I finally got to see a some Painted lady (Vanessa cardui) butterflies, in fact there were three visiting a Buddleia I was working near. I thought I caught a glimpse of one last week (but couldn’t be sure) however this was a definite sighting.
I got to see them again on Tuesday together with a Large white (Pieris brassicae), Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) and a Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) on the same Buddleia.
Plus earlier on Tuesday I got to see two Small white (Pieris rapae) butterflies, a Holly blue (Celastrina argiolus) along with a Meadow brown (Maniola jurtina) butterfly.
Also on Tuesday I got to feast on my first blackberries (Rubus) of the season and see an Oak bush (Meconema thalassinum) cricket in the hallway upon my return from work.
Wednesday was a washout and Thursday quiet too therefore it was nice to have some wildlife sightings on Friday morning before the rain returned.
While I ate breakfast, I observed the young Bluetits (Cyanistes caeruleus) visit the Rowan (Sorbus) tree. I noticed that their plumage was more like the adults, no longer predominantly green.
Then just before lunch, I noticed a Red-tailed (Bombus lapidarius) bumblebee and a Heath bumblebee (Bombus jonellus) visiting some Thyme (Thymus).
Bee in the Moment 