I agree Wurzel , That Duchess was probably the HIGHLIGHT of the many highlights of that day but no I’ve yet to see a Brown Argus this year… saw my first Common Blues on Friday though! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ May 2024 Tuesday 7th part 3. It was pretty overcast walking back to Tring alo...

May 2024 Tuesday 7th part 2. Away from the crowds I had the Dukes to myself. On these more exposed slopes they were mostly fresh as a daisy, only just starting to emerge and a slow wander amassed a modest 15 or so. IMG_0785.JPG IMG_0822.JPG IMG_0869.JPG Grizzled Skippers were notable in their absen...

Closest fit I can get in my ID guide is Digitivalva pulicariae

Thanks guys, she was an absolute beauty! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ May 2024 Tuesday 7th was a very long day with numerous highlights so it’s gonna have to be spilt up a bit. Part 1: It was another wander up in the Chiltons. I saw basically nothing (excluding birds) along the ridgeway wa...

I've yet to stumble across any pink hairstreaks at denbies but I did awkwardly find a pair in-cop in a secluded corner of Tottenham marshes some years ago

I did an experiment a few years ago to see how they did on Rape:

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Never seen this either but I do know some of these galls exude a sticky substance.

Maximus wrote: ↑Tue May 14, 2024 6:55 pm Wall Brown ab. seen today in deepest Wiltshire. Details to follow shortly in my personal diary.


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WOW!

Must be a recent influx of Painted Ladies, I saw my first one this afternoon in south London and I have it on good authority another was seen over by Heathrow.

Thanks Wurzel , I’ve managed to squeeze a few more days in recently, although not unscathed.. the perils of an aging body! Thanks David , she was a fine specimen! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ May 2024 Wednesday 1st . Ok so one of the last three days of my break wasn’t quite as grey and dam...

Doing well with the OT's this year and the second Comma looks fresh out the box, Where's that been hiding!

I'd say it's one of those borderline examples that are subjective depending on the observer. It's quite a variable species anyway so for me I'd say it's within normal variation, others will likely say different.

Curiously, a few miles northwest of Millerds location today, there were no Grizzled Skippers but quite a few Dingies. No blues of any description but I did find two Marsh Fritillaries, only one had wings though...

Crikey, that's a spectacular looking Duke. It must be a genetic mutation...or there's something strange in the water!

Whipsnade Downs produced a fabulous 40 or 50 Duke of Burgundy, but only 3 greens, 3 Grizzed Skippers, and not a single Dingy. This is normally a good site for them, so they are probably just running late. Pictures to come on my PD. No Dingy Skippers over Ivinghoe beacon on Tuesday either but plenty...

Whipsnade Downs produced a fabulous 40 or 50 Duke of Burgundy, but only 3 greens, 3 Grizzed Skippers, and not a single Dingy. This is normally a good site for them, so they are probably just running late. Pictures to come on my PD. No Dingy Skippers over Ivinghoe beacon on Tuesday either but plenty...

Thanks Dave , 3pm is Peacock fun time it would seem! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ April 2024 Tuesday 30th looked like the last day of sunny weather for a while, at least until I returned to work…! The first Sussex Pearl-bordered Fritillary had been reported the previous day so I took up Ne...

That's a very plump female Grizzlie!

Thanks Trevor , no more than an hour old she was, wings still soft :) ! Thanks Wurzel . That Adder was only the second I’ve ever seen, the other a rear end vanishing into the grass, also at Mill Hill a year or two ago. Might have to join Neil one spring to get a proper view of them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~...

David M wrote: ↑Fri May 03, 2024 8:49 pm

Neil Hulme wrote: ↑Thu May 02, 2024 10:13 amAt last ... wall-to-wall sunshine, and no wind!

At last indeed, Neil! Amazing that it should take so long to arrive.

Great to see that PBF.

It only lasted 24 hours mind, the next 3 days were back to grey with damp periods... until my return to work when the sun came again!