Sorry I could not make it. Disappointingly, a few things came up last minute . I feel a bit of a let down being the one that lives the closest. I will be there next year

Thanks David and Wurzel :D White-Letter Hairstreak - Ova The White- Letter Hairstreak ovum is perhaps one of the most distinctive in appearance of UK Lepidoptera. Here is some brief information on where to find them and how their appearance varies in different situations. The White-Letter Hairstreak...

Hi Mike As others have said, I have enjoyed reading your diary over the years. I understand the reasons and have myself pondered on new and interesting ways of continuing with my own diary. It is as interesting when a new diary starts as it is sad when one ends. Although I may not post much the ones...

I can not believe it is 5 months since I last posted in my diary :o . I have a bit of catching up to do which should keep me going through the winter months :? :lol: November 2019 - Deja vu in the garden Some may remember during winter 2018 I found a couple of Red Admirals roosting for several month...

I drove passed The Forge yesterday and was surprised to see it completely encased in scaffolding. It did not look very enticing, but there is a sign which assures that it is still open for business.
I hope to be there again this year and look forward to an enjoyable afternoon

Hi Pete
My copy arrived a couple of days ago... Magnificent!
I am sure we are all thankful for the massive effort you have put in to this work.
You might need to bring a pen to the Winter Social

Well done Guy finding those eggs :D Good luck during your winter searches. My contact is in agreement with my identification of your trees as Ulmus pumila/Siberian Elm which has many cultivars. In my experience pumila is very reliable for White-Letter Hairstreak and is DED resisitant. However, I hav...

Thanks for the photos Guy. I am certainly not an expert, but my thoughts are that this is not Zelkova. To me it looks like Siberian Elm, based on the leaf and bark detail. My understanding is that Zelkova has completely symmetrical leaves and relatively smooth bark. The leaves in your photo are slig...

It is fantastic that you are still getting good sightings of White-Letter Hairstreak up there in Suffolk. How certain are you that this is Zelkova (Caucasian Elm?)? My understanding is that Zelkova is quite an unusual tree in this country, I am curious as to why it should be growing in a meadow in S...

Could anybody identify this moth larva please. Approximately 20mm long and found on Elm (Ulmus gaussenii) in Hampshire today. Many thanks

What is the creature on the leaf below the adult hairstreak, Paul? It looks very like a w-album cat, though it seems to be on the upperside of the leaf. Guy Hi Guy To be honest I had not noticed it, this was a long range and highly cropped shot. I would have thought it was unlikely to be a WLH larv...

Sunday 9.6.2019 IBM/Lakeside Cosham This site is always reliable at providing my earliest White-Letter Hairstreak sightings, but it has become less user friendly over the last few years. However, they have now mown/cleared a wide walkway through the grass and trees which has restored access to the ...

Great observations, Paul. The clock is now ticking for WLH emergence. I expect the first to be around the weekend after next. Thanks David :D - Last year the earliest record down here in Hampshire was 2nd June and in 2017 it was 9th June I think. If I can find a gap in the weather I had my fingers ...

Thanks for the comments Wurzel & David :D More recent doings.. In The Garden A significant event in my garden this year is that my Buddleia globosa has flowered for the first time. I have spent several years unknowingly pruning it in completely the wrong way :oops: and wondering why it never flo...

White-Letter Hairstreak Whilst it is still possible to find actively feeding larvae, some will already be looking for a suitable place to pupate. The larvae will stop feeding, change colour and wander before settling in a suitable position. Over recent days I have encountered several in this pre-pu...

Thanks Wurzel and David for the comments :D More Recent Doings I recently 'rescued' a Garlic Mustard stem from a verge that gets routinely mowed. On close examination the rescued stem had surprisingly 11 Orange Tip eggs crammed onto its small flower head plus one further egg laid on the underside of...

Thanks all for your comments :D Recent Doings Old Winchester Hill 5.5.2019 - After having a result with the White-Letter Hairstreak larvae I spent a further hour soaking up the rest of what this site had to offer. I notched up 4 season firsts in low numbers with several Grizzled and Dingy skippers a...

Thanks Wurzel, David, Pauline, Ernie, Goldie and Bugboy for all those comments :D White-Letter Hairstreak & Elm - NOW Is The Time To Look For Larvae The window of opportunity for easily locating Elms is rapidly closing. However, as one window closes a new one opens. NOW is a great time to be out...

When cutting things back in the garden I like to have a rummage to see what lurks, rather than chucking the chaff straight on the bonfire, compost heap or taking straight to the tip. I imagine most of us are that way inclined. Today was such a day whilst cutting back some potted Blackthorn which had...

Thanks Wurzel, David & Pauline for your comments :D Monday 22.4.2019 Stephens Castle Down I felt I had earned a few hours in the company of butterflies so I went out in the hope of finding some spring beauties of the green and grizzled variety at one of my favourite spots. Having not made that m...