A dark brown butterfly with creamy white and black markings on a yellow flower

Speckled Wood. Photo: Kevin Denham

Our first photo of a Speckled Wood this year for the Gallery was sent in by Kevin telling us:

The lovely sunshine yesterday, 24/03/2024 brought out the first Speckled Wood of the year in my garden near Broadmayne, possibly attracted by the masses of Lesser Celandine and Primroses now in flower.

Speckled Wood, Broadmayne
Posted on: 25 March, 2024

A red butterfly with brown, black, white and blue markings on a pink flower

Peacock. Photo: Shona Refoy

A red butterfly with brown, black, white and blue markings on a pink flower

Peacock. Photo: Shona Refoy

Two photos from Shona sent in with the following comments:

This Peacock was drinking rainwater from the top of the Camellia in my Broadstone garden on 21/03/2024 – the Camellia is taller that me, so I was up the stepladder taking the photos!

Peacock, Broadstone
Posted on: 22 March, 2024

A greenish yellow butterfly resting on some vegetation

Brimstone. Photo: Warren Port

A red butterfly with brown, black, white and blue markings resting on some vegetation

Peacock. Photo: Warren Port

Warren sent in these two photos telling us:

This photo of a Peacock is one of the many I have been seeing at Breach Common, Shaftesbury – it’s in excellent condition. The photo of the Brimstone was taken at Castle Hill, Shaftesbury.  Both photos were taken yesterday 21/03/2024.

Brimstone and Peacock, Shaftesbury
Posted on: 22 March, 2024

Red-headed Chestnut. Photo: Phyl England

Phyl was thrilled to find she had trapped a rare moth, this Red-headed Chestnut in her Swanage garden on 11/03/24.

This species has one generation, late September-November, reappearing March-April.

 

 

 

 

 

Red-headed Chestnut, Swanage
Posted on: 21 March, 2024

 

Brian found this Scarlet Tiger caterpillar nibbling the Echiums in his Swanage garden on 20/03/24.

This species overwinter as larva August -May, and feeds openly by day especially in sunshine. Adult moth flight season is June -July.

 

Scarlet Tiger caterpillar, Swanage
Posted on: 21 March, 2024

Oak Beauty. Photo: Phyl England

This Oak Beauty trapped by Phyl in her Swanage garden on 11/03/24 certainly lives up to its name.

The flight period is February-April, and males readily come to light, sometimes in numbers. Females only very occasionally.

Oak Beauty, Swanage
Posted on: 19 March, 2024

A greenish yellow butterfly with some brown spots nectaring on purple and red flowers

Brimstone. Photo: Donald Simcock

A red butterfly with brown, black, white and blue markings on some vegetation

Peacock. Photo: Donald Simcock

Two photos from Donald both taken in his Bournemouth garden on 17/03/2024 and sent in telling us:

Today we had some warm sunshine and I thought I ought to look more closely at the garden. Lots of bees, small hoverflies, flies and a few small spiders tells me that the garden is in good shape.  My spirits were lifted when I saw 2 Brimstones and a Peacock butterfly flying around, feeding and sunning themselves.

Brimstone and Peacock, Bournemouth
Posted on: 19 March, 2024

Paul was surprised to find this very early Nut-tree Tussock in his Weymouth garden trap on 9/03/24.  Dorset Moths commented it was indeed early but perhaps not surprising given the mild winter.

Nut-tree Tussock, Weymouth
Posted on: 17 March, 2024

A greenish yellow butterfly with a black fly on one of its wings

Brimstone with fly. Photo: Shona Refoy

A greenish yellow butterfly with some brown spots resting on a white flower

Brimstone. Photo: Shona Refoy

Two photos from Shona sent to us with the following comments:

A welcome sunny interlude in my Broadstone garden this morning, 14/03/2024 brought the butterflies out until it started to rain yet again!

The top photo is of a female Brimstone asleep on a Primrose (I have been told that butterflies put their antennae together when they sleep) with a large fly wandering around on her wings. She took no notice of the fly, which flew away after a while. The second photo is of a male Brimstone nectaring on a Hyacinth – another male was on a nearby Hyacinth.

Brimstone, Broadstone
Posted on: 15 March, 2024

An orange butterfly with black and brown markings resting on some pinkish white flowers

Comma. Photo: Tracy Whincup

Tracy sent in this photo of a Comma telling us:

I took a walk through Bournemouth gardens today, 06/03/2024 and was delighted to see four species of butterfly and one caterpillar – I saw Brimstones, Red Admirals, Peacocks and several Commas including this one which was sunning itself on a huge heather bush.

Comma, Bournemouth
Posted on: 7 March, 2024

More photos: Gallery archive