I think Bugboy is right. That looks good for wild candytuft, though it is early. I didn’t think it would be out yet. The purple one is clustered bellflower, Campanula glomerata. Chiltern gentians don’t flower until August, and are a lighter shade.

That looks good for a Southern Hawker to me, Katrina. I haven’t seen any yet, some well done. I think!

That’s a really nice report, Stevie, with a good blend of wildlife, culture and relaxation.

Glad you had such a nice time. Thanks for sharing.

Lovely pictures from Martin Down, Wurzel. We were hoping to go the other week, but the weather had other ideas!

What a shame I don’t live a bit nearer...

Then onto Mill Hill, near Shoreham in Sussex. Normally the turf here is yellow with glorious horseshoe vetch blooms, but this year the flowers were a bit sparse. E5B427E9-655C-4C4A-A01C-D78993EDF575.jpeg Again, butterflies were not plentiful, but there were a few nice ones, including Common Blues, 9...

The best ones near you Wurzel, to my knowledge, are the burnt orchids at Martin Down! A few days later, we headed for Denbies. Leaving home under blue skies, by the time we arrived it was raining! We had to bide our time for a couple of hours, but eventually it brightened up, and the butterflies app...

Hi David, I reckon the new Speckled Woods you’re seeing now could be those that over wintered at the caterpillar stage. The earlier ones probably spent the winter as a chrysalis...

Hi Goldie, I was still seeing Grizzled Skippers last week, so there might just be time. Thanks David, normally the Adonis Blues emerge with the hawthorn blossom, but that had long gone by the time Adonis started this year. Last week, given a fine day, we headed down to east Kent for a day. Butterfli...

You certainly do, but your perseverance paid off Guy, well done! Zephyr Blues were common in Greece a few years ago but, as you say, they have been separated long enough to develop into full species.

Violet Copper are on my wish list too- along with everyone else’s!

Well done on your DoB’s, M. I’ve driven past the Badges on a number of occasions, as my sister used to live near there. But never stoped, I had no idea it was such a great Duke site!

Lol, nice one Wurzel... :lol: Thanks David. It was lovely to get out and see them. However, the other spring species were disappointing, with just three Greens, this is normally a good site for them. Not a single Dingy was seen, and only two Grizzled Skippers. With the Skippers, though, perhaps the ...

Oops! This was meant to be the first picture

Thanks Wurzel. They’re certainly having a good spring generation round this way. :) A couple of weeks ago, it was time to venture a little further afield, with a trip to Whipsnade Downs, not very far from the zoo. Duke of Burgundy is a target here and I was well rewarded, with good numbers, probably...

Although the Orange Tips and Green-veined Whites were using the garlic mustard for both feeding and egg laying, a surprising range of other species were using it, including even a Holly Blue, briefly.

Thanks Guy, I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures. I always think of you when I go to Gibraltar, as I know you lived there. Indeed it has changed, even since I last went. Lots of building work, cranes and so-on, no doubt a result of Brexit. To be honest, I would happily go there in March every year, as ...

Whipsnade Downs produced a fabulous 40 or 50 Duke of Burgundy, but only 3 greens, 3 Grizzed Skippers, and not a single Dingy. This is normally a good site for them, so they are probably just running late.

Pictures to come on my PD.

Yes, exactly. Every cloud and all that... We are all aware how wet a spring we are having. However, of equal importance to the butterfly observer is the lack of sunshine. Last weekend, 27-28 April, illustrates this fact well. It was my weekend off, and I photographed this roosting Orange Tip on the ...

Here in Essex, the bluebells reached their full glory in the last two weeks of April this year, which is a little earlier than 2023. They might have been even earlier, but cold, dull weather slowed them down a little, which is no bad thing! One of the most glorious sights in the world, we are so luc...

Agreed, David! With continuous poor weather, I’ve turned my attention to cherry blossoms. A favourite of mine anyway, I’ve spent more time looking at them this year. Nothing could be prettier than our parks and gardens adorned with these glorious trees, which reached their peak in mid April.People o...