Peacock Butterfly on the Wing

I found and photographed three of this species in the last few days.

They appeared to have overwintered well. I believe by their actions, that they were all males.

This species emerge as a butterfly in July and lasts through Winter hibernation until the next Spring.

Mainly a woodland edge butterfly and common throughout out most of UK.

Chasing the Sound of the Blackcap

Chasing the sound of the Blackcap, quite a mobile activity.

The Blackcap has returned to the area now that Spring is here. I spent a morning in a small woodland area where I could here a Blackcap singing. At this time the males are singing away and searching for the first females to arrive. Its somewhat of a mobile activity trying to locate the males in order to take some photographs. You wait until they sing again and go to that area, by which time they have moved 75 to 100 metres away in another part of the wood. Then you go to that area and again the bird is absent. They will at times go deep into bushes as well, which is very unhelpful.

Here are a some shots I took of the same male after much chasing about.

Small Tortoiseshell

My first Butterfly (Photographed) of the Spring.

This year its the turn of the Small Tortoiseshell.

I found several feeding on Lesser Celandines beside a river bank.

Some are in better condition than others, but overall they appear to have survived the Winter quite well.

Goldie

I took these shots which are very typical of the way that you get to see Goldfinch at this time of year where they are searching amongst the teasels for any seeds amongst the spikes. This is often in the open and you can only get so close before they fly off into the trees, only returning when you have moved on.

Where did I put that Acorn

Fortunately, this Jay came to me rather than me finding him.

I was in a covert position in woodland near an Oak tree. He suddenly flew down and started searching for the acorns he had probably buried around there last Autumn.

More Chiffchaff

This Chiffchaff posed very nicely on a horizontal branch.

Great-spotted Woodpecker

This male was performing very well for the camera and its plumage is very Spring like.