Hi Goldie, I agree with Mike, great photos. I believe the damsels and dragons are 1. Common Blue Damselfly; 2. male Banded Demoiselle; 3. female Black tailed Skimmer. I was in west Wales on Sunday, walking the coast path. Firstly, the Ceredigion coast from Cwmtudu to Cwm Soden, which I haven`t visit...

Haugh Wood 15/5/18. With the weather set fair I visited Haugh Wood`s southern butterfly trail. This trail usually has good numbers of Wood White and the lower part of the trail didn`t disappoint. I counted at least 15, and I allowed a bit for the same butterfly being seen twice. Other "whites&q...

Two sightings for me so far (both Red Admiral). On Friday 16th, at Newport Wetlands reserve centre, a RA was flying strongly towards me and on Monday 19th, another RA, this time in my garden. I`m still in "birding mode" at the moment. I had hoped that the calm and sunny conditions on Frida...

Wurzel said " that's birders - they love 'splitting". How true ! How many subspecies of Yellow Wagtail do we have in Britain and Europe ? And Herring Gulls split into Yellow legged Gull and Caspian Gull. Butterflies may have aberrations listed but at least remain conspecific ( I think ! )....

Hello all and a Happy New Year to all. I agree with Bugboy but I would add this. Knowing the location, i.e. rocky coast, it`s more likely to be Rock Pipit. Water Pipits usually winter in the UK and frequent flooded fields, rivers, where there is fresh water rather than saline. The River Ogmore at Og...

I`ve just read that a Red Admiral was seen today at Fortuneswell on the Isle of Portland, near the Co-op ! Presumably this was by the small public gardens where the Monarch was ensconced for a week or so back in September 2012. It must be much milder there than here in the South Wales valleys where ...

Just returned from a very enjoyable weekend at the Portland Bird Observatory. Sunday saw an incredible 68 Firecrests caught,ringed and released in the observatory gardens. This compares with a previous best annual total of 67 Firecrests ! And butterflies were in good attendance too, especially on Sa...

Anyone know if the Queens of Spain are still present ? A long trip might be on the cards on Saturday. And I agree with the comments re the photos. I`d be happy to have taken them !

Jenks.

No problems Jack. I did wonder whether you were thinking of current and forthcoming supermarket sightings. I obviously fall under The Who`s mantra. " ....... I`m just backdated ".

Jenks.

( "Substitute" for those who are too young to know the song ).

I can only repeat my message of 8 July.. " I had an amazing sighting last Sunday, 2 July. I popped into my local Tesco near Pontypridd just before they closed at 4 pm. When I got back to the car I found a White letter Hairstreak sitting on the windscreen ! I looked around the edge of the car pa...

[PhilBWright quoted .. "Right of Public Access laws are exceptional for Butterflying in Sweden: "You are free to go just about anywhere along Sweden's shores, and in it's lakes and watercourses. We are all guests in nature and must be considerate and responsible" What a wonderful and ...

[quote from David M " Excellent start to the month. Just having the sun out here in south Wales would be welcome at the moment!" ] I would welcome that too ! Mike from Oxford replied a couple of days ago to a posting which referred to autumnal weather by stating that it was still only 31 J...

You`re certainly kept busy with all these waifs and strays ! I originally read your message quickly ( too quickly as it turns out ) as "Well, the beeRs have finally gone - all 6,000 of them!!!" and thought " Crikey, that was one hell of a weekend " !. Then I re-read your message....

Absolutely stunning photos, especially of that valezina SWF. To my way of thinking the valezina form is more spectacular than Purple Emperor ( and more obliging ). I had an amazing sighting last Sunday, 2 July. I popped into my local Tesco near Pontypridd just before they closed at 4 pm. When I got ...

Hi John,

Collard Hill is wardened and there is a blog updated daily. If you search for "Large Blue Blog" you`ll be able to read if they are still flying. They were on Monday, 26th, I was there and saw 4 in overcast conditions.

Good luck !

Jenks.

I paid a quick visit to Forest Farm meadow, Cardiff this morning. This was the site where, back in July 2010, a colony of White letter Hairstreak were found and is known to DavidM, Michaeljf and the late and much missed Willrow. I wasn`t exactly dressed for a butterfly search as I`d just come from a...

Simon, 7 lifers in one year is good going ! Good luck in your quest to photograph all the UK species before you reach 50. I had to make this point, however. You have given me a mental picture of Black Sabbath`s Ozzie Osborne out looking for butterflies ! An image that I`m having difficulty in shakin...

And belated congratulations and best wishes from me, too. My excuse; I`ve been away and have only just found out. As Neil says, anything which brings "butterflies " and "conservation" to the forefront deserves an award but it couldn`t have been given to a more deserving person fo...

Cream spot Tiger Moth (Arctia villica) ?

Jenks

Sorry to learn of your loss Wurzel and my condolences to you. Your account is a very moving tribute to the legacy that your Granddad left you, a country upbringing and a love of nature. You cant beat it !

Jenks.