The first Butterflies - basking

Yesterday - 26th March 2017 - our meet took place on a fine day, one of several dry and clear days with a cold NE wind. As the sun gradually warmed up the earth, butterflies suddenly appeared flying low over the river banks and landing to bask on the dry leaves and grasses on a sheltered part of the sunlit river bank. More were seen later in the wild field on the opposite bank.

The first butterflies were Peacocks, basking on dry leaves at intervals along the river, then Small Tortoiseshells landed close by - and several were seen flying low over the field, investigating the vegetation. 

A Peacock butterfly basking on warm dry leaves and grasses on the river bank on 26th March 2017

It continued to open and close its wings slowly:

Above - the same butterfly - not easy to spot with closed wings amongst the shadows of the leaves.

Close by a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was about to take off:

Young nettles are appearing on the banks - these will be used by both species of butterfly (and others) to lay their eggs later as nettle leaves are their caterpillar food plant.

The main caterpillar food plant for  Orange Tip butterflies, (which haven't appeared yet)  is already flowering on the banks and wild field. This is Cuckooflower or Ladies Smock (Cardamine pratensis) which grows on damp meadows and damp river banks. 

Cuckooflower or Ladies Smock in the damp meadow.

Whilst looking at the Cuckooflower clumps, loud calls behind the trees revealed five buzzards in a group together enjoying the strong breeze to fly higher around each other in the sun. A kestrel was also present above the tree line. Down to earth - on the adjacent field - persistent calls came from a green woodpecker 'yaffling'.