Orange Tips are widespread and quite common in my part of north Scotland. Favourite food plants are Hedge Garlic (Garlic Mustard) , Lady's Smock (Cuckoo Flower) and especially the cultivated - although does escape to the wild - Sweet Rocket (Dame's Violet) Not far from home is a marshy area at the s...

My first Wood White was late 1960s in annoying circumstances. I was competing in a National Gliding Championships but made a tactical error. I couldn't stay airborne and had to land in a field at the edge of a wood (somewhere near Silverstone). I was not best pleased. However, I was 'rewarded' by a ...

Wurzel had written:

27th April Compton Down (Dorset) 2 Glanville Frits,

I asked about the Glanvilles as that was a real surprise. Any more details Wurzel?

Jack

You somewhat casually mention Glanvilles at Compton Down Dorset (near Compton Abbas). Is that a new or introduced colony?

Jack

David M » Mon Apr 21, 2025 2:24 pm Any pupae in the fridge this year, Jack?

They have been outside in the shade since 1st April No emergences yet but can't be long now.

Jack

First Orange Tip of year seen (in fact by wife) in this part of north Scotland 21st April.

Jack

18th April. A mere 9.5 degrees C albeit bright sun.

White butterfly through garden, most likely GV White. But what a low temperature to be active.

Jack

What a header Pete to guarantee lots of hits.

Jack

During drive to Cawdor (distance 10 miles) a smallish 'white' was probably an Orange Tip but couldn't look properly as I was in 'Pheaasnt Avoidance mode' at the time. The vegetation at Milton Bridge over the River Nairn was later than I had expected: no Wood Anemones and feeble hints of Sallow flowe...

Target for today 12th April A lovely late spring / early summer day in prospect. I have been ill but am much better. So today is my first good opportunity for a butterfly hunt. Cawdor by the River Nairn. Species hoped for but nothing guaranteed: Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Green-veined Whit...

5th April.
Bright sun, temperature a mere 11.5C and a brisk wind. Peacock flew through the garden and as Peacocks do, said: "No way"
(actually not quite that polite!) and disappeared into a pile of logs.

Jack

2nd April near Nairn.
Amazingly early (for these parts) 'white' through garden. I presume Small White.

Jack

Torties have moved north. I saw three or four on Tuesday without even making a specific search for them. One settled on a road as I was pulling out from a car park in Hopeman, Moray. I had to 'give way' until it flew off

Jack

This might have impacts on the Group. An HM Treasury insider, the recently retired 'Sir Jonathan' (not his real name) and I have made contact this morning. But note the date - 1st April! I knew 'Johnny' when he was a young glider pilot. "Good to hear from you, Jack, you old b*gger.  Still going...

Silly little game I have devised.  Butterflies by species are scored out of ten. A = Appearance 0 to 5 points S = Scarcity 0 to 3 points with higher score for the most rare (Central-southern England). Scarcity might not be true scarcity but difficulty observing. C = Charisma . 0 to 2 points.  C very...

I'm not trying to claim Scotland's first butterfly on 2025 but Peacock on 7th March just before midday.

In the past few years in my area, Peacocks have been the most frequently seen butterflies. GV Whites probably next.

Jack

Confusion. When I released 'Houdini' on Friday the wind was strong and he disappeared rapidly in a northeasterly direction. I cannot believe that a Small White could make any progress against that wind. Yet today, on the grass outside our shed, my wife found a dead Small White (butterfly now on my d...

Friday 20th 1140 GMT
Houdini was released as planned. I let him warm in his box indoors in sunshine through the window. He fluttered happily.
Outside temperature 14.5C, bright sun. I opened the window, then his box. He shot off at high speed and vanished. Good luck Houdini.

Jack

Found this escapee in the kitchen this morning. I had bred about a dozen Small Whites and the chrysalises are now in a box in the fridge, my usual way of preventing early emergence. But 'Houdini' obviously wasn't caught, when as a caterpillar, he wandered off. Houdini is now in a box (not in fridge)...

Interesting court case!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czrlj41jy7mo

selected quote:
"...found moths in wine glasses, on toothbrushes and in their clothes, some of which were ruined and had to be thrown away".

Jack