White Admiral. Ashtead Commons 21st

Congrats Charles This is the moth I've yet to get ... yet have had its Blue-winged cousin on a few occasions (see latest on my Long-tailed Blue post viewtopic.php?t=11129&start=0#p165877

Well, no sooner after opening my mouth guess what comes along .. half of the moth duo that I was lamenting after ..... Catocala fraxini , the Clifden Nonpareil or Blue Underwing :D . I have been moth trapping in my garden since 2012 and this is my 4th Clifden. I have never had its commoner cousin, t...

Hi Bugboy and Millerd :) . I was lucky indeed but dare I say it I would swap this find for a Red or Blue Underwing (Clifden nonpareil) ……… OK … maybe for both. I have three recent independent reports from friends and colleagues who have seen either one or both, Neither are turning up in my garden to...

Some fine weather at last tempted me to venture out with my camera to the Muslim Peace Garden, my local site in Woking and a one which has yielded many interesting butterflies, moths, dragonflies, hoverflies and other interesting insects. Last September the site was a good one for Small Copper and t...

When it comes to photographing Holly Blue’s I never seem to get a picture I’m really satisfied with, like the many envy-inducing open-wing ones that frequently appear here. 2020 was no exception. What was of note was encountering females ovipositing on Goats Rue (as in this photo) and ling heather o...

Small Tortoiseshell on creeping thistle. A very very common site when I was a kid growing up on the North east. A much rarer site here in Woking Surrey. This one was taken on the 9th of September at Teesmouth National Nature reserve nr. Seaton Carew, during one of my visits to the North East. Still ...

2020 was a good year for Small Coppers, at least for third brood. This one taken in mid September, Bookham Commons I particularly like as it blends in with the sombre browns of the umbellifer seed heads that herald the departure of summer and the approach of autumn. IMG_0637 Lycaena phlaeas, Small C...

I have to concur with Dave (Millerd), regarding the covid restrictions etc leading to a later than ideal annual pilgrimage to Bentley. On my first visit was on the 18th there were few butterflies present all in various stages of wear and all very active. That all said I decided to try my luck again ...

Silver-studs are one of the 'easy' species for me as we have so many heaths locally. Mind you it's been a while since I've seen and photographed a mating pair. Phil

There is a small 'wildlife zone' of an overgrown drive, literally 10 yards from my front door. As well as this Essex I have seen Brimstone, the three common whites, Gatekeeper, Common Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock; Red Admiral; Meadow Brown, Small Skipper, Small Copper and a male Megachile mari...

Another nice female at a bracken hot-spot at Bookham Commons, though ambition is to get that elusive fresh male Phil

This late in season female in reasonable condition was a real surprise Taken at Sheepleas a chalk grassland site. Phil

Difficult to pick a favourite but this spring male butterfly just tips it. Perhaps it was the release from just getting out for exercise during lockdown . Sheerwater, Woking Phil

Largely missed out on Dukes last year probably in large part to curbing my travelling due to covid. Normally I would go to Butser Hill, plus both Bentley and a site near Tidworth would see me getting a few. This one was taken at Noar Hill on a bright and hot day a the end of May. IMG_8564 Hamearis l...

So many good shots this year of Meadow Brown. This one reminds me of a fine day out at Brookwood Cemetery photographing many insects over a small patch of creeping thistle :D . As well as the many Meadow Brown there were Nowickia ferox tachnids, various Hoverflies and thick-headed flies. IMG_0607 Ma...

I always struggle to get a decent photo of an Adonis so any uncluttered shot of an open-wing is a likely candidate. This male is probably up there for my best of all time.

Photo taken at Cotley Hill Phil

Green Hairstreak can be so difficult to photograph when they're on the wrong side of the light. Thankfully this one came out quite nice straight out of the can
Photo taken at Denbies Phil

A butterfly some years I don't get to see never mind photograph. Again taken a Boxhill, a mecca for many of my butterfly sightings in 2020. Fresh examples like this one seem positively glowing with colour 8) IMG_6835 Argynnis aglaja, Dark Green Fritillary, Box-hill zig-zag (full manual nf) t.jpg Phi...

Didn't see that many Peacocks in 2020 as I would've expected . This one was taken at Box hill which turned out to be a good site for many of my butterfly photos Phil