Thought you’d like those pictures, Wurzel! Having spent the late-spring Bank Holiday in Dorset, my east Kent orchid fest had to wait until last week. Might be early June, but the picture of Park Gate Down clearly shows it was still spring. 2DF87C00-2D8A-4A49-A3FC-FF4850E902CD.jpeg Visited a couple o...

A mouth-watering sample of species there, David. Looking foreword to more...

Well Neil, judging from your recent reports, Emsworth doesn’t sound like too bad a place to visit...

What a fabulous spring it’s been for the Holly Blue, and they are still going into early summer. The best numbers for years! In truth, I only started to see them in numbers from mid May in this area. Even non-butterfly people have been commenting on them to me. Holly Blues are well known for being a...

Well done, Dave. I’ve heard of Wood Whites from the coast on the Dorset-Devon borders, but have not seen them there.

Good to know the colony survives!

Well done with the Grass Rivulet, you’ve got some nice pictures there.

The male Common Blue is rather nice, too!

Problem is, we live in a man made environment. Apart from a few adaptable species, the only places butterflies live is where we let them. Many patches of habitat are so isolated, they never get colonised by butterflies, except the more mobile species. The Marsh Fritillary illustrates this very well....

The next day was bank holiday Monday. We headed off to the Cerne Abbas Giant. We had my sister with us, and I was hoping to show her her first Marsh Fritillaries. However, judging by the excellent condition of most of the Grizzled Skippers, things were running late, despite the many sunny days down ...

Woodland Browns are fantastic creatures, aren’t they? Glad you’ve got them near you.

At least you tried, Goldie. And you know how to get there for next year. Mid May is probably most reliable.

You’re certainly having the best of the weather over your side of the country at the moment, David. Overcast and just 14C over here today. Glad to see you’re enjoying it while it lasts...

Hi Trevor, actually the Small Blue was at Martin Down, where it abounds.

Thanks Goldie. Good luck at Blue Bell Hill, if you go. If you’re unsuccessful there, try Trosley in mid May next year.

Hi Goldie, it’s getting late for Grizzled Skippers now but, given the often cloudy and chilly weather recently, I think there’s every chance. Look like the afternoons are looking best in our part of the country next week. There were certainly still plenty in Dorset last week. Good luck. Thanks David...

The next day, we spent time with my sister, walking the Kimmeridge Bay Area, and spending time at Lulworth Cove. By the time we got to Durdle Door, it was early evening, and I was delighted to find about half a dozen Lulworth Skippers settling to roost in a clump of grass over looking the door.. dou...

That’s a man orchid, Dave!

Thanks Katrina. Bluebells are one of my favourite sights in all the world. And right here on our doorstep! :D Thanks Trevor. Yes, I have bluebells in my garden, too, as well as lots of wild garlic. Sadly, weather and other constraints prevented me from visiting this oxlips this year. But they like d...

Thanks everyone. The Dingy roosts like no other butterfly, and I always look for them when I get the chance. The Essex bluebells have now finished for another year. About a week later than 2022, but what a sight, and scent, to behold. We are lucky to have so many in Britain, and Essex has plenty of ...

I always hope to see Grizzled Skippers here, and today was no exception. Such fantastic little creatures, these. DF5B15E6-EDB4-46F5-9F8F-A9D351DB35F6.jpeg It was nice to see my first Brown Argus of the year. 578AA963-3908-475E-AAC0-D1EF1DDEF65E.jpeg This Small White proved photogenic, I couldn’t res...

Thanks Trevor, yes the hawthorn blossom alone makes it worth going. Love the stuff!

But if I can get a few Marsh Fritillaries as well...

You have my sympathy, Goldie. They’ve been forecasting sunshine for over a week now, and almost every day it’s been cloudy and windy!

Good luck if you go to Blue Bell Hill this week. Hopefully the sun will shine at last!