Oh those Small Heath uppers are very good, much better than my most recent attempts which ended up as beautifully composed pictures of a dirt path with some unrecognisable orange smudges

Thanks Ernie , any lepidopteran first is still exciting, and that still includes the first Brimstone and Orange-tips of the year. There’s still lots I haven’t seen so plenty of excitement left to be had :) Thanks Neil , I reckon that Duchess might be a shoe for the favourites threads over the winter...

Large Skipper, that must mean we're nearly half way through the year and summers just around the corner ... wouldn't know it going by the weather for the rest of the week though!

Wurzel wrote: ↑Sun May 19, 2024 6:54 pm
Once I’d taken more than enough photos, then a few more as well just to be sure and then a final set to be sure to be sure

Having also only recently joined this particular club, I know what you mean about making absolutely sure you have enough pictures

I agree Wurzel , That Duchess was probably the HIGHLIGHT of the many highlights of that day but no I’ve yet to see a Brown Argus this year… saw my first Common Blues on Friday though! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ May 2024 Tuesday 7th part 3. It was pretty overcast walking back to Tring alo...

May 2024 Tuesday 7th part 2. Away from the crowds I had the Dukes to myself. On these more exposed slopes they were mostly fresh as a daisy, only just starting to emerge and a slow wander amassed a modest 15 or so. IMG_0785.JPG IMG_0822.JPG IMG_0869.JPG Grizzled Skippers were notable in their absen...

Closest fit I can get in my ID guide is Digitivalva pulicariae

Thanks guys, she was an absolute beauty! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ May 2024 Tuesday 7th was a very long day with numerous highlights so it’s gonna have to be spilt up a bit. Part 1: It was another wander up in the Chiltons. I saw basically nothing (excluding birds) along the ridgeway wa...

I've yet to stumble across any pink hairstreaks at denbies but I did awkwardly find a pair in-cop in a secluded corner of Tottenham marshes some years ago

I did an experiment a few years ago to see how they did on Rape:

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Never seen this either but I do know some of these galls exude a sticky substance.

Maximus wrote: ↑Tue May 14, 2024 6:55 pm Wall Brown ab. seen today in deepest Wiltshire. Details to follow shortly in my personal diary.


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WOW!

Must be a recent influx of Painted Ladies, I saw my first one this afternoon in south London and I have it on good authority another was seen over by Heathrow.

Thanks Wurzel , I’ve managed to squeeze a few more days in recently, although not unscathed.. the perils of an aging body! Thanks David , she was a fine specimen! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ May 2024 Wednesday 1st . Ok so one of the last three days of my break wasn’t quite as grey and dam...

Doing well with the OT's this year and the second Comma looks fresh out the box, Where's that been hiding!

I'd say it's one of those borderline examples that are subjective depending on the observer. It's quite a variable species anyway so for me I'd say it's within normal variation, others will likely say different.

Curiously, a few miles northwest of Millerds location today, there were no Grizzled Skippers but quite a few Dingies. No blues of any description but I did find two Marsh Fritillaries, only one had wings though...

Crikey, that's a spectacular looking Duke. It must be a genetic mutation...or there's something strange in the water!

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. No Dingy Skippers over Ivinghoe beacon on Tuesday either but plenty...

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. No Dingy Skippers over Ivinghoe beacon on Tuesday either but plenty...