Despite the rather cold recent weather this spring has been a very good one for our butterflies.
The cold winter, which kills the parasites on over-wintering caterpillars, helped as did a very warm April and most of May. Early sightings included peacock, red admiral and comma with brimstone very close behind.
The brimstone died out here in the sixties prior to the RSPB buying the reserve with the shading of their foodplant, alder buckthorn. In the early eighties, we planted lots of these trees in suitable habitat and when the trees were old enough we re-introduced the butterfly back onto the reserve. Sightings have increased regularly since and it is one of the joys of spring and summer to see these fly through the woodland.
Speckled woods are now flying and we have had many sightings of wall brown, orange tip, small heath, small copper and both common and holly blue. Others that will soon be on the wing include meadow brown with ringlet and hedge brown following in later months.
My personal favourite though, of all our butterflies is the purple hairstreak which will be flying in warm weather throughout July and August; the purple sheen on the wings reflecting the light and on seeing one of these alighting on a bramble flower to nectar I again marvel at the beauty of nature in its many forms.
What is your favourite butterfly? Let me know by leaving a comment below.