Still waiting for warmer weather to show me my first butterfly of the year. In the meantime, I've been making a few cosmetic changes to the website as well as updating the article containing my thoughts on butterfly photography (http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/reports_photography.php) which was way out of date. And I've learned a lot since 2005!

Cheers,

- Pete

A wonderful day spent with members of BC's European Interest Group (EIG) at the new facilities (the "cocoon"!) in the British Museum of Natural History (including several UKB members!). It's been a while since I visited the museum and I have to say that the new premises are just superb.

For those wanting to research the collections, the organisation of a wealth of specimens is something to admire for sure! Expect an interview with the Lepidoptera collections manager, Geoff Martin, in due course. It was a privelege to get access to the largest collection of Lepidoptera on the planet with some real gems among them. As ever, watch this space!

But the real highlight for those wanting to visit (possibly with their family) as far as I'm concerned, is that they've really brought entomology to life. The layout of the new facilities, the information being presented and the use of modern technology, all combined to provide a fantastic experience. Touch-screen displays are everywhere and the content is really impressive. But what impressed me the most is the sensitivity with which subjects, such as collecting, are dealt with. It certainly makes sense of the relevance of housing a national collection of dead insects, to the extent that I would be more than happy to take my youngest along to see it.

Cheers,

- Pete

Having received a hard copy of the Butterfly Monitoring Scheme 2008 report, I decided to take a look at their past reports. Take a look at:

http://www.ukbms.org/reportsAndPublications.htm

Some cracking work being performed by the thousands of transect walkers that contribute to the scheme. My hat off to them all!

Cheers,

- Pete

What a great afternoon! I headed off to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight social and photographic gathering, stopping off to look at a few Wych Elms on the way in preparation for a mammoth White-letter Hairstreak season this year!

The event was wonderful, with lots of new contributors present and superb anecdotes and images. We had a great preview of content from John Bogle (Fishiee) for those attending the workshop at the end of April. You won't be disappointed!

Cheers,

- Pete

It's 27 Feb and still the weather is cold n horrible - not much chance of my 1st butterfly this weekend.

In case anyone ever reads this blog, I apologise if it's rubbish; I'm intending to use it for my personal butterfly watching diary..