A teneral Large Red Damselfly in the garden on the 25th April and another one almost certainly the same species seen taking its first flight from the edge of the stream 2 days earlier on the 23rd. And on the Gann two pristine Small Coppers circling around each other at great speed (fighting/mating??).
Both of these seem quite early dates.
April is as early as adult Small Copper butterflies emerge.The males are given to scrapping; sometimes attacking most insects that cross "their patch".
ReplyDeleteThey are delightful little butterflies that we usually associate with summer. Summer will soon be here!