That first picture is an absolute belter. Well done Neil. Butterfly and leaf - a perfect match! Thanks to your posting of Clouded Yellows down at Southbourne Undercliff, I managed an hastily arranged three day visit to Dorset during the very hot weekend in late September. Dad and I had wonderful wea...

Superb Vince. No other word

Paul,

Looks like a Spotted Flycatcher to me

Sorry about that Chris - SSB

On closer inspection I'm not so sure it is Orpine. The leaves look too small. I'm pretty certain it is from the Crassula family though.

Chris - I think the Common Blue is on Orpine - Sedum or Stonecrop family - it likes light soils.

Zonda, I know what you mean about the Goldfinches. They have a voracious appetite for the old Niger seed. We have two feeders - cheapies from Wilkinsons. That's where the cheapness ends though. They have cost me over £100 this winter on seed. During the height of the second Ice Age in December we ha...

What a day! A big fat 20 degrees in Lincoln. This spring is shaping up to be real belter. Had my first male Orange Tip, 2 male Brimmies, 2 Peacock, 1 Small White and a Holly Blue!!!!! in the churchyard when I got home. :D Also, Bluebells are out in one of my gardens in Lincoln. Incredible. Farmers a...

Susie,

Absolutely, Swifts can be quite particular. We are putting a Swift nesting box on an east-facing wall in the next few days. We took advice and I think anything facing full south or even south-west will have problems and get baked!

10 little scraps of joy for me today- 9 male Brimmies and a single Comma fluttering around a Prunus. All seen along the A46 by-pass in Lincoln.

Had an away day to Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire yesterday (14th). Good amounts of sunshine, particularly around dinner-time. Quite warm in the sun, out of it there was still a nagging edge to the wind. Went to see the Great Grey Shrike. We had very good views of this predator. Cracking bird. Whil...

Great stuff guys. There's nothing quite like it is there. I was hoping for my first Brimstone here in the Lincoln area today, but alas nothing. It was nice to see a couple of bees though. I still think I'll be waiting until mid to late March for that first sighting. Still just that bit too early, bu...

Hi Neil,

Many thanks for replying. I'll take you up on that offer to meet up. Really appreciated. I'll send you a pm with the exact dates nearer the time (say mid-Aprilish). Yes, would like to see PBF aswell on the visit.

Regards

Pete

Hi Neil, Sorry to clutter your blog up. A quick couple of questions if it's ok. I'm planning a trip to Sussex in May, hopefully around the 12th, 13th and 14th. To be honest, I'm specifically coming down for the Duke. Assuming spring isn't early or late (say average lol!), when does the Duke start to...

Taken from the Nature Notes section of the Daily Telegraph - 28/12/10 Farmers to get extra cash for wildflowers Bees' chances of survival have been given a boost by extra funding for wildlife-friendly farming. The Higher Level Stewardship scheme is to receive a funding increase of more than 80% by 2...

roger - amazing sighting given the nature of the weather at the moment. She looks in very good condition too.

N Hykeham, near Lincoln today (Tuesday 1.00pm) Very sunny but chilly One Red Admiral nectaring on Mahonia shrub. Saw it while having lunch. Where I work they have three of these large shrubs. There were a good number of bees on it too. Watched it for a good ten minutes and it looked in pretty good n...

Smashing set of images Neil. Great memories I'm sure!