I'm not sure I can cope with this persistent sunshine deprivation for much longer. The long-term forecast looks grim. Let's hope things brighten up soon otherwise this could turn into the dullest spring in memory. It's been a shocker David - I cannot recall such a prolonged period of poor weather a...

Seen so many different butterfly species this year that it's hard to pick a favourite. However, I've chosen this Blue Argus from north Greece in June, principally because it's rare, it's precious, and for once I managed to get the right distance from the butterfly whilst it posed very nicely: 2.Blu...

This is always a tough decision, but for me it has to be this male False Ringlet from near Bordeaux, back in June 2023. It just sums up a superb 4 day trip into the unknown, with the best possible results and great memories of close-up encounters with one of Europe's finest rarities, long sought af...

This is always a tough decision, but for me it has to be this male False Ringlet from near Bordeaux, back in June 2023. It just sums up a superb 4 day trip into the unknown, with the best possible results and great memories of close-up encounters with one of Europe's finest rarities, long sought aft...

Ok, just to throw a little (tiny) spanner in the mix (and I freely admit I may be seeing what I want to see) there does look to be the barest hint of the top edge of the hindwing on the right hand side which does give the impression of being sharply angular? Boloria selene_51490W.JPG That's a very ...

Padfield wrote: ↑Sat Feb 10, 2024 7:23 pm Here's to the memory of the late, lamented Martin White. RIP.

Guy

Seconded.

I would also add my congratulations to Badgerbob for obtaining such great images of this very rarely observed event - excellent job! In 50+ years of butterflying I have only witnessed this once. It was a sunny afternoon last July around 5pm. I was sat in the beer garden of my local pub, near the end...

Easy choice for this species - one of several cracking aberrations at Chambers Farm Wood this summer!

There were extremely good numbers of them at Fermyn Wood and, best of all, many of them were at head level or below: 1.PHstk1(1).jpg Similar story in Lincolnshire in July 2023 David - very many sightings at or near ground level for once! Purple Hairstreak.JPG Purple Hairstreak unds 3.JPG Purple Hai...

It has been a good few years since I last saw a British Pearl-bordered Fritillary, but it was nice to spend a bit of time with several Pearls on a ski-slope in Greece back in June, at a very un-British altitude of 1650 metres above sea level. Pearl-bordered Fritillary 3.JPG Pearl-bordered Fritillary...

Hi Pete what a great idea Pete, sitting here in deep frozen Denmark, what's more glorious than revisiting some of your travels and looking forward to starting trips in April :D Indeed John! Reminiscing over past glories and planning ahead for future trips is the best way to get through the winter! ...

Hi All, Happy New Year! After a dreary few weeks the sun has finally reappeared in Lincolnshire today, but Spring feels a long way off... The poor December weather gave me the opportunity to update my website with some new images from 2023, including a new page for Cuba and a small number of additio...

Fantastic report, Pete, of what sounds like a wonderful trip. It looks like you saw a great variety of butterflies. Have you managed to work out how many species you saw? Thanks Nick. The diversity of species was tremendous. We managed to positively identify a total of 46 species, which doesn't sou...

Padfield wrote: ↑Thu Dec 21, 2023 11:24 am

Neil Hulme wrote: ↑Thu Dec 21, 2023 11:21 am Number 3 has beautiful eyebrows!

… but is number 2 a virgin ?

Guy

And a promiscuous virgin at that, Guy? What a dichotomy!

aeshna5 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 15, 2023 8:09 am Love shots that uplift the spirits. Certainly some of these are familiar to me from the Florida Everglades. Sounds like a great trip.

Thanks Aeshna - it was certainly a fabulous trip - and many of the species were around in very good numbers. I have never seen the Malachite in such abundance!

Brilliant stuff as always Pete. A fair few I recognise from Florida Cheers Steve - yes, I would imagine with its close geographical proximity that there is a fair bit of commonality between Florida and Cuba when it comes to butterflies. It is certainly a fascinating part of the world to explore for...

...I am still basking in the afterglow of an amazing fortnight in Cuba. It way exceeded my expectations in terms of butterfly action. I sincerely hope that you have enjoyed this report.. I'm not surprised you're basking in that afterglow, Pete. A wonderful, exotic selection of butterflies you've pr...

Thank you for these wonderful pictures and butterflies, Pete! I was very surprised to see Papilio demoleus in your catalogue, as I think of this as an Old World butterfly. So I asked ChatGPT how the species ended up in Cuba and it expressed equal surprise ! Wikipedia knew about its presence in the ...

John, Goldie, delighted that you are enjoying my latest report. Here goes with the grand finale...hope it doesn't disappoint! Right then. I have now finished going through my remaining photographs and will complete this report with a selection of Pierids, a rather brief exhibit of Swallowtails, and ...

OK. It’s Skipper-time folks. For information on and identification of Cuban butterflies, I have been referring heavily to the excellent Mariposas de Cuba - Guia de Campo, edited by Mancini, Aguila and Raola. This is a multi-authored work (including contribution from the UK’s Tim Norriss), illustrate...