Hi Chris,
I'm hoping that they will still be around in the French Pyrenees later in May. Fingers crossed!

Regards
Mike

I love this photo, simply stunning. I'm hoping to photograph this species this year, and I will be more than pleased it I can capture an image like yours.

Regards
Mike

After visiting Poland a couple of years ago, I was told that Scarce Tortoisehell had invaded and was starting to establish itself there. However many of these colonies are temporary, so possibly are reliant on further individuals arriving from the east in good years. The omens could be good here (if...

Must admit I got a bit excited about this. A Scarce Tortoiseshell was seen and photographed last week at Whitely Pastures. I have emailed the finder for the info. I think this is a first for Hampshire. Terrific find.

Regards
Mike

I visited Hengistbury Head on Tuesday 21/4/15, mainly looking for migrant birds which were around in reasonable numbers, with 6 Redstart and 12 Wheatear showing off in the sunshine. On the way back I noticed a small butterfly fluttering around my feet which soon settled, it was a Green Hairstreak. T...

2 Scarce Tortoiseshells reported today at North Warren RSPB reserve in Suffolk.

Regards
Mike

Yes it was, as you can see from the slight movement on the right forewing and hind wing, it was on the conservatory door at the time, just lucky with the timing.

Hi Bugboy,
Thanks re-Brimstone pic. I was lucky to get the pic before I let it out. It flew off non the worse for it's spell in the conservatory!

As far as I'm concerned the butterfly season proper started for me today. I started in the back garden and waited, it was a case of Brimstone after Brimstone, then Comma, then continuous sightings of Peacocks, and Small Tortoiseshells. Star butterfly for me was a Small White which dallied around the...

I have a pair of the Pentax 6.5 X 21 Papilios and they are brilliant. A whole new perspective on butterfly watching, seeing every detail in close up. It is like going to the cinema and watching beautiful butterflies on the big screen. They really are that good and terrific value for money. My wife h...

Found this Red Admiral at the end of Hengistbury Head, Dorset at 14.00 this afternoon. Considering the temperature it was surprisingly active around the cliffs. This is as far as it could have travelled without leaving the coast, so it could have been a case of should I stay or should I go. It did f...

These Var Wild videos are breath-taking, informative and entertaining. The camera work is simply stunning, it is well put together and they obviously know their stuff. The habitat shots really put you in the picture. The capturing of the life cycle must have taken a great deal of time and effort, bu...

Count me in lads, mine is the 2nd December. How many more Sagittarian/Capricorn butterflyers want to join the party?

Regards
Mike

Fresh male Holly Blue on ivy flowers growing over garage from 11.35. A beautiful sight for mid November. This is my latest sighting of Holly Blue. Hopeful it will hang around for a while.

Regards
Mike.

These sunny autumn days are certainly bringing out butterflies around the Bournemouth/Christchurch area. Today (9/11/14) I had a Painted Lady hanging around the garden around 11.15 which eventually nectared on the yellow buddleia. Very likely a recent arrival, we had one in at Halloween as well. Jus...

I saw Two-tailed Pasha on Corsica earlier this year near Lama. My first sighting was on 23rd July, then again on 26th July circling an 'Oak type tree' (unsure of the exact species). I got quite excited as I thought this was a little early. It could have been the same individual on both occasions, bu...

Monarch on the Garrison, St Marys and another still on Tresco, Scilly, this afternoon.

Regards
Mike

Very interesting article. Just after I got married we visited Woodwalton Fen and photographed the bativus Large Coppers both outside on water dock and also got permission to photograph fresh individuals in the greenhouse where many had just emerged. Then it was off to see Swallowtails and Black Hair...

Hi David, Yes the tree came with the house as did the big yellow buddleia (a real selling point). The strawberry tree is at it's best for butterflies from early to around mid-morning, then they all seem to disappear. Of course they could have moved around the other side as the sun would have moved, ...

The next couple of weeks look good for a visit to the coast. The Clouded Yellows are probably a mixture of new arrivals and progeny of those arriving earlier, as are the Large Whites. The Large Whites are quite a spectacle, all along the undercliff. I saw a pair in cop on the slope, so adults should...