Nick B,

Love your female common blue photo. I think they are one of the most stunning butterflies to be found in Britain. Little beats seeing the first freshly emerged example of the spring.

Regards
Kev

Last year I received some Painted Lady caterpillars which my family studied through to release. I have the good fortune to share my love of Butterflies with my 9 year old daughter, who is becoming quite a little expert on their lifecycles and the care and conservation needed to see them flourish for...

Having enjoyed my favourite butterfly on the wing recently, I made it my mission to observe the Orange Tip in it's earlier life stages. Whilst walking in Ipswich, I found some eggs and then a small number of caterpillars in what I believe to be the their first or second instar. Due to the windy cond...

I agree with Jason that it is Pyraustra aurata
More commonly known as the Mint Moth.

Regards
Kev

Bill, I am heading west on my hols at the weekend with Duke of Burgundy at the top of my wish list, so thanks for the detailed report. Can you just confirm if there are D of B at Swellshill Bank along with the Adonis Blue. The other site I had in mind for D of B was Prestbury Hill, Cheltenham. Can y...

Foudn the following feasting on Oak during a nearby walk yesterday. My limited Moth expertise leads to conclude they are Vapourer larva, but confirmation would be welcomed. Having never seen any eggs in the wild before this weekend, I have now seen Orange Tip, Brimstone and now these. Kind Regards Kev

John,

You have a PM from me regardign Hutchinson's Bank.

Regards
Kev

A great day spend at Hutchinson's Bank today, in the company of three fellow lepidopterists. Many thanks for letting me join you. 4 Glanville fritillaries seen, including one that tried it's hardest to mate with a Comma. Also present were Grizzled/Dingy Skipper, Small/Common/Holly Blue, Brown Argus,...

Susie,

For 2013, Aberbagoed Grasslands was hard to top. They had large numbers on the wing. I believe Cerne Giant to be good too.

Regards
Kev

Adam,

Not as close to Oxford as you might like, but Strawberry Banks, nr Stroud has proved a decent stronghold for the Marsh Fritillary. No reports of them on the wing there yet though.

Regards
Kev

LCPete,

A little south of your ideal area, but Llanymynech Rocks nr Oswestry has Grizzled Skippers. I was last there at the end of May 2013 and saw them.

Kind Regards
Kev

David/Bill/Glostopcat,

Thanks for the early replies to my query, most appreciated.

Bill, Map OL14 already purchased. Planning to take the bikes into the forest with teh family and thought the very same thing.

Regards
Kev

Hi, In addition to my recent post regarding Haugh Wood, Herefordshire, I will also be spending some time exploring the Forest Of Dean itself in a fortnight's time. I already have Ewyas Harold earmarked for PBF, but was wondering if there were any specific sites within the Forest of Dean for either P...

Seeing as we don't get the Dukes and PBF in Suffolk, I'm still enjoying my favourite, the Orange Tip. Good numbers of male & female seen near my home again today.

Regards Kev

Dear Bill & David,

Thank you very much for the detailed information on Haugh Wood. I've never seen Wood Whites below and only a handful of PBF at Eyarth Rocks last year. So this sounds an excellent place (so long as me and the family are wearing bee keepers costumes

Kindest Regards
Kev

At the end of May, I will be holidaying near to the Forest of Dean. Not far from my accomodation is Haugh Wood, where a visit will be made (weather permitting!) to see Wood Whites. Despite searching different websites, I have been unable to gain specific details of where the colonies are within the ...

Thanks for explanation Guy. With my camera, I don't seem to be able to get the subject in focus from 5cm or less, unless I use my macro lens. However I am determined to try some different techniques to prove myself wrong. As I keep telling my kids "If you keep doing the same things, you'll get ...

Guy, I love your second shot of the Sooty Copper (with the glint of blue sky in the background) and also the Camberwell Beauty. I am still refining my photography skills, but would you be so kind as to let me in to your secret of getting such a sharp picture of the subject in addition to a clear bac...

A walk in central Ipswich (Alderman Rd Nature Reserve) provided two first sightings for the year. A male Orange Tip and a freshly emerged Speckled Wood. Yesterday I was in Landseer Park, Ipswich with large numbers of Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Brimstones , Green Veined White (first of the year) and seve...

Lee,

I would certainly agree with yoru initial ID. The attached image is taken from UK Moths. Good comparison.

http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=1927


Regards
Kev