Just returned from a Greenwings False Apollo tour, lead by none other than Mr Eeles and our Greek Irish guide, Michael. I can attest to the devastation of the fires - blackened trees for miles and miles. Our target, Archon apollinus, had survived by emerging earlier than many species and was pupatin...

There seem to be many *unauthorised" release sites which continue to do well, as well as other well-documented, but not so successful, official release sites (no names....). I visit Chambers Farm Wood in Lincolnshire which has had several unauthorised releases, one of which has grown to be a la...

Here in Hull, pre-pandemic, we also had a Butterfly City initiative, planting alder-buckthorn. The City council bought 1,000 (small) bare-rooted specimens and they were distributed across the City and beyond. All went... However, not many of those not planted in gardens survived, being either too sm...

Still a few RA heading southtoday, as we have 17C in the sunshine. with a few Comma, plus the odd Speckled Wood and Small White, in the last few days...

Yes, Guy, can see aleae on upperside, though row of 3 light dots/marks towards tip of wing could be both; on that alone I would go slighlty alceae
Bloody Skippers

Female Brimstone found my alder-buckthorn whips in the garden one afternoon...

A good few OT in the garden this last week with Large, Small and GV White and Holly Blue too.
Got out into Wolds at weekend. A few Dingy Skipper under Cinquefoil Brow and Mother Shipton and Burnet Companion moths

I have a guest spot on Mark Avery's Blog. This time I spoke out for Listrodomus nycthemerus (and Ivy and the Holly Blue butterfly). Pete kindly provided the picture, for which I am grateful. I have seen these wasps, but never managed a decent shot as they are usually deep in the ivy busily hunting o...

Good numbers of butterflies in my garden this last week, mainly OT and HB but with plenty of Small and a few Large and GV White. Brimstone still abundant with Speckled Wood and the odd Peacock, Small Tort and Comma around too.

In my lock-down state, I am relying on my garden to attract butterflies, rather than heading off into the Wolds (as I would have done) to look at old or for new Dingy Skipper sites. My garden produced one each of Peacock, Large White, and GV White, 2 OT, at least 3 Brimstone, 4 Holly Blue and 6 Smal...

Padfield wrote: ↑Sat Apr 04, 2020 6:38 pm (And yes - a lot of butterflies are furry. It helps keep the flight muscles warm when the sun goes in.)

Indeed. From Finland to France, Green Hairstreaks seem particularly hairy, but my winner has to be in the same family, Tomares ballus, Provence Hairstreak, Mr. Hairy-legs himself.

Great stuff Guy. Nice to see you are coping; some of us out here are succumbing to the effects of cabin-fever, tho' I can only speak for myself :mrgreen: So far only 5 species in the garden; waiting for Orange-tip. At 150+ miles further south and similar distance from North Sea, Guy will understand ...

MikeOxon wrote: ↑Sat Mar 21, 2020 5:08 pm It wasn't "Oh, bother" surely

Close, but no cigar!

It will be becoming obvious to forum members that I am not coping with CV isolation well...……

If I dropped mine, I might just say * “oh dear” (well, maybe a slightly stronger expression). Jack Having accompanied Jack in the field on many occasions, I can say, without challenge, that Jack would have indeed issued a much stronger expression than here-with-in contained * Please refer to me by ...

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to provide me with guidance on cameras and the techniques in capturing a good photo regardless of what device you use. It is always possible to take a bad photo, regardless of the equipment we use :shock: Remember, you only see the ones we want you to see :...

Fabulous series, Kip! Glad to see you are "keeping going". Stay well and more , please
All my planned tips (Greece, Turkey) cancelled (sigh)

Disturbed a Peacock in the garden today, my third in the garden this year :) Cold winds still keep the Brimstones sleeping around here; yet to see one, though two days ago, saw at least 5 Peacock, 4 ST and 2 Comma around my local patch, plus Buff-tailed queen out of hibernation. Looking forward to s...

Just a note - Re: Orange-tip
I have noticed the 5th instar, prior to crawling-off to pupate, goes down and feeds on the leaves of the Garlic-mustard, rather than the seed-pods. I wondered if anyone else has noticed this behaviour?