Marsh Fritillaries just emerging in central Lincolnshire today - this is the earliest sighting I have had of this species locally, beating my previous best of 1st May 2011 by two days!

...I can almost feel your excitement at the small Bath white. What a very special butterfly, and not just because of its rarity. It really looks different from the other Bath whites... I have to say, though, that the false Apollo has suddenly become my next 'must see' butterfly - Guy Guy, chloridic...

Excellent report, Pete. I have all on these days scrambling up hillsides for a closeup of an Adonis Blue, so am rather envious of your adventures and achievements. A thoroughly good read and cracking photos. Cheers Phil - thanks for your kind comments, glad you enjoyed the read and the pics. No dou...

Pete Eeles wrote: ↑Fri Apr 18, 2025 6:23 pm Great report, Pete - as usual - and congrats on the SBW! Yes, I was 'locked and loaded' to take the post down ...

Cheers,

- Pete

Thanks Pete, and thanks also for sparing me the censor's bullet

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. Nick, it was a very sobering and quite shocking experience seeing it first-hand. Very sad. Hi P...

What a header Pete to guarantee lots of hits. Jack Thought I'd spice it up a bit Jack :lol: Indeed, Jack. I thought it was something that was going to be swiftly moderated but was happily surprised (relieved, even) to tuck into another fabulous overseas report from Pete. So glad you caught up with ...

Don’t panic folks, you haven’t accidentally strayed onto an online dating platform or lonely-hearts column, but my most recent travels in Europe did indeed have the main goal of me hitching up with a very specific member of the opposite sex, namely a female False Apollo butterfly. Way back in 2009 I...

Beauties by name, beauties by nature! What fantastic undersides Paul.

Just read it from cover to cover.

Excellent edition, Jason - the best yet I reckon!

I particularly enjoyed the Bavaria article by Markus, David's account of Romania, and Mario's North Macedonia report.

More areas to add to my "to visit" list...

Orange Underwing showing nicely in the Lincolnshire Limewoods yesterday. I find it much, much easier to inadvertently kick this moth up off the ground and watch it ascend to the skies, than to actually photograph it - indeed I would estimate that 95% of my encounters with this species end up with a ...

David M wrote: ↑Mon Mar 17, 2025 2:01 pm

petesmith wrote: ↑Sun Mar 16, 2025 9:03 am...I am so pleased to have finally seen and photographed all three

Got two of them, Pete, but I'm still to see a settled bazae.

Maybe next month.

Best of luck next month David - of the three, I also found bazae the hardest to get close enough to for a decent photo!

Stevieb wrote: ↑Fri Mar 14, 2025 12:52 pm Nice one once again Pete. I would love to connect with a Greenish Black-tip.

Cheers Steve - you really need a Greenish Black-tip in your life at some point
I am so pleased to have finally seen and photographed all three

I agree with you David! Amongst the UK species at least, Brown Hairstreak comes top for me - same scores, same reasons. Small Heath would have come bottom when I was younger, but I have changed my mind over the years. Not sure what would come bottom for me now - next time I can't sleep I'll go throu...

Well done Pete. It’s rare for you to struggle when on a mission. I prefer Marrakesh for the Black tip. They appear to enjoy posing for the camera there. Thanks Andy. Actually, I have had a few struggles over the years with certain species :lol: I did consider Marrakesh for the Black-tip but really ...

a lovely read Pete ! well done on your two lifers Charles Thanks Charles. Those lifers are getting harder and harder to come by these days! Well done Pete and thanks for a great read! It might have been hard going, but it’s all good experience and just adds to your overall knowledge of European but...

Very envious of your 88s Paul! I had hoped to see one in Costa Rica but we were right at the north-west of the country, and they seem to be commoner further south. Your crackers bring back memories for me - awesome butterflies!

After a couple of days visiting sites near Betancuria, we eventually found a strong colony of Greenish Black Tips at a hilltopping site called Morro Velosa. We saw at least two dozen up there and there were a few Fuerteventura Green Striped Whites there too. We also visited the mirador at Morro Vel...

Some things were simpler when I was younger… I mean, I’m not suggesting that navigating my way through childhood was a walk in the park, and the teenage years certainly weren’t without turbulence, but in general life seemed less complicated back in the day. I’ll give you an example: European Black-t...

The genuine article David! UK Experience of a lifetime. Me and Chris are just cheating here

Couldn't decide between the Blue Pansy and the Slate Flash!
Both taken in Goa, November 2024.