Butterflywatch: the orange tip is the true herald of spring

A couple of weeks later than usual, the first species to emerge from the chrysalis, is on the wingMost of us have a favourite first that signifies the true beginning of spring. For me, it's the first orange tip. While butterflies that hibernate as adults have been flying for a while, the orange tip is usually the first species to emerge from a chrysalis.Last spring I complained that I didn't see my first in Norfolk until 2 April. This year it was 19 April. Other spring butterflies, from the holly blue to the increasingly scarce dingy skipper, are at least a week later than average. Continue reading...