Along the Woodland Edge in April

 The 2025 butterfly season appears to have got off to a good start. I saw my first Large and Small Whites before the end of March and as April has progressed, the weather has become warm and sunny, stimulating a healthy emergence of our spring species.

Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) (male)

Peacock (Aglais io)

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) (male)

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) (male)

Green-veined White (Pieris napi)

(female)

(mating)

Large White (Pieris brassicae)

Late March and April is the flight period for two closely related species of day-flying moths.

 Orange Underwing (Archiearis parthenias)

This fairly local but widespread species can often be seen on sunny spring days flying around the tops of birch trees (its foodplant), or taking off from the ground just ahead of you. 

Light Orange Underwing (Archiearis notha)

This much more scarce cousin of parthenias has very similar habits to the previous species but it is associated with aspen trees (its foodplant). It is only present in the southern half of England and I suspect that in Sussex it is probably under-recorded. The forewing markings are duller and less distinct than in parthenias and notha males have slightly feathered antennae.  

(males)

(female)

Some Moths during March

 There were several reasonably mild nights during March, suitable for moth-trapping. Even though cool air from the east sometimes suppressed night-time temperatures, moths that appear at this time of year are a hardy bunch.

Oak Beauty (Biston strataria) (male)

Brindled Beauty (Lycia hirtaria) (male)

Pine Beauty (Panolis flammea)

Yellow Horned (Achlya flavicornis)

Satellite (Eupsilia transversa)

This species has awoken from hibernation.

Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda)

Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)

Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)

This is a variable species.

Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda)

Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)

Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)

Along the Woodland Edge in March

 There were numerous sunny days during March but often accompanied by a cool easterly breeze. Sunny and sheltered corners in my local woods have seen multiple numbers of butterflies waking from hibernation. The Brimstone males have been too busy to stop for a photograph but the Commas and Peacocks have been more obliging.

Comma (Polygonia c-album)   

Peacock (Aglais io)

Common Frog (Rana temporaria)

Whilst walking along a woodland track, I heard the sound of a croaking frog and on checking the trackside ditch, I found a female spawning in a muddy pool. She was accompanied by a male.

Common Toad (Bufo bufo)

This male was at rest on the trackside verge.