There are a few April specials to look out for at the moment, on the wing at this time in early spring will be holly blues and orange tips, top marks if you can get a picture of one of them settled!!!
Bird wise look and listen out for cuckoos, willow warblers and blackcaps to name just a few. Probably more of you will be seeing signs of nesting in the gardens from our resident birds such as robins, house sparrows, blue tits and blackbirds. I spotted a fully fledged and independant juvenile robin at the weekend so some birds started very early this year!With all this nesting activity going on, remember to leave the hedge strimmer alone!
Frogspawn should be turning into tadpoles and lots of other life should be bursting into activity in the pond. Lilac should be bursting into life and now is a great time to get down to your local bluebell wood, this year they seem to be blooming quite early, they're looking great here at the Lodge, although the daffs are pretty much finished.
If you want to record signs of spring and wildlife events in your garden through the seasons, you might be interested in signing up to Natures Calender, have a look here for more information.
Happy spotting
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Hi, I had two orange tips in my garden today.....could I get a picture??? not a hope!
Feed The Birds....not the cats!!!!
I know....my spelling's crap !!
saw this yesterday, it was much bluer in flight
I think it might be a holly blue - am happy to be corrected though
Izzy
sorry poor photo
One of my favourite butterflies is the Orange tip, its great to see them on the wing again !
A male
A female orange tip.
Kind regards,
Mike
"Remove nothing from nature except; Nourishment for the soul; Consolation for the heart; Inspiration for the mind"
Visit my galleries here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeakabigman/
excellent photos - am impressed here!
Hi Ian
Great information that you have given here. At Fen Drayton we saw lots last weekend we saw six Warbler species, another 6 or so insects.
We saw Brimstones, Orange Tips, Frillaries, Blue (not sure what species) White butterflies (Large and Small), Peacocks,. Small Tortoisehell, and Speckled Wood (all added on the species list at the RSPB Van in the car park, and we have photos too of the species)
My Fen Drayton Lakes report of our day will be out shortly on here
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Hi Mike
Love your photos of the Orange tip Male and famale butterlfies
What is your white butterfly - is it a Small white
Sorry Kathy, I didn't label the image very well, the bottom white butterfly is a female orange tip
No worries....thanks Mike for the correct ID
Looked a different butterfly in your third photo
I know what Im looking for in April = RAIN.
Its been so dry out there in the gardens just at the wrong time for young birds in their nests when they need worms and grubs provided by the adults.
Been throwing out the washing up water on different parts of the lawn to at least help the pair of blackbirds and starlings that I get in my garden.
Chris S.
A very old Shropshire Lad.
The April special for me has to be Hobby. Only a week or 10days away.
Lovely, lovely pics of the orange tip (and mate) settled on Lady's Smock, their food plant- gorgeous, We've seen lots of orange tips and a few holly blue. Great shortage of frogs' spawn this year in our village pond, very worrying and upsetting.
Thanks for this valuable information, and Happy April Spotting to you too. :-))
I saw this Orange Tip and this Peacock in Nightingale Woods where lot's of people were riding on a train to chase a man wearing a brown rabbit suit (!!??)
Best wishes Chris
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izzy saw this yesterday, it was much bluer in flight I think it might be a holly blue - am happy to be corrected though Izzy sorry poor photo
HI Izzy
Looks good for holly blue
Ray
a good laugh is better than a tonic
Big Robbo 27 Hi, I had two orange tips in my garden today.....could I get a picture??? not a hope!
Know the feeling BR