My first butterfly of the year. I guess it really is spring. My guidebook says this species hibernates in the winter, and is one of the first ones seen in spring. I love it's poetic name.
To me, this is a Camberwell Beauty, named after Camberwell where it was first reported in Britain in 1748. I have seen only one, it's an extremely rare visitor to our shores, September 17 2006 when it fed in MY garden for 5 minutes. We didn't manage to see the open wings, only the underwing, but it's a sighting that will stay in my memory as long as my "rememberer" still works.
Your image is an obvious favourite - with great envy.
j
@jesika2 Camberwell Beauty is a nice name, too. It certainly is one of the easier butterfly species to identify. It was a joy to see two of them flying in the sun as I walked thru the woods (no leaves out yet).
Your image is an obvious favourite - with great envy.
j