Thursday 24th.February 2011

At last , some sunshine , and a springlike temperature to go with it , eventually . It would have been a good day to be out birding , but it was a work party day up on the Common , and as we have lost several days over the winter due to the weather , it was a chance to try and catch up on the outstanding work . It was good to feel the warmth of the sun again , and this was also shared by several invertebrates that came out to enjoy it too . Lots of Seven Spot Ladybirds were seen , along with several smaller black specimens with red spots which could be either Pine or Kidney Spot ladybirds , but I am tending towards Pine , but the spots on both species are very variable .
Lots of spiders were also seen , like this one warming up probably before heading of hunting .
Several large Buff-tailed Bumblebees were also seen , most like this one , searching on the ground , perhaps for a nest site . The best sighting for me , was the first Brimstone butterfly of the year , a male looking as if he was fully charged with testosterone , which flew strongly around the area , typically on the edge of the woodland , before disappearing behind a wall of Gorse , taking away any chance of a picture . Lastly , several small nondescript beige coloured moths were seen above the Heather and Gorse , but none stopped , so no picture of those either .
The sun was still shining as we finished , albeit getting milky now , so I made a quick visit up on the Downs before heading home , and found my first Adder , or should that read , tail of an Adder , as it returned underground amongst some roots .
All in all , it was good to see some species after that long Winter , but the temperature is set to fall again over the next few days , which could well put things back again .