Bee and Holly Blue Butterfly.
This Holly blue was in my garden this morning a small blue butterfly that emerges in early spring, from March to May, and then again at the end of the summer between July and September. The foodplants of the caterpillars are mainly Holly for the spring Butterflies and Ivy for the summer ones, although a wide range of other plants liked including bramble and gorse.
Another morning walk. Small white and Meadow Brown butterflies.
The end of a Bumblebee – this Bumblebee had been dispatched by a spider, who is now moving in to eat it or wrap it up for it up for later.
Another new Butterfly spot this morning which I believe is a Purple Hairstreak.
The Brimstone is a fairly large, pale yellow butterfly, with a distinctive, leaf-shaped wing. The adults will hibernate through cold weather so they are one of the 1st Butterflies I see in the spring and due to this they are one of my favourite Butterflies. Early sightings this year were from the car while on shopping trips during full lockdown so I was unable to get any pictures. However today I saw about 4 on my walk today and took these pictures.
The last 2 walks and the local deer have either moved on or are in hiding, The grass and thistles are now tall and full of insects and butterflies. Traffic noise from the close by M27 Motorway has returned with the easing of some of our lockdown. Perhaps this has pushed the deer further to the North, or maybe they normally move to different areas. One of the local Roebucks recently seemed to spend a lot of time in a horse field grazing on the short grass so will the tall grass where we have seen them over the past months if short grass is on the menu this could be another reason for relocation. With less deer, and the Woodpeckers and Kestrels gone from their nest’s insects my be a new focus of my photography.
I am just (only just) over 6ft so you can see how high the Marsh Thistles have grown.
Marbled White Butterflies are at the moment abundant in high numbers among the tall grass and thistles I do not know if it is a good year for this species or I have just been in the right place at the right time although records say this butterfly is found in colonies. This butterfly is unmistakable, its black and white markings distinguishing it from all other species found in the UK. It is found in the south of the UK below a line between Glamorganshire in the west and N.E. Yorkshire.
The Meadow Brown is a common and widespread butterfly. This species can be found in all parts of the UK, with the exception of the most mountainous areas. Typical habitats include grassland, woodland rides, field margins, hedgerows, road verges and overgrown gardens.
Ringlet Butterfly, at rest the rings on the hindwings give this butterfly its name. The uppersides are a uniform chocolate brown that distinguishes this butterfly from the closely-related Meadow Brown. The dark colouring also allows this butterfly to quickly warm up – making it a butterfly one of the few that flies on overcast days.
More Marbled White Butterflies and my 1st Greenfinch and Grasshopper picture (? Common green grasshopper). When we were children Greenfinches were a common sight on the bird table and the Goldfinch was a rare bird table visitor. Today I rarely see a Greenfinch yet I see Goldfinches daily and they a common garden visitor.
Continued Reflections from my world. 