Couple of late afternoon hours spent at Aberbargoed Grasslands NNR, Gwent (Monmouthshire) yesterday, produced my first Marsh Fritillary of the year, only 15 or so seen, it could still be a late emergence, this time last year my count exceeded 100+, we shall wait and see :wink: A brief view of a pass...

I spent over 5 hours last Saturday doing a thorough count of Pearl-bordered Fritillary at Ewyas Harold Common, Herefordshire I'm delighted to report that the work done on the bracken to create tractor wide 'corridors' along the common's 'plateau' has paid dividends, at least 90 to 100 individuals we...

Having spent the morning at Breakheart Quarry, the afternoon was spent at Rodborough Common, Near Stroud where 8 or 9 Duke of Burgundy put in a much appreciated appearance. First's for the season included a couple of Brown Argus & Small Heath the BA were mint fresh. Others of note included sever...

Busy week, my apologies for belated post from last Thursday, a visit to Breakheart Quarry, Near Dursley, Gloucestershire where both Dingy & Grizzled Skipper were out in very reasonable numbers, probably 50+ of the former and 30+ for the latter. Green Hairstreak was also enjoying the Bugle along ...

Kenfig NNR, Near Porthcawl, South Wales during a visit last Thursday produced my first Small Blue of the year, with four seen. Also my earliest Dingy Skipper from this interesting coastal reserve, I'm afraid it didn't hang around for a record shot. Also recorded several Brimstone, Large, Green-vein...

Ewyas Harold Common, Herefordshire today produced just a solitary Pearl-bordered Fritillary and it allowed just one solitary record shot :roll: still I suppose I should be thankful for that because I saw not one other P-b F despite thoroughly searching the usual 'hot-spots', although the day was fi...

Two Small Tortoiseshell seen struggling against the sharp wind at an elevation of 2200 feet on a ridge in the Black Mountains, Powys today!

Bill

Blimey! with all that incredible butterfly activity going on in Kent I'm feeling rather short-changed here in South Wales just the solitary Small Tortoiseshell seen yesterday...it was the first of any species for the home garden this year!

Bill

Amazon doesn't appear to have the title listed at present, if and when they do it will be interesting to see if Nature Bureau allow them to discount it, however, Amazon reach a huge potential market, perhaps Nature Bureau want to cash-in on the 'must-have market'...and when it comes to books, I admi...

This new addition to the regional butterfly guides will be of much interest to those living in the counties that comprise the West Midlands, as well as enthusiasts visiting the area. The five authors involved have included 41 species and have also included 25 'butterfly-walks' choosen from throughou...

Your not supposed to answer your own Mystery Creature questions Guy

BW's

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

Really like your skipper shots Wurz, sometimes the critters can frustrate the pic-taker, but they pose nicely for you on the above images

BW's

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

Top notch images Neil, lets hope your northern adventure goes well

BW's

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

Fine set of images Pauline, and isn't it great when a 'never seen one before' moth species crops up...really nice Dusky Sallow bonus

BW's

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

From the Yorkshire Wolds to the Oxfordshire hillsides your comprehensive reports make for very interesting reading Dave, I've also enjoyed your great range of species images :) I commiserate on the poor weather your having to deal with, same here in south Wales, it hasn't been a very kind July :( Ho...

Yes,indeed Phil, a timely reminder of the very useful 'Similar Species' section, which I admit to occasionally referring to, and this is yet another instance of not backing my first inclination, these two white species are providing me with loads of fun :roll: ...I don't think :wink: I intend taking...

Hiya Buggy - green larva are often very tough to get to species level, and its always important to include length of any larva when requesting ID help. Not a lot of help otherwise I'm afraid, but among larval foodplant lovers of Knapweed there are several Pugs worth checking out. BW's Bill :D "...

It has markings far nearer to Large Skipper than Small Skipper but as you illustrate so well with your images David Ochlodes sylvanus it most certainly is not. Dave has also provided similar Small Skipper examples from as far apart as Oxfordshire and Yorkshire, this suggests a trait bordering on var...

Thank you Dave... I'm not sure if this is true or not, but it also looks as if on a GVW the black spot is in a space between veins, but on the Small White it straddles a vein. I'm really no expert, mind! I've looked closely at this very thing in the past Dave, I'm sure its a valid ID point, in fact ...

The past week has been very frustrating with weather here in south Wales, we've had far too much rain for July :roll: but I've stuck firmly to my mantra ...and " ventured out" ...the results however have mean't spending time with some of our more common butterflies, but that's no real hard...