[OT] Early butterfly
 

I saw a tortoiseshell and a peacock on Friday (18th), first I'd noticed this
year.

Dave
"Jack Harrison" wrote in message
...
I am going to be a smart arse here .

On Wednesday 9th March I predicted on a butterfly web group that
"butterfly
spring" would begin on 16th March.

And sure enough it did - I have been a butterfly enthusiast for all but 60
years now so ought to get it right after all this while!

Four species hibernate in Britain as adults, ie as butterflies rather than
caterpillars or chrysalides or eggs:
Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma and Brimstone. To that must be added
Red Admiral which has regularly over-wintered in recent years with the
warmer winters. Red Admiral is not perhaps a true hibernator in that they
often wake in mild winter weather, do a bit of feeding and then return to
hibernation. The other species remain totally dormant for months.

Jack

[OT] Early butterfly
 

I saw a tortoiseshell and a peacock on Friday (18th), first I'd noticed this
year.

Dave
"Jack Harrison" wrote in message
...
I am going to be a smart arse here .

On Wednesday 9th March I predicted on a butterfly web group that
"butterfly
spring" would begin on 16th March.

And sure enough it did - I have been a butterfly enthusiast for all but 60
years now so ought to get it right after all this while!

Four species hibernate in Britain as adults, ie as butterflies rather than
caterpillars or chrysalides or eggs:
Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma and Brimstone. To that must be added
Red Admiral which has regularly over-wintered in recent years with the
warmer winters. Red Admiral is not perhaps a true hibernator in that they
often wake in mild winter weather, do a bit of feeding and then return to
hibernation. The other species remain totally dormant for months.

Jack

[OT] Early butterfly
 

I saw a tortoiseshell and a peacock on Friday (18th), first I'd noticed this
year.

Dave
"Jack Harrison" wrote in message
...
I am going to be a smart arse here .

On Wednesday 9th March I predicted on a butterfly web group that
"butterfly
spring" would begin on 16th March.

And sure enough it did - I have been a butterfly enthusiast for all but 60
years now so ought to get it right after all this while!

Four species hibernate in Britain as adults, ie as butterflies rather than
caterpillars or chrysalides or eggs:
Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma and Brimstone. To that must be added
Red Admiral which has regularly over-wintered in recent years with the
warmer winters. Red Admiral is not perhaps a true hibernator in that they
often wake in mild winter weather, do a bit of feeding and then return to
hibernation. The other species remain totally dormant for months.

Jack

[OT] Early butterfly
 

In message , Dave.C
writes
I saw a tortoiseshell and a peacock on Friday (18th), first I'd noticed this
year.

Well its all happened very suddenly here in Cumbria. Out for a bike ride
on Saturday - in short sleeves, which is practically unheard of for me
except in high summer. I nearly collided with a huge bumble bee, and
there are flying insects everywhere, including butterflies. The curlews,
lapwings and oyster catchers are calling. The garden is suddenly noisy
with frogs and toads and the pond is covered with spawn. The birds are
eating seed as fast as we can put it out, and showing great interest in
the bird boxes we made. The grass has had its first light cut of the
year, and our two old cats think they have gone to heaven early because
its sunny and warm outside
Glorious - hope its not all due to get iced over in a few days :(
--
Anita Evans
North Cumbria
(anita[at]ra.evans.clara.co.uk to reply by e-mail)

[OT] Early butterfly
 

In message , Dave.C
writes
I saw a tortoiseshell and a peacock on Friday (18th), first I'd noticed this
year.

Well its all happened very suddenly here in Cumbria. Out for a bike ride
on Saturday - in short sleeves, which is practically unheard of for me
except in high summer. I nearly collided with a huge bumble bee, and
there are flying insects everywhere, including butterflies. The curlews,
lapwings and oyster catchers are calling. The garden is suddenly noisy
with frogs and toads and the pond is covered with spawn. The birds are
eating seed as fast as we can put it out, and showing great interest in
the bird boxes we made. The grass has had its first light cut of the
year, and our two old cats think they have gone to heaven early because
its sunny and warm outside
Glorious - hope its not all due to get iced over in a few days :(
--
Anita Evans
North Cumbria
(anita[at]ra.evans.clara.co.uk to reply by e-mail)

[OT] Early butterfly
 

In message , Dave.C
writes
I saw a tortoiseshell and a peacock on Friday (18th), first I'd noticed this
year.

Well its all happened very suddenly here in Cumbria. Out for a bike ride
on Saturday - in short sleeves, which is practically unheard of for me
except in high summer. I nearly collided with a huge bumble bee, and
there are flying insects everywhere, including butterflies. The curlews,
lapwings and oyster catchers are calling. The garden is suddenly noisy
with frogs and toads and the pond is covered with spawn. The birds are
eating seed as fast as we can put it out, and showing great interest in
the bird boxes we made. The grass has had its first light cut of the
year, and our two old cats think they have gone to heaven early because
its sunny and warm outside
Glorious - hope its not all due to get iced over in a few days :(
--
Anita Evans
North Cumbria
(anita[at]ra.evans.clara.co.uk to reply by e-mail)

[OT] Early butterfly
 

In message , Dave.C
writes
I saw a tortoiseshell and a peacock on Friday (18th), first I'd noticed this
year.

Well its all happened very suddenly here in Cumbria. Out for a bike ride
on Saturday - in short sleeves, which is practically unheard of for me
except in high summer. I nearly collided with a huge bumble bee, and
there are flying insects everywhere, including butterflies. The curlews,
lapwings and oyster catchers are calling. The garden is suddenly noisy
with frogs and toads and the pond is covered with spawn. The birds are
eating seed as fast as we can put it out, and showing great interest in
the bird boxes we made. The grass has had its first light cut of the
year, and our two old cats think they have gone to heaven early because
its sunny and warm outside
Glorious - hope its not all due to get iced over in a few days :(
--
Anita Evans
North Cumbria
(anita[at]ra.evans.clara.co.uk to reply by e-mail)

[OT] Early butterfly
 

I saw a butterfly in the garden this afternoon. It had a brown hairy body,
orangish wings with dark brown spots. It's not a subject I know anything
about but this does seem fairly early. Any expert knowledge out there?
Norman.

Sounds like one of these to me: http://www.pbase.com/image/14802153

There were dozens of them flying around Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh last
Saturday afternoon.

I did try to reply last week, but for some reason my replies didn't make it
to the ng.

Anne

[OT] Early butterfly
 

I saw a butterfly in the garden this afternoon. It had a brown hairy body,
orangish wings with dark brown spots. It's not a subject I know anything
about but this does seem fairly early. Any expert knowledge out there?
Norman.

Sounds like one of these to me: http://www.pbase.com/image/14802153

There were dozens of them flying around Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh last
Saturday afternoon.

I did try to reply last week, but for some reason my replies didn't make it
to the ng.

Anne

[OT] Early butterfly
 

I saw a butterfly in the garden this afternoon. It had a brown hairy body,
orangish wings with dark brown spots. It's not a subject I know anything
about but this does seem fairly early. Any expert knowledge out there?
Norman.

Sounds like one of these to me: http://www.pbase.com/image/14802153

There were dozens of them flying around Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh last
Saturday afternoon.

I did try to reply last week, but for some reason my replies didn't make it
to the ng.

Anne