I have received the explanation below, regarding my Semi-spotless Gatekeeper at Salthouse last August. Bernard Watts, who wrote it, has given me permission to post it, as he is completely bound up with his magnum opus on European butterflies: “I think the reason for the absent spot is clear: there h...

In Wells Woods, Norfolk, today, there was a Comma fluttering not all that strongly, hard by Abraham’s Bosom- the boating lake by the eastern entrance to the woods.

It was in surprisingly good condition, for such a late date.

No other species seen.

I did note a Red Admiral last weekend, though.

That's interesting, Andy.

I've seen a few Painted Ladies over the summer, but not hordes. The attached photo was taken at Walsey Hills NOA, north Norfolk on 15 August 2010.

Do they normally migrate west across the North Sea, rather than north ?

The attached photo was taken at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse, north Norfolk on 3 August 2010. Following inital enquiries, I now find that, in over 1700 specimens in the Museum of Natural History, there are NONE with the eyespot missing on ONE wing, but three with no eyespots on both wings- the ab. ob...

CLOUDED YELLOW in Wells Woods, north Norfolk yesterday. It was in the meadow immediately south of the Dell- and not very active, in poor weather, with not many butterflies around. It even permitted me to break off the leaf on which it was perched, to allow a better photo. I cannot recall a butterfl...