Hi Wurzel I took a closer look at the open wing Greenstreak shot (and another pic of the same individual, again with wings open, that I took at the same time but didn't post). My books say and show the sex brands as small light marks close to the leading edge of the forewings. I have to say from wha...

Some recent stuff

Green Hairstreak at Edge Common
Duke of Burgundy at Selsley Common
Brown Argus at Swells Hill Bank

Siccaridge Woods again for the PBF's David told me he went there and counted 15 so I went again today and counted 14 on my way out and 14 on my way back. I think we may now be just beyond peak here because quite a few of them were getting a bit worn and tatty but some were still reasonably fresh so ...

Yes, David

Most of the woodland is quite dense but there are spots where it opens out. You have to walk in a bit to find the places where the PBF's fly but once you are there it is difficult to tear yourself away.

So it was Siccaridge Woods again today for another PBF fix. This time there were at least seven flitting about and all in fine fettle. I have to make a slight correction to my last post. They do favour the bugle for nectaring, that's for sure, but today I saw one nectaring from a wild strawberry blo...

Yes, Wurzel Siccaridge Woods is directly opposite Daneway Banks. Room for two cars in the 'car park', maybe three at a push but there is another car park at the bottom of the hill beside the pub. What could be better? Two nature reserves harbouring rare butterflies and plants with a pub all in the s...

Trev

Nice set of Greenstreak shots, especially that one on a Cowslip.

We have been living in Gloucestershire for a year now. It really doesn't seem that long - time sure does fly. Last year I caught the tail-end of the PBF flight period. It was great to see some flying at Siccaridge Woods but they were getting a bit tatty at that time. Not so yesterday when I visited ...

Ah, that explains it then. Thanks guys.

Hi all

I saw this moth on my garage yesterday. I managed to get a few shots before if flew off. Try as I might I cannot ID it even though there can't be that many moths that fly in March on a cold morning (4 degrees).

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks.

David

The reason why the rainbow is so broad is because I used telephoto feature on my camera to get a close-up from a distance. I did it like that because the actual bow was fading fast by the time I got my camera from the house and this was pretty much the last remnant of it that could be seen.

Wurzel I didn't know the answer to your question re the Chestnut Tree but assumed hanging branches touched the ground at some point and set out new shoots, like I have seen yew trees of age do. Wikipedia has this to say which seems to concur with my assumption... The Tortworth Chestnut is an ancient...

Today I took this picture from just outside my house.

There is supposed to be gold at the end of the rainbow isn't there? Well by coincidence from where I stood this rainbow had one foot in the valley known around here as the 'Golden Valley'.

Went to the little village of totworth recently. In a field beside the church is reputedly the oldest Chestnut Tree in Britain, possibly as much as 800 years old. The oldest Chestnut Tree in Britain - c1200 (99).JPG It looks like a number of trees but all these trunks are from a single root system!

Thanks, guys

I was in two minds about posting that but then I thought why not - there are loads of in-cop pics of butterflies on this website and David makes a very valid point about it being the 'Butterfly Position'.

Foxy Feature Freddy? Yes Fergie? P1260893.JPG Why do we have to do it in the Frost’s driveway when our den in the woodland round the back is a bit more private? Well I thought it would make a change, dear. Oh it is, it is, but... P1260897.JPG ... I have this strange feeling we are being watched! P12...

On the subject of Christmas weirdness, how about this effort from Bourton on the Water? Step 1: Buy an old petrol car that you don't intend to drive, let's say a Mini for example and leave it in your front drive. Step 2: Cover it in a wire mesh and weave foliage onto it. Step 3: Put some form of lig...

Bugboy

Thanks for the link. What a nice story. I shall look out for others now I know it could be nationwide.

Well I must admit I never knew that knitting 'toppers' for post-boxes was such a 'thing'. The one at Nailsworth was my first.

Best wishes for Christmas to everyone.

After living in Alton, Hants for 20 years I had kind of got used to the zaniness of Xmas around there. Remember the 'festive' marmots, the telephone box completely wrapped in Xmas prezzie paper and the giant Santa's hat just 'dropped' by him in a field? I came to Gloucestershire thinking that sanity...