A Butterfly in the Garden

 Finally I have some new content for you!

I've had a rotten few days. I've had time at work, but gave myself a back spasm - thanks again, cricket - and it left me immobile for a few days. I've only been able to go for walks again the last couple of days, and so sad as always that the time of colour is coming to an end. 

This week has felt distinctly autumnal. But these last couple of days, a hew buzzers and flutterers have been out notwithstanding. 

As I left my flat this morning, a comma butterfly was feeding off the "communal" buddleia. I rushed back inside to get my phone, and got one shot before it headed for the rather grey heavens. A beautiful specimen, fresh out of the packet. 

I've found bees in the park and library gardens, scabious, rudbeckia and cornflower are still out for them to feed off. 

And I've been bending down very gingerly to photograph them. 

Si 

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 21.08.25

Commas and Damsels

 I've been a little unwell, having eaten some ice cream which I didn't realise had a sweetener in it that acts as massive trigger of IBS symptoms. 

Oof. Not nice. 

The sun has decided to make a few rare appearances in the last few days, and that has meant that some nice insects have made an appearance. Such as the lovely male banded demoiselle I found having a restful moment on the pavement of all places. and then a comma enjoying the sun by the River Devon while having a chat with a bee.

By lucky chance, this is one of the best shots I've ever taken. 

I myself then went to enjoy the sun at Rumbles cafe, although unable to sit on a flower like the comma did.

Fraction too heavy, you see. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 08.08.23

And my First Butterfly Photo of 2023 is...

 ...A comma!

So, all of a sudden on Monday Spring sprung in a big way on a cloudless day full of sunshine. It wasn't particularly warm, but all that buzzes and flutters locally decided to take to the skies.

Gaudy female tawny mining bees patrol the ground at high speed, all russet and gold, looking for suitable nest hole sites to make their little volcanoes. Hairy footed flower bees feed manically off drooping star of bethlehem, far too fast to photograph, and in some locales the chiff chaffs are singing almost deafeningly. 

But more significantly, in my aesthetic view at least, like neon leaves being blown on a breeze, was the appearance of brimstone butterflies at last. It is my firm belief that until you see one of these beautiful butterflies, Spring cannot be said to have started. 

Too bad they rarely settle, and the one that did was far too skittish to be photographed. But a gorgeous fresh out of the packet comma was a more obliging subject, settling on a plant by the cycle track for a sunbathe.

I think this is maybe the second year in a row the comma has been my first fluttering capture of the year. I wonder what will be next?

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 05.04.23

A Butterfly Kind of Day

 Late afternoon on Monday ended up being a pretty glorious kind of day, and with the buddleia now out in flower around the town, I thought it might be a nice sort of day to go out and look for butterflies. 

It's an odd sort of thing to do in many folk's eyes, but it gets me out of the house, gets me exercising and is of course a boon to my mental health. 

My greatest fear during lockdown was that we wouldn't be allowed out of our houses at all. 

As it happens, I didn't have to go very far to find my first butterfly, as right outside my door in my little yard, a male gatekeeper was feeding very placidly off the ragwort I have allowed to grow (read - can't be bothered to dig up) and is actually a more attractive source of pollen than the flowers I've tried to grow myself in various pots and planters. 

So, after managing to get a photo or two of this unusually co-operative gatekeeper, it was off for a walk to Cottage Lane Nature Reserve, taking in the various big buddleias I could remember on the way. Nothing on the one by Mill Lane Bridge, but the one down the side of the secure mental health unit was covered in butterflies.

There was even a rather tired looking brimstone feeding, and to catch one of those motionless is a real event, let alone get a photo of one. There was a really nice comma too, kindly showing off its, er, comma.

The cherry on the cake - mating ringlets in Cottage Lane reserve itself!

A very worthwhile walk indeed!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 05.07.22

First Butterfly of the Year!

 Well, actually the second one I've seen, but the first one that I was able to photograph. And for a change, it's a comma, rather than a small tortoiseshell.

I caught it at a good time as it sunbathed on a fallen leaf down the cycle track, gathering a bit of energy up for a bit more fluttering about. I must say, I always feel a slight bit of superiority noticing these things as other folk stroll by oblivious. 

But only a tiny bit.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 23.03.21

Just a Non Oxford Comma

Let the pictures speak for themselves on this one..

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 19.09.19

Comma Butterfly

Plenty of Commas appeared in September, they've been looking really orange too in the low sun