So many reports of large numbers of painted ladies being seen around the UK this spring, and I can certainly confirm that I've seen a couple.
More than I can say for small tortoiseshells, which seem to have had a disastrous winter hibernation season.
This individual was lurking among the cotoneaster bushes on campus, you'd think they's stand out a mile, but they really don't until they move. They are so beautiful, and I love the fact that their latin name is "Vanessa"!
The second butterfly is a female orange tip, and like other species that have spent the winter as pupae, they seem to have done much better than the early rising imagos. I've seen plenty flying around, and this one was in the library nature reserve, and unlike most orange tips was actually rather easy to photograph!
Hopefully you are all seeing some lovely butterflies about.
Si
All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 12.05.26
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