I get a great deal of enjoyment out of photographing British butterflies, so I would be very pleased if the Map butterfly established itself here and do not really care if they arrived as a immigrant or were introduced by persons unknown. Yeah, let's all just dump stuff into the wild, so we can pho...

So this thread seems to have wound-up and died a rather ignoble death. Jack, I trust you achieved your desired affect, whatever the heck that actually was? It's been interesting to see how 'out of kilter' some of you are. More interesting, to my mind at least, has been the total silence from other m...

Have done, Susie. Thank you

Sami is up there again right now, back home on Monday evening. Via coach and then a car-share to the site, same as last time for those who were wondering. This is how my wife is spending her days off from her full-time (50+hrs per week) job. She has researched both sides of the argument regards frac...

I'll post just a couple of links, whether or not you want to delve deeper or not is up to you. Fossil fuels, wave action barrages, windfarms, even nuclear power can ALL be replaced. But vested interests keep them alive and kicking, rather than progressing. Have a look, that's all I ask. http://www.t...

I acknowledge that we live in a democracy and everybody's views must be listened to. However, if a minority has particularly vehement and trenchant views, they are still a minority, and as such the majority (who may well be extremely quiet by comparison) have to be considered too. So that'll be the...

OK, so a very quick update. I just showed this short thread to Sami. After some surprisingly...erm "robust"...language she is saddened to learn that the views above belong to lovers of nature.

Cheers again,

Gibster.

I believe my wife, Sami would have a thing or two to say about all of this. She got back from Barton Moss just 90mins ago after camping up there. I also believe you are being very heavily misguided by the skewed "facts" surrounding the non-dangers of fracking as portrayed by the popular me...

This was taken on the Isle of Wight in 2011, the last time I saw the species. It's not the best shot in the world, but I love the way it gives a sense of perspective into the world of this utterly charming little butterfly. Just a forty quid clickamatic, no post-pic messing around and, for me, memor...

Having been advised that I need to post more frequently on UKB I guess I oughht to start straight away! :wink: We began by bumping into Susie in the downstairs hall, and I swear she looks younger and taller every time we meet! Then upstairs we met Pete et al where we were asked what our next BC Chal...

Hello folks, been a while!

Sami and I would quite like to be at the bash too, if that's alright? (I know we haven't exactly been active on the forums of late )

Be great to catch up again though!

Gibster.

Stick Insects DO occur in the UK, though not of natural origin. They have persisted for many years on the Isles of Scilly (at least 3 species) and parts of Cornwall. But the beasts in your pic aren't sticks! They are Mirid bugs, I'm not sure which species (there are many!) but have a look at this li...

So that's it done! A butterfly per year of your life! Congrats, anything more is a bonus

Lee, I'm on Epsom Common so often that I practically LIVE over there!!!! :lol: Gimme a shout next time? Be very good to catch up again soon. Sami and I are moving to a new home in May (still in Epsom) so you two shall have to drop in for drinks etc. Holly Blue egglaying on gorse today (on Epsom Comm...

Spent the morning/early pm wandering Epsom Common and getting sunburnt in the process! Lots of female Brimstones (only had males earlier this month) flying today, and several of their eggs found on Alder Buckthorn. Commas, Peacocks and a few Small Whites also noted. Best (for me) was a Holly Blue eg...

Also lots of these beetles seen at High & Over, I had 5 in view at once at one point. An id for this would be great :?: Hi, you mystery beetle is a Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa), totally flightless, totally harmless and totally fascinating when having a "nosebleed"!!! :D ...

Brilliant, just brilliant! :D So, after several seasons of seeing Large Tortoiseshells on the Isle of Wight, can we go so far as to say that it is still clinging on as a breeding species in the UK? Or am I being overly presumptious? Either way, congratulations on this wonderful sighting. Just need t...

Pine Grosbeak would do very nicely indeed. Only ever seen them in Canada (and that was in 1996). I shall be sure to check the ornamental conifers around my work's depot!

Quite unbelievably, by pure chance I walked past a singing Black Redstart in Epsom this morning. It's on my route into work so I'm looking forward to seeing whether or not it stays overnight. They're still passing through at Portland today - there's a clip of the song here http://www.xeno-canto.org/...

There's been a very good passage of "Black Reds" (as we birder types know 'em :wink: ) this past week or so. Portland have had double figures the last few days (8, 9, 23, 12 being the daily tally for earlier this week), all migrants coming in off the continent. Unfortunately Phil, the chan...