Just like two days ago butterflies were all but absent today, with my total seen only 2. However, these were 1 Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) and 1 Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines), with the latter being the first butterfly of the season from those species that overwintered in the pupal form. The Orange Tip chrysalis from which this individual emerged within the last day or two will have been formed as long ago as July last year.

Again, it was a good day for flies and bees. A Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera) provided a male Variable Duskyface Fly (Melanostoma mellinum) and a female Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena fulva). Yet another female Spring Epistrophe (Epistrophe eligans) was found on a Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) were out in large numbers on the many catkin-bearing Goat Willow (Salix caprea) and the Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) still seem to favour the blooming Gorse (Ulex europaeus).

The caterpillar of an Argyresthia sp. moth was found on a fence pole, possibly the Brassy Y (Argyresthia goedartella). This caterpillar feeds on birch catkins.

Several Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) are now in full bloom, yet don’t seem to attract the pollinating insects as much as the Prunus species.

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