Further signs of Spring

As well as the bumblebees in the garden today I had visits from three butterflies, a Brimstone, a Peacock and the Comma pictured above.  This individual - most likely a male as he kept chasing the Peacock and returning to the same perch -  will have hibernated through the winter as an adult.  Interestingly this individual looks almost like the the lighter and brighter hutchinsoni form, though the underside would give a truer indication.  As a general rule adult Commas who survive the winter are of the darker tawny red form and give rise to the next generation of the hutchinsoni form in Spring/Summer.  This generation then goes on to produce a second brood of darker individuals in August/September who will overwinter to continue the cycle.

Adder

March is a good time to look for Adders and other reptiles as the warmer weather brings them out of hibernation to bask in the open.  They will become more active and potentially harder to see as temperatures increase.  A male East Yorkshire Adder is pictured above.  Below a female is preparing to shed her skin, which explains the hazy appearance of the eye. The first three photos were taken this year and the picture at the very bottom of this post shows a young female from two years ago in a different part of the reserve where I haven't been able to locate any snakes so far this season.