Good friday

Me and Sandy headed down to the allotments this morning to clear no.40 and prep no.45 for the move... Not only did we see a swan struggling against the grain of the wind, also found this butterfly...

The Peacock is sometimes seen in some numbers, and so it is very easy to overlook the fact that the Peacock is justifiably considered by many well-travelled lepidopterists to be the most beautiful butterfly in the world. Just like its ornithological counterpart, this butterfly presents a dramatic display when its wings are open. In particular, the hindwings mimic the eyes of a small animal, and must appear very threatening to potential enemies.

The Peacock is one of the few butterflies that hibernate as an adult. This butterfly is relatively common and can be found in gardens throughout the UK, although it is relatively scarce in Scotland. There is one brood of this butterfly a year. Variation in this species is almost non-existent, although one or two "blind Peacocks" without the eye markings, are reported in most years.

This is a widespread and common resident, which often visits gardens in late summer. The butterfies go into hibernation in September, spending the winter in hollow tree trunks, wood stacks, farm buildings, and other outdoor locations where they can find shelter and darkness. In these situations the black underside of the wings provides excellent camouflage. In early spring they awaken, and are often seen basking on bare earth in woodland glades, along riverbanks, disused railway cuttings, old quarries, and farmland.

In spring they will use almost any available nectar source, including blackthorn, bugle, bluebell and dandelion. At this time of year Peacocks are fond of basking on bare ground. When clouds obscure the sun, they close their wings, but if disturbed, will suddenly re-open them, simultaneously producing a rasping or hissing sound which is created by rubbing the wing surfaces together. The sudden appearance of the “peacock eyes”, in conjunction with this sound, probably function primarily to startle attacking birds. The startling effect is short-lived however, and having recovered its senses, the bird is likely to attack the butterfly. The peacock eyes then serve to divert the attack away from the butterfly's vulnerable body, and onto the wings - butterflies can continue to fly normally, even with large chunks pecked out of their wings.

In September they return to the countryside to enter hibernation, and re-awaken on the first warm sunny days of spring - sometimes as early as February, but more typically in late March.