Along the Woodland Edge in Early Spring

 The weather during April was lovely, with plenty of sunshine but May seems to have become our month for blustery showers and occasional sunshine.

Orange-tips and Holly Blues have been abundant in the Weald of East Sussex and by the last week of April, bluebells were in full bloom, providing nectar for any passing butterfly.

I saw my first Pearl-bordered Fritillary on 28th April as well as an obvious landfall of Painted Ladies, primary migrants from across the channel. 

Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines)

(males)

(female)

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)

(male)

(female)

Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne)

(female)

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

Large White (Pieris brassicae)

Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)

(female)

Green-veined White (Pieris napi)

(female)

Speckled Yellow Moth (Pseudopanthera macularia)

Some Moths during April

The weather during April has been predominantly warm, dry and sunny. My garden is 145 metres (471 feet) above sea level and this often brought chilly nights. This in turn kept moth numbers low but even so, a good variety of species visited the light trap during the month.  

Frosted Green (Polyploca ridens)  

Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)

Streamer (Anticlea derivata)

Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata)

Seraphim (Lobophora halterata)

Brindled Beauty (Lycia hirtaria) (male)

Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius)

Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma)

Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula)

Least Black Arches (Nola confusalis)

Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta puta) (male)

Lead-coloured Drab (Orthosia populeti)

This is a first record for my garden.

Knot Grass (Acronicta rumicis)

Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli)