With rain forecast for tomorrow Brother Hoggles and I decided to make the most of this morning with a butterflying visit to Dungeness. In particular we wanted to see Small Coppers, so we began with a walk around the Old Lighthouse. Our first butterfly was a Small Heath ( of which we saw 5 ) IMG_2313...

On my walk with the dog this morning I was delighted to stumble upon my second Painted Lady of 2012 P1010961.JPG P1010958.JPG P1010955.JPG P1010914.JPG The air was rather cool so it wasn't particularly active but would spend its time soaking up warmth on the ground before flitting up to the thistles...

Hi Dave seems like a long time ago that we were standing by the canal gazing up at that Elm for White Letter Hairstreaks! Just wanted to say how much I enjoy reading your diary and Congratulations on seeing the Monarch! Great Stuff!

Thanks Mike , I will look into it. I think I should also do the old fashioned thing and just print off the ones I want to keep!

Hi All, I'm looking for the easiest and safest way to store my photographs. At the moment they are all on my laptop. Is the preferred way of saving them to transfer to a memory stick? Are there any sticks that are recommended? Cheers

Drawing back my bedroom curtain this morning I noticed a visitor: P1010903.JPG Taking this as a good omen ( and also a strong reminder that I need to clean my windows ) I met up with my brother ( Hoggles ) for a bit of butterflying at Reculver IMG_2228.JPG I'm not sure what butterflies would have be...

Work finished early today so I dropped in at Folkestone Warren on my way home IMG_2181.JPG Hot and sunny and everything that June and July were not. Walking along the front I was treated to a Spitfire flying over the cliff tops towards Dover. As for butterflies, there were many Small Whites and incr...

I thought I would take advantage of this morning's warmth and sunshine by dipping my toe into Sussex with a visit to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. Once I'd got over my surprise at finding that they drive on the same side of the road as we do in Kent I walked along to the beach. Red Admirals frequently...

On my morning walk with the dog I was thinking how things seem to be winding down for the year . I saw a fair number of Small Whites and a few battered Brown Argus P1010887.JPG and that seemed to be about it. But walking on further I saw this Comma P1010877.JPG which was a most welcome sight. Then j...

I wondered why they keep crash landing into the neighbour's garden..

The Buddleia in my garden is still doing a lively trade with the local butterflies,attracting 4 Red Admirals and 2 Small Tortoiseshells on a daily basis.

However, it is Hoggers' Juicy Plums that are proving irresistible :

I went back to Lydden Nature Reserve at Temple Ewell this morning. The Chalkhill Blues and Silver Spotted Skippers were noticeably absent but there was still plenty to see. Lots of Meadow Browns, a Comma, Small Whites, a Large White IMG_2074.JPG Adonis Blues ( I saw about 20 ) IMG_2026.JPG Small Hea...

I stopped in at Samphire Hoe, Dover this morning. The Buddleia was busy with Red Admirals, Small and Large Whites and Small Tortoiseshells: IMG_1951.JPG Lots of Common Blues: IMG_1973.JPG A few Adonis Blues: IMG_1985.JPG And a Small Heath: IMG_1983.JPG Activity in my garden still centres around the ...

On this absolutely gorgeous day I took myself down to Folkestone Warren for a walk along the seashore at the foot of the cliffs. Red Admirals were much in evidence , I saw 13 including this one which came in off the beach to rest on the sea wall : IMG_1885.JPG There were many Common Blues and four A...

I came across this pretty blue female Common Blue while out walking the dog today: I haven't seen one as blue as this in Kent for a long time.

I took a walk along the cliffs at Langdon Bay in Dover yesterday afternoon and soon lost count of the Red Admirals there : I must have seen 20 at least.

My butterflying August came to a relaxing end with a gentle stroll around Orlestone Forest surrounded by Brimstones IMG_1840.JPG IMG_1848.JPG Lots of Red Admirals there too and a couple of Meadow Browns. The Buddleia in my garden is still busy with Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshells and Peacocks ( t...

It was lovely to come home from work this afternoon to a Lady who didn't want me to turn around and go back out immediately to do the shopping:

Cheers David, I learn a great deal on this site thanks to people like you! ( I kind of knew that my butterfly stalking hadn't improved - I like to blame my hip replacement but I think it's really just inherent clumsiness! )

I went for a potter around Orlestone Forest where Brimstones were out and about in numbers: IMG_1692.JPG This may be a silly observation but I know how friendly you all are out there so I'll risk it, but are the Spring Brimstones less approachable than those in August? I couldn't get near them in Ma...