Hummingbird Hawkmoth, St Mellons (South Wales) - 18/02/24 Hi all, I admit I don't post anymore - I am sure you all have much more exciting tales to tell than me, and probably better photos! :) However, I thought this was worth getting excited about - well I was excited, anyway. It's been a nice sunn...

Hi all, I had a nice morning at Oversley Wood (Alcester) today, having visited a few weeks back and been to early for the summer species emergence. My wife and I got there early (just past 9am) due to the predicted warm temperatures. Met up by chance with a couple of other lepidopterists who had als...

Neil,
Here's the picture I took of a Sparrowhawk at Oversley last year (July 12th)... It's been a long time since I've posted pictures on here so interesting to 'have a go' again .
Michael

I have seen Purple emperors a few times at Oversley Wood over the years but usually high up, This was only the second time I have photographed one on the ground there. I have never seen a female there, I suspect they stick mostly to the interior of the wood and do their egg laying well away from th...

Hi Neil, beautiful shots of the Purple Emperor but also of the Silver-Washed Fritillaries and the White Admirals. We've been going to Oversley Woods for a few years since the late (lovely) Bill Jones introduced us the site. Interesting that the Purple Emperors this year are almost back to the 'norma...

Good to see you back posting, Michael...and from an unusual location to boot! What prompted your visit to this site? Seems like it turned up good returns. Hi David, I've been there before - originally because I'd heard there were good Emperor showings again a few years back. Bill Jones (RIP) had me...

Sunday, 22nd June - Oversley Woods, Alcester Hi all, I had a really lovely at Oversley Woods Alcester this afternoon. This was probably the most butterflies I've seen this year. We arrived about 1.30 pm and soon found a Purple Hairstreak wandering across the main path. Soon after this was a White A...

Parc Penalta, Saturday 8th July We visited Parc Penallta this afternoon (near to Ystrad Mynach). It was a site that Willrow introduced me too a few years back. It was very hot in Cardiff in the morning but up at Parc Penallta the skies were a lot cloudier though it was still quite warm and humid. T...

I also saw the eggs under one of the leafs - but I don't suppose anyone can guess what they are?

Sunday, 2nd July - Oversley Woods (Warwickshire) We visited Oversley Woods this afternoon. It was extremely hot and perhaps too warm for butterfly photography! We arrived about 1:40 pm. My wife and I immediately met a couple of very nice butterfly enthusiasts (Birmingham locals) – one of them (Vinc...

Hi Jenks, that's great news. I did visit the Forest Farm meadows about 2 weeks back (in the middle of the hot weather spell) and there was no sign of any WL Hairstreaks though there were good numbers of Red Admiral, Meadow Browns, Ringlets and Large Skippers (and Burnet Moths) in the two fields clos...

Hi David, I visited the Alun Valley site on Sunday afternoon (25th June) - I had originally intended to visit England on Sunday - but the weather was really changeable, and it looked from the weather maps like the worst of the wind and rain had already cleared Cardiff on the western side. It was sti...

Bernwood Meadows, Bernwood Forest & Whitecross Green Wood, Oxfordshire 18th June Hi all, I don’t get a chance to post on here these days due to being too busy but I went to one of my favourite places today and thought I’d share the findings as I was a little surprised. My wife Karen and I visit...

Hi All, very sad news - I only found out today with the release of the Monmouthshire Butterfly & Moth newsletter. I haven't been here for a while, but I wanted to share a few memories and thoughts. Firstly, Bill was the most wonderful company, meeting him would always bring a smile to the face. ...

Hi Dave and Paul, thanks for your kind comments and the education on Greek myths (!). My internet link has been down the last 3 or so days so I've only just been able to log-on. Paul - I'll be interested to see if you are going to do a write-up about your own ecent trip to SW Bulgaria - I will be ve...

Hi all, my good friend Nikolay Shtinkov - who runs his own excellent website on Bulgarian butterflies - has emailed me some comments relative to this thread - useful regading the ID's in several places. I hope he won't mind me quoting some of the most relative and interesting comments below: I am am...

Friday 8th June 2012 – return to Golemo Beliowo (Golyamo belovo) - continued... http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g470/MichaeljField/Bulgaria%20Trip%20May-June%202012/IMG_4731edit-1.jpg Above: one of the newly-emerged Sloe Hairstreaks amongst what seems to be Wild-Mint flowers. http://i1103.photo...

Friday 8th June 2012 – return to Golemo Beliowo (Golyamo belovo) - continued The sun continued to shine against a deep blue sky as per the last three days. Further up the ride and approaching the meadows that edged onto the mountains, there was the sound of Cuckoos again and also a swarm of Hornets...

Hi Paul - there were also Mazarine Blues on some of the other days, hopefully correctly identified :wink: Thanks also for the ID on the Cricket. Friday 8th June 2012 – return to Golemo Beliowo (Golyamo belovo) - continued As the walk in Golyamo belovo had been so pleasant on the previous visit, it w...

Hi Sylvie,
thanks for the ID on the beetle and the compliments - I'm glad you've enjoyed the report - the thread is almost finished but never mind, I'm returning to Bulgaria in a couple of weeks , so it may yet run some more later this year....
Best wishes
Michael