterflies (and photographers1) have a better year this year. Early reports look good with quite a few reports of butterflies on the wing coming in now...[;o)
ReplyDeleteThanks Trevor, hopefully it will be OK.
DeleteVery nice Roy, I like these butterflies very much. They are quite common over here but they have such nice colours that I don't mind to see them everyday!
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Marianne
Thanks Marianne.
DeleteA lovely sight Roy. It was the first butterfly I saw last year and that was in March, like yours an overwintered one. I haven't seen one yet this year but my husband did at lunchtime yesterday along with a Brimstone and a white one which he didn't see clearly enough to identify. I do so hope this will be a better year for them, they certainly need it to be.
ReplyDeleteWell done with the lovely Willow Warbler on the previous post great sighting and captures.
Thanks Jan.
DeleteHey Roy...Well your first butterfly photo of the year,and one you didn't see last year...your of a good start!!
ReplyDeleteHopefully this will be a good year for the Small Tortoiseshell !
Grace
Very nice, can't wait to start seeing the butterflies around here. I like the new header photo too.
ReplyDeleteThanks John.
DeleteI hope you get to see a whole lot more this season Roy. I had a peacock in the garden today, but it didn't stay around long enough for even one snap!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jen, I did see a Peacock from a distance today.
ReplyDeleteI saw two brimstones and then a larger darker something or other, but it was so quick and I didn't identify it. Was pleased to see bumble bees too! I will try to get some early flowering something with nectar this weekend to try to attract them into the garden. I have a winter honeysuckle still flowering which is popular.
ReplyDeleteTithe dark one was probably a Peacock butterfly Helena.
DeleteBeautiful butterfly and wonderfully captured with exquisite detail!
ReplyDeleteThanks Nora.
ReplyDeleteGood to know that it survived the snow and cold winter temps. Haven't seen any butterflies yet here.
ReplyDeleteYou should soon start to see them now D.
ReplyDeleteLovely butterfly that time is coming again. You know the Little Fox really nice to give back :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Helma , yes we should soon start to see many species.
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