The National Trust viewpoint carpark at the foot of Afton Down close to Freshwater Bay has always been a prime location for spring butterflies. Today the first species was seen just after noon when I observed a Grizzled Skipper nectaring on a dandelion flower. Unfortunately I was unable to relocate it as it sped off after I disturbed it.
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The excellent spring weather continues and today it was good to see a first of the year Speckled Wood in my garden. It spent some time enjoying a warm sunny spot and hopefully it will not be long before the Holly Blue is seen here too.
Our evergreen shrub Berberis or Barberry is in full bloom at the end of March.It is always popular with bees and other pollinating insects. Today this male Brimstone was observed nectaring on the shrubs prolific yellow- red flowers..
The Phlomis plant in our garden at Freshwater has always been popular with white butterflies and today it was host to my first Small White of the season. With the sun shining and despite a rather cold northerly wind this Small White spent some time on the leaves enjoying the sunny spot.
The almost summerlike weather continues and another spring butterfly was seen enjoying the warm sunshine in my garden today. A first sighting of this Comma which spent some considerable time basking in a particularly sunny spot.
The mild spell continued today and the butterflies were tempted out into the warm sunshine. First of all a male Brimstone was seen flying around my garden and later a Peacock also appeared.
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Following several days of settled.sunny and daytime mild temperatures,the new season now seems to be underway.Yestwerday I observed the first butterfly of the year in my garden.A Peacock basked in the sun on a paving slab and this morning after the fog had lifted this Red Admiral was seen on a bench also in my garden.
