I then go out the front door and see at least eight Gatekeepers on these yellow weeds/plants. I also saw a Meadow Brown. The front is mostly grass that I only strim a little, and last time I decided to leave these plants growing.
Sunday, 2 August 2009
Even more butterflies
Two hours after posting my blog bemoaning about not being able to photograph the Peacock butterfly, I'm locking up the shed and spot a dark butterfly in the garden. I take the camera out for a while before going to my mum's and spot this beauty on the Buddliea aka Butterfly Bush.
I then go out the front door and see at least eight Gatekeepers on these yellow weeds/plants. I also saw a Meadow Brown. The front is mostly grass that I only strim a little, and last time I decided to leave these plants growing.
I then go out the front door and see at least eight Gatekeepers on these yellow weeds/plants. I also saw a Meadow Brown. The front is mostly grass that I only strim a little, and last time I decided to leave these plants growing.
Butterflies and moths
The Sunday after I posted my last blog entry I noticed that a lot of the Large White caterpillars had gone, and by Monday they had all disappeared - either off to pupate or taken by birds. Since then the cabbages started to recover and I've since spotted eggs
With some ready to hatch
So I knew where to look for these on July 25th
They are still quite small
I thought I was going to spot two Large White butterflies mating today, but they turned out to be female Large and Small Whites.
The Small White flew over to the cabbages where I caught her laying an egg.
The Small White lays eggs singly and I think this is a young caterpillar - it was on the cabbages anyway.
And I'm certain this is a fully grown Small White caterpillar. I almost didn't spot it despite its size. It wasn't there the next day.
A few days ago I found this caterpillar which I'm fairly sure is of a Comma. It is on the hops, one of the preferred foods. I've seen a couple of Comma butterflies in the garden.
It's normally hidden from view, curled up and looking like bird poo, but I turned the leaf back to get the photo. I don't think it liked the sun and was on the move.
Today I saw my first Peacock butterfly in something like 40 years. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a photo. However a few weeks ago I was on a bike ride and met my daughter and family out for a walk. As we chatted the kids spotted this Peacock caterpillar.
On another bike ride I spotted a Speckled Wood butterfly - another first for me.
Back home and today I saw my first identified blue butterfly - a female Common Blue.
A couple of days ago I spotted this. I think it might be a Skipper (a kind of butterfly) but am not certain. It's hiding its antennae so I can't tell if it's a butterfly or moth.
Edit: it's a Yellow Shell Moth. Thanks to Lynmiranda for identifying it.
And finally a Common Plume moth.
With some ready to hatch
So I knew where to look for these on July 25th
They are still quite small
I thought I was going to spot two Large White butterflies mating today, but they turned out to be female Large and Small Whites.
The Small White flew over to the cabbages where I caught her laying an egg.
The Small White lays eggs singly and I think this is a young caterpillar - it was on the cabbages anyway.
And I'm certain this is a fully grown Small White caterpillar. I almost didn't spot it despite its size. It wasn't there the next day.
A few days ago I found this caterpillar which I'm fairly sure is of a Comma. It is on the hops, one of the preferred foods. I've seen a couple of Comma butterflies in the garden.
It's normally hidden from view, curled up and looking like bird poo, but I turned the leaf back to get the photo. I don't think it liked the sun and was on the move.
Today I saw my first Peacock butterfly in something like 40 years. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a photo. However a few weeks ago I was on a bike ride and met my daughter and family out for a walk. As we chatted the kids spotted this Peacock caterpillar.
On another bike ride I spotted a Speckled Wood butterfly - another first for me.
Back home and today I saw my first identified blue butterfly - a female Common Blue.
A couple of days ago I spotted this. I think it might be a Skipper (a kind of butterfly) but am not certain. It's hiding its antennae so I can't tell if it's a butterfly or moth.
Edit: it's a Yellow Shell Moth. Thanks to Lynmiranda for identifying it.
And finally a Common Plume moth.
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