Hey Penhale Paul, is that a tick lurking on the leaf just under your Small Copper? I did wonder that myself :roll: but wasn't sure whether the 'fluid sack' part would be there? When i have seen them/had them on me they just look like a tiny black spider until they've filled with blood, so not sure :?

Some very good numbers of Holly Blue over the last week along with the usual Peacock, Small Copper, Speckled Wood and Small Tortoiseshell in East Cornwall this week. Also putting in an appearance along there were Wall Brown plus several firsts for the year in form of Green Veined White, Orange Tip, ...

Two locations today, the first drew a blank ........ the lack of the forcast sunshine might of had something to do with it :roll: Headed over to the coast for the second location, a stretch of coastal path situated between Seaton and Looe in East Cornwall by then the sun was shining :D . There are a...

Despite that tatty exterior, as long as the insect is otherwise fit and healthy, it can mate and breed just as well as the near perfect looking individuals. Thus keeping up the good work... ;) Good eh! Absolutely, agreed :D More of the same close to home today,another thirty plus butterflies over s...

A much better day than originally forcast with a lot of sunshine and just the one shower earlier in the day. Wind was quite fresh keeping the temperature down but where there was shelter it was quite warm and pleasant :) Butterfly numbers as expected were down on last week but i still saw sixteen Sm...

Another fine day although a little cooler than yesterday. Ventured out after lunch to some local patches on foot primarily to look for an early Speckled Wood :roll: ..............well i didn't find one but did have another thirty plus sightings of five species, predominantly Small Tortoiseshells but...

Wow :D Nice one Scott, that's early and a first sighting nationally i believe :roll: excellent. We've been a bit spoilt down this end of the country just hope it lasts :) . Great images there, PP. You definitely filled your boots today! Thanks David, weathers been very kind to us and the butterflies...

Looks like its been a good day all round :D Had a good day myself, with a further thirty butterflies recorded , i did see several more but couldnt be certain of the id as they were in the adjacent field at distance and beyond a barbed wire fence :roll: Three different locations visited,the first was...

A good albeit brief butterfly encounter today. A quick check down a path/track which is a bit of a sun trap produced three new species for the year, 1x Brimstone, 3x Small Tortoishell and a surprise White presumed to be a Small(?). Probably only spent about 15 minutes there as i was passing that way...

Yes indeed, i was pleased to see my first Red Ad but even more so to see the Peacocks. I think that area (the same on both days) produced due to its sheltered nature and the temperature being higher there than elsewhere. I recorded 14c outside the plantation and i'm pretty sure it was a warmer withi...

A couple of sightings to start my butterfly year off. On Monday 9th Feb a trip to Soussons Plantation up on Dartmoor to do some birding produced 6 Peacocks and 3 Red Admirals :shock: Quite surprising really as i hadn't managed a sighting in 2015 and if i was purposely looking i doubt i would have ch...

Greenie wrote:Paul ,
Well done with the Peacock and Speckled Wood sightings ,
and with the Red Admiral ab. bialbata ( white spots in the red bands )
Greenie

Thanks Greenie, I hadn't noticed the Red Ad was an ab. Not familiar with that one, very subtle!

A return visit to yesterday's search area but a bit earlier in the day as to catch the lower part in sunlight before it was shaded out. This area is in a small valley surrounded by trees and abandoned farm buildings with a lot of nettle and bramble covering most of the ground. Slightly cloudy when i...

Some great images there, Paul. I'm particularly envious of your Peacock sighting. I never seem to see any after early October. Thanks David, a very fortunate chance sighting to be honest ............. certainly not somewhere I would look but it happened to be enroute to the churchyard! My latest si...

Having had regular sightings of Red Ads at the caravan (Peran/Penhale) last week, I was slightly disappointed to get home and search the local area for a couple of hours yesterday and find nothing :( The same walk today was more rewarding with four species seen although one was admittedly hibernatin...

28/10/14 Penhale/Perran Sands. Despite poor conditions ie windy and dull and not actively looking for butterflies it was quite a successful day. In the morning whilst walking the dog in the dunes I saw a Painted Lady and two Red Admiral, the Painted Lady looked quite small and rather pale but not pa...

Paul, that's an impressive list for the time of year, particularly given the general condition of the specimens. Yes, I think Penhale in particular seems to have done well possibly due to the amount of fleabane and water mint available. As of last weekend there were still fresh specimens of brown a...

Good morning UK B'ers, Is the Brown Argus unusually late? Flutter on! CJB Brown Argus seem to be going on 'forever' at Penhale in Cornwall, not sure if its particularly late or not. I had a fresh one last year on 22 Sept which after seeking advice was presumed to be a 3rd brood/generation. This had...

Fabulous Lee, what a year you're having A Gynandomorph Silver Studded Blue in Cornwall, Valezina form Silver Washed in Cornwall and now a European Swallowtail in Devon great stuff .................... very envious, i want one

Catch up soon

Thanks David, Adrian. Adrian, yes I believe the the Kent sighting was 15th May :shock: thats good. Still pleased to have had them this early in Cornwall, especially has the temperatures/weather have not been that great .............. these are sixteen days earlier than I had them last year so gotta ...