It is being seen a lot more regularly in Essex, Cambridgeshire and now Suffolk. Partly because there are people actually looking for it, but also because there is a natural increase and casual observers are encountering it on occasion. Based upon its elusive nature and its current expansion, it's ac...

Looks like a Silver-studded Blue to me. Was it at a known site?

Mike Robinson wrote:although I noticed the dark spot I have seen something similar on female Common Blue Butterflies

Yes, it can be there on female Common Blues, but it is darker/more clearly defined on Brown Argus.

Hello Mike,
Prominent orange markings along the forewing plus the dark spot make this a Brown Argus

I saw a fresh female Brimstone today at Mill Green Common, Essex. 10 minutes later I thought that I was witnessing something unique but then realised it was a different, tattier female from last year, still ovipositing on Alder Buckthorn. I think this beats my previous latest of 26th June in 2012. A...

My natural instinct was like you Vince - White-letter Hairstreak, and it was a cold, late spring. However, the allotment habitat might point to Holly Blue on probability, and the larvae are variable as they aren't restricted to the well-documented Holly and ivy. I've heard of a red larvae found in a...

Lovely. cheers Vince.

I recorded this roosting butterfly as a Common Blue on Foulness Island today (now yesterday). But now realise that the colon can only make it a Brown Argus. Is this right?

I heard the same rumour some years ago about the original Cotswold colonies consisting of 2-year cycled Large Blues. But I didn’t understand why the microclimate requirements of a subspecies from Sweden would be satisfied in Somerset but wouldn’t work in the Cotswolds.

Reddog - I like those 'charmed life' photos. beats my avatar, easy.

I've just returned from Scotland and last Tuesday (23rd June) walked the Glasdrum NNR Mountain Ringlet transect. There were plenty of (up to 20) Chequered Skippers, mainly males defending their corners, in the glades walking up and a few about the tree line (also Emperor moths). There were 20+ Small...

item 7 could be an Emperor moth caterpillar. I've never seen it on nettle, but they do use various foodplants or it could just be resting

Thursday 11th - still awaiting first Heath Fritillaries at Little Haven/Starvelarks, Pound Wood and Hadleigh Great Wood. 9 at Hockley Woods yesterday.

I agree, Yellow Shell. It's right on timing too.

Brilliant. Definitely an aberrant Comma then.

spent the morning cycling along the northern sea wall of Wallasea Island, Essex. They are still leveling off the spoil from the Crossrail tunnel to create a huge bird reserve. Despite a stiff breeze, I counted at least 40 Painted Ladies, some looked fresh. Most were nectaring on red clover and a cou...

Good advice from Bugboy - there were no Heath Fritilaries at Hadleigh Great Wood yesterday and the cool spring lends itself to a slow build up so I would think the Essex peak might be around the end of the month.

Peter, Thank you for taking off Thrift Wood. What's the score with adding Larval Hostplants on a species account? We find Orange-tip ova on Hoary Cress (Lepidium draba). Not prolifically, more occasionally on sea walls, say a single plant in front of a larger clump. Sometimes inland too, but they de...

It's The Passenger Dysgonia algira. It occasionally turns up in UK moth traps, so perhaps your daytime photo is quite remarkable.

I think Cream Wave Scopula floslactata is a good match, but I haven't seen this species. The third cross line seems to have the right waviness.