Butterfly update

A rare sighting of the sun miraculously filled the garden with butterflies. An exceptional count of 8 Small Tortoiseshell on a single Buddleia bush was a real surprise. Since 2006 there have been only a few records annually. Double figure counts of Silver Washed Fritillary, Peacock and Red Admiral, a few large White and Green Veined White, 3 Commma, 3 Brimstone, several Common Blue, a single Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, a Speckled Wood and a Small Copper completed the list of survivors. It never ceases to amaze how these delicate insects survive days of rain.

Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies

In between showers good numbers of Butterflies have been seen – 40 plus Silver-washed Fritillary, 12 Red Admiral, 8 Common Blue, 5 Peacocks, 3 Commas, 3 Small-pearl Bordered Fritillary, 4 Small Copper, Whites, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood and only the second garden record of Wall Brown

Silver-washed Fritillary

Thrift Clearwing

Painted Lady

2 Painted Lady butterflies seen on the cliffs at Duckpool while pheromoning for Thrift Clearwing were the first of the year. A single Thrift Clearwing was recorded in not ideal windy conditions.

Red Admiral

Silver Y

Over the last few days there has been the first large influx of Silver Y and a small mumber of Red Admiral Butterflies into North Cornwall. Few Red Admiral seemed to survive over wintering but several unworn specimens have been recently appeared presumably from the continent.

Marsh Fritillary

Dingy Skipper

Green Hairstreak

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

30+ Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, 10+ Dingy Skipper, 3 Green Hairstreak, 1 Marsh Fritillary