People in the UK have over the years studied our Butterflie's behaviour more closely than anywhere else in the world probably, so it does make me wonder if in other countries they also have food plants not native to the UK. But Commas on Hazel does seem puzzling! Shrubs like Hazel and Buddlia do see...

Thanks Dave. That explains the little threads!

I have only just seen the 'addiction' warning, ... too late! I have been busy these last 2 months with moths. As I have not 'mothed' before I can't be dissapointed in the reported low numbers - its all new and totally absorbing. But yes, unfortunately for me, spiders galore. On the home Butterfly fr...

Beautiful photos! and a reassurring amount of butterflies. I noticed the 4th Small Copper down had the beginings of streaks on its hind wing rather than the normal orange marks and I wondered if this was common. I don't see very many S.Coppers, but one I saw a few weeks ago (no camera at hand of cou...

It seems a great year for Meadow Browns and Ringlets, more than usual. I was chuffed when the Knapweed in my mini meadow flowered and it was well visited. Not so thrilled when the Creeping Thistle flowered and they all went over to that, especially as I was going to pull it out and have felt obliged...

Just spending a rainy afternoon looking at and admiring the photos. I can't judge the technicalities (they all look amazing), but I did notice your 3rd down Hairstreak had a perfect 'Disney' pose!

I also enjoy the other than buttterfy photos. In the absence of butterfies they I seem to be noticing more of them - but naming them another matter. Bark Flies I'd never even heard of. I've not spotted any GVWs on my Garlic Mustard, but today I saw a pair of Bullfinches stripping the seed pods (The ...

Gibster - I'm in awe over your long distance walk! Glad you haven't been attacked by ticks etc.

Reading on the Borreliosis website (given by Mark) is very interesting but quite scary. Some of the precautionary measures I have not come across before - e.g. take off your cloths before going into your house (what would the neighbours say!) and put them in a tumble drier for over 10 minutes as nor...

The rotten weather continues. Makes me wonder how any non migrant butterflies ever managed to survive in this country. But then a walk in some wild flower meadows at An Englih Nature reserve at Barrington Hill on cloudy and accasionally drizzly saturday, I was disturbing a Meadow Brown at almost eve...

I very much enjoyed the photos , especially the GVW larva and the early signs of its feeding. When the rain slackens off a bit (probably next month at this rate!) i will look out for this.

I have found it hard to find the right time for transects - to cold, windy, wet or overcast. Even on the better days, on the colder site there is a fraction of what there usually is, even the 'Common' Blue has not been seen. It seems some birds like Blue and Great Tits have found it hard this year -...

On a newly created sloping verge nearby blackthorn quickly colonised. It was around then I started seeing the odd Brown Hairstreak in the garden. Of course the suckering Blackthorn was cut relentlessly. Last autumn at the risk of looking a bit mad I examined the Blackthorn and found a good sprinklin...

Thanks for the IDs, I'll have another look at my moth book

Dave's list could put many Nature reserves to shame! I often get intrigued about what is nibbling various plants and grasses and have taken to going out with a torch at night to see what is doing the nibbling - so far very disappointing - all I find is slugs of varying sizes. Last autumn when trying...

The weather has been so dreadful this year I fear my try at providing more butterfly/moth foodplants will have very few takers this year. Orange Tips are the exception who seem to have weathered the weather and have produced quite a few caterpillars at very different stages on both Garlic Mustard an...

I very much like your alpine meadow! Is the sheeting there to stop the sstronger weeds coming through? (my efforts at a wild flwer patch are thawted by strong growing grasses in a soil that never seems to lose its fertility)

I enjoyed this about the Large White. Makes me wonder if it was not for our liking of cabbage it would be alot more rare and appreciated as it is quite lovely. But having grown cabbage for many years my first reaction is still clouded by concern for my brassicas!

I was expecting vast hordes of butterflies to emerge once the weather warmed up - but so far not very much in my immediate area. Even the Bees seem to have gone elsewhere. The Holly blue is the only one I regularly see. One that did respond to the heat was a crysalis that I removed from old shelving...

Today was a better day than yesterday; warmer and less wind, but so few butterflies about. It seems only Orange Tips are carrying on as usual. Late in the day a Holly Blue came down and posed so well I had to go and get my camera.