Mkuzi Reserve and Fig-forest walk (Monday, 12th March) - continued.. We got to the edge of the fig-forest walk before 7am and it was still a bit overcast and with the edge of the forest quite full of small scrub-bushes and trees photographing any butterflies was going to be a bit testy. We formed a...

Thanks all - thanks for clearing that up Guy. I'm continuing to use the 'common names' as used in Steve Woodhall's excellent 'Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa'. If I'd used the latin name it would have cleared it up straight away! Mkuzi Reserve and Fig-forest walk (Monday, 12th March). Aft...

A lovely thread, i am really enjoying it, being a bird watcher as well, even more so. All the best, Nick. Thanks Nick - if I get any bird ID's wrong, hopefully you'll point them out! :) David - thanks - my only problem on this trip is we were often 'moved' quite quickly through many spots and getti...

From Wakkerstroom to Mkuze (North Uthungulu, KwaZulu-Natal) – Sunday, 11th March) (continued) http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g470/MichaeljField/South%20Africa%20Naturetrek%20trip%2010%20to%2017%20March%202012/IMG_0355edit.jpg One of the stops near the Vryheid reserve gave us some good views of...

Thanks Lee - as always :) From Wakkerstroom to Mkuze (North Uthungulu, KwaZulu-Natal) – Sunday, 11th March) Bert, Richard, Linda and John headed out early for a quick look at the wetlands reserve first thing, but Karen and I decided we’d get up a whole hour later as we hadn’t slept since Thursday ni...

Thanks David & Guy....I might be taking some time to go through the photos, as I'm learning about the South Africa ID's at the same time as going through the photos!

I'll be keeping in regular contact with Steve Woodhall in case I have to change some of my ID's.

Michael

Afternoon in Wakkerstroom - continued (10th March) http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g470/MichaeljField/South%20Africa%20Naturetrek%20trip%2010%20to%2017%20March%202012/IMG_3594edit.jpg This is the rocky area in Wakkerstroom above the plains. This is where I'd hoped to see Rocksitter butterflies:...

Wakkerstroom (Mpumalanga) – Saturday 10th March Wakkerstroom is about 4 hours drive south-east from Johannesburg and we arrived there in the early afternoon without a hitch (Bert is an excellent driver and the roads in SA seemed to be fairly good condition). Wakkerstroom is a well-known wetlands re...

I’ve wanted to travel to South Africa for about the last 6 years so last year we decided we’d take the plunge (before money and time ran out!) and booked up a guided trip with Naturetrek from March 10th-18th to South Africa (2012). The trip was advertised as a 'Butterflies of South Africa' with also...

And well done Lee for your MP letter-writing and subsequent responses...interesting and constructive.

Does this mean we'll be ordering the next issue of Hansard?

Michael

Lovely Jack, though perhaps bringing to mind many an episode of 'Are you being served?' by the end of the letter...

Michael

Another post-hibernation butterfly seen at lunchtime today at my local patch in South Wales - a single Comma in the 15c sunshine. Unfortunately it'll be back to the rain by this weekend here, by the look of the forecast. Still, March starts tomorrow. Difficult to believe it's come round already :sho...

I think that's the second Small White sighting we've had on here thus far in 2012. Are some hibernating in greenhouses and emerging way early? David, I was at the Secret Garden Centre in Pontypool on Sunday - very nice temperatures despite a slight breeze up there - there was also a Small White fly...

I forgot to mention Ragged Robin as a good nectar source in spring, though it can of course vary in timing and even be flowering in Summer.
Michael

p.s. Nice pictures of the butterflies and Bluebells

Hi David, I saw my first butterfly of the year here in St Mellons, near Cardiff - just the one Small Tortoiseshell, still sneaky enough to avoid me photographing it. On the bird front - there is apparently a Smew at Hendre Lake and a Common Yellowthroat at Rhiwderin (down the road at Newport) and I ...

Good article in the Guardian. At least somebody other than ukb and BC has noticed his weird behaviour.Jack I can take some credit here, because I contacted Patrick Barkham (author of 'The Butterfly Isles' and contributer to the Guardian) last week - who was away at the time. Patrick consulted with ...

I can now confirm that the Guardian has reported a little bit on this MP's behaviour (see link or quoted below, Hugh Muir's diary), thanks to Patrick :) and Hugh. Michael http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/feb/23/hugh-muir-diary-job-snobs?INTCMP=SRCH • Finally, to remember in your prayers, Ian ...

Good shout, Michael. Pearl Bordereds were all over the bugle flowers last May at Ewyas Harold Common. I've only ever seen two species nectaring on bluebell though - Wood White & Marsh Fritillary. Hi David, well with the Painted Ladies I've seen nectaring from them that makes three species, anyw...

Congratulations - I'm glad you're enjoying your day (which is quite a special one).
In answer to the question, yes - I will mind, but there's not much you can do about time passing except enjoy the ride! (3 years to go for me)...

Michael

Violets may also flower in Autumn as well, an added bonus. The only flowers I would add are Bugle and Bluebells. The Bugle seems popular with all the smaller Fritillaries and spring butterflies as well as bees - Bluebells less so, but I have seen Painted Ladies nectar from them. Primrose and Cowslip...