Hello and welcome to the second alert of 2018. With the thermometer soaring the butterflies are out. I now have reports for Large, Small and Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood and Emperor Moth
(Suffolk had a Clouded Yellow just on the border at Somerleyton which is tantalisingly close to us)
So currently reported for Norfolk are
Brimstone, Large, Small and Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Red Admiral. Peacock,, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma and Speckled Wood
Still not seen any report of Large Red Damselfly anywhere in the county, but it's out elsewhere. What are flying at the moment are Bee Flies - In Norfolk we only currently have Dark-edged Bee-fly, Bombylius major so that's an easy ID - although this handy guide is useful if you're venturing down south or west
http://www.brc.ac.uk/soldierflies-and-allies/sites/www.brc.ac.uk.soldierflies-and-allies/files/Identification_bee_flies_Bombylius_v2_0.pdf
You are invited to take part in the big bee fly watch (I wonder where they got that idea?) http://www.brc.ac.uk/soldierflies-and-allies/bee-fly-watch
Next up on the butterfly front will be Small Copper , Green Hairstreak, Small Heath. Then Grizzled and Dingy Skipper, Common Blue and Brown Argus.
As usual all reports gratefully received.(and many thanks to those who found all those species this week.)
Andy B