Despite sub-optimal weather, with a partly cloudy sky, moderate winds and a mere 14°C (12:39 PM), there have been far more active butterflies than anticipated. This also marks my first field trip following my new observation routine.
+-------------------------+---------------------------------+--------+
| Species | Location | Status |
+-------------------------+---------------------------------|--------+
| Aglais io | Zone II | Adult |
|-------------------------|---------------------------------|--------|
| Anthocharis cardamines | Zone I / II / III | Adult |
|-------------------------|---------------------------------|--------|
| Araschnia levana | Zone II / III | Adult |
|-------------------------|–--------------------------------|--------|
| Coenonympha pamphilus | Zone I / III | Adult |
|-------------------------|---------------------------------|--------|
| Gonepteryx rhamni | Zone I | Adult |
|-------------------------|---------------------------------|--------|
| Pieris brassicae | Zone I | Adult |
|-------------------------|---------------------------------|--------|
| Pieris napi | Zone I / II | Adult |
|-------------------------|---------------------------------|--------|
| Polyommatus bellargus | Zone I / II | Adult |
|-------------------------|---------------------------------|--------|
| Polyommatus icarus | Zone I | Adult |
|-------------------------|---------------------------------|--------|
| Pyrgus malvae | Zone I / II | Adult |
|–------------------------|---------------------------------|--------|
|–------------------------|---------------------------------|--------|
| Pyrrhosoma nymphula | Zone III | Adult |
+-------------------------+---------------------------------+--------+
While P. icarus was seen mating, P. bellargus dominated both Z I and II, with seven males sunbathing on a tiny, empty field in Z II alone. I was able to count four A. levana f. levana overall, three in Z III – a local record, as its spring generation having been the weakest, so far. Only a single P. malvae was seen in Z II.
Somewhat worrisome is the ongoing absence of E. tages. Its population appears to largely have been replaced by P. malvae, which tends to mostly close to at least one P. bellargus. At least the first female P. nymphula has finally made her first appearance.