I was able to shoot a few images of this rather confused dance around the sky.
It appeared that two male Brimstone butterflies were chasing after a female Small White. I think they had confused the Small White with a female Brimstone which is a paler colour of the male Brimstone. Having said that the Small White is quite a bit smaller than the Brimstone.
Anyway, one of the Brimstones gave up after a while and shortly after that, so did the other and then I was able to take this shot of the Small White below.
Footnote
Heard my first Nightingale and Willow Warbler of the year yesterday and also observed first Blackcap (male) of the year whilst walking along a track in the Woodland that I walk regularly.
That is unusual that the butterflies are that confused. When I was onCopelandIsladn at the weekend, I saw my first Willow Warbler also but t birds caught and ringed.winds wree too strong and relaly no migrants worth talking about and no birds ringed so a bit disappointing especially asI was not too well and still not!
ReplyDeleteYes the wind was still fairly strong today Margaret, but hopefully will slow up a bit now.
DeleteIt makes you wonder what's going on inside their little heads.
ReplyDeleteNo butterflies here yet, but I did manage to see a Palm Warbler come through. We actually had three nice days in a row. Today it is back to rain.
I am waiting to see when the rain returns here Steve. It can still be a very wet time even in May.
Deleteheerlijk om te zien dat er al zoveel vlinders te voorschijn komen.
ReplyDeleteEr zijn vier of vijf soorten reeds vliegende Bas
DeleteInteresting flight photos Roy with even a Peacock making an appearance in one of the shots! Certainly interesting behaviour and not something I can say I have ever seen before.
ReplyDeleteVery envious of your Nightingale!!!
Hope you are well :-)
Hi David,
DeleteI meant to mention the Peacock, but somewhere in the creation of the post I forgot, glad you sussed that one.{:))
Yay spring! What a delightful post. Your pictures are so clear, I could almost see them flying and flitting around. Well done, Roy! Have a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen.
DeleteWonderful shots of the chase!
ReplyDeleteThanks Wilma.
DeleteA great opportunity to get these images Roy, and how exciting to hear (and see) such wonderful birds on your walk.
ReplyDeleteI saw my first Brimstones today. Great shots in flight Roy. I couldn't get near them! I did get shots of a male Adder though. Luckily the dogs DIDN'T see him.
ReplyDeleteThanks Em.
DeleteOuch! male adder, I think I would give him a wide berth.{:))
Hey Roy.... Great job keeping up with those little confused wings. Look's like they probably weren't aware of your presence.
ReplyDeleteHearing the sounds of returning birds is wonderful. Things are picking up here, 3 lifers so far, along with at least 16 other returning birds .
Nice post, and photo's.
Grace
Thanks GG. Good to hear that you are getting some success already this year with Lifers.
DeleteI noticed that Peacock watching the action in the fourth shot and wondered whether he was going to join in! You are so much further into Spring than we are: at the moment all I have seen are a few bumble bees but they are lovely. We rarely get Brimstones up here but I saw several when in Paris recently, near the canal basin at La Bastille, of all places:)
ReplyDeleteThings are really moving now in the last couple of days Sweff. I never so anything like that in Paris, but the gardens at Versailles I was really have a field day one time with butterflies.
DeleteDis donc, après toutes les fleurs, tous ces papillons.
ReplyDeleteIci aussi les Citrons sont nombreux. Amusante ta série Roy
Bises
Merci Nathalie.{:))
DeleteMotyle w locie - niesamowite.
ReplyDeleteDziękujemy MC.
DeleteAmazing in flight photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mandy.
Delete