Thanks for your thoughts :) Zonda, I am not interested in only unusual sightings, I want to make a record of the species in one area regardless of rarity. This means I can gain an idea of the ecological richness of an area, and also learn about the distribution of butterflies local to me, including ...

I think Denise is correct with Woodland Brown. The other is difficult! Possibly a Purple Hairstreak?

Does anyone keep a journal or series of records of their sightings? I have just finished writing up five years of sightings to mine

Here are a few excerpts; please share your own work on this thread...

Alexander

Variation in Gatekeepers: Over the last few weeks I have been watching Gatekeepers at Austrey Meadows, Warkwickshire (SK289053). Quite a number of the butterflies strayed from the typical form and displayed extra spots on the forewing. 1. Female, typical form. 2. Female, two faint additional forewi...

Looks like a Ringlet to me too, all of those that I've seen recently have been very worn.

AH

Yes, you got there Roger!
I really liked that side of the Knott, good place and a good view.

Back to you...

Ebernoe Common is a really lovely and quiet place. I've never managed to see Wood White there though and I think possibly they only make it that far south from it's Surrey/Sussex border stronghold in good years. Please post here if you find any. I particularly like the clearings at the south of the ...

You are getting there. No 2 is indeed the Dart valley, one of my favourite places.
That just leaves the northern one...enough clues for tonight, I think you can get this.

Looks like it's clue time! Roger, the first one you have correct, well done :) clue for no2: This place is known for High Brown Fritillaries - a number of populations along this scenic valley act as a meta-population. Note the tor in the background. Knot in the north of England. clue for no3: Good q...

Thanks for passing over to me, sorry I couldn't post last night. I really should have got davus, but I was put off by the prominence of Whitbarrow. Carrying on with the sites theme, here are three well known British places for their butterflies, all are included in the sites section of UKB, so hopef...

I think the place you are standing is Arnside Knot, with the mighty fine view towards Whitbarrow and thinking about Plebeius artaxerxes spp salmacis.

Consider the Canon G-series as well, they manage noise pretty well (not quite as well as their DSLRs but still good). Unfortunately they have done away with the rotating flip out screens that were sometimes quite useful in the older models such as the G6. Be aware though that they do not fire as fas...

I wouldn't ever want live-view on a DSLR. Recently I borrowed a mates Canon 450D and found the live-view pretty rubbish and spent almost all my time using the viewfinder. I like DSLRs for their speed of use and live-view (at least on the 450D) took that away somewhat. It sounds to me Amanda that you...

I can't think of anything good and sciency at the moment so I'll just have to go for silly!

Your clue is Mops animal cell. You have to say how you got to the answer, no guessing allowed

I think an old name for the Wall Brown is London Eye...

I was thinking more along the lines of an aberration as there have been so many this year. The dark patches on aberrant Silver-washed Fritillaries for example can almost look purple and would fit this description. Here's a good example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/15121707@N00/3696870219/ ...Purple...

Geez that was a fast guess, and correct too! I'll have to put my thinking cap on for something more difficult...

Your turn Denise

...another example of wikipedia giving out crap info (see Malva).

Ok, Clouded Yellow males (but not females) have structures on their wings used in mate selection which reflect which wavelenths of light?

Does the Grizzled Skipper not ever eat Mallow as malvae suggests?

I knew the last one would be hardest, but still too easy for you Guy.