Mating Lulworth Skippers at Durlston Country Park, Swanage on 7th July 2022

Common Blue in my garden at Harman's Cross near Swanage, 29th May 2022

Green Hairstreak at base of Brenscombe Hill near Corfe Castle, 4th April 2021

Marbled Whites appear to have finished for this year in our area near Swanage. I have not counted any on our Transect at Durlston for a couple of weeks and similarly they disappeared from our garden about 2 weeks ago. However yesterday 13th August I walked along the coast path from Seacombe to Danci...

I only have 1 case of the butterflies that I collected all those years ago, the rest got infected with bugs and the specimens disintergrated. Many of the butterflies have faded unfortunately, but the Pale Clouded Yellows are still ok. There was no mechanism in my school days for sharing our findings...

I went to Ballard Down (Swanage) yesterday to look for 2nd brood Adonis Blue, but cound not find any, so had to make do with seeing this very pristine Clouded Yellow - there seems to be quite a lot of them in our area near Swanage at the moment, including 3 in my garden in the last couple of weeks. ...

Pete, Appologies for taking so long to reply - we have been overwhelmed with grandchildren and summer visitors. I started my interest in butterflies when I was about 12 years old - that is nearly 60 years ago. Me and 3 other school friends used to cycle from Bournemouth to look for butterflies in th...

We saw 5 Swallowtails a few years ago at St Aldhelm's Head near Swanage. I have photos of them on the Wild Carrot. And yes we have planted Everlasting Pea in our garden, and the Brimstones love it, but alas no Long-tailed Blues, however one was seen at Durlston a year or so ago but not by me. I have...

Bugboy, Thank you for your opinion. I was reasonably sure it is a Lulworth, and we do see lots of them along the coast from Durlston to Weymouth, but was not expecting to get one in our garden, so it leaves that feeling of a nagging doubt. Nice to have a 2nd opinion. I also posted it on Twitter and ...

This Skipper was in my garden at Harman's Cross near Swanage today. I think it is male Lulworth, however I have never seen one in our garden before, just lots of Small Skipper. Although we have a very small patch of Tor Grass in our garden this was some way from it and nectaring on Fleabane. Opinion...

All photos taken in 2020

Guy, Thanks for your reply and opinion. I take most of my butterfly photos with the exposure set to -1/3 stop, which seems to get the colour balance about right for my camera - Lumix FZ200 with a close up lens attached. However the conditions (sunny/cloudy/angle taken) can make a big difference to t...

I have been trawling through my 2020 photos to see if any of the Commas in our garden near Swanage are Hutchinsoni. Most of the Commas we see are probably not, but I am unsure about these 2 that appeared in our garden on 28th July and 29th July. The first on 28th July (photo #324) looks pale enough ...

Pete,
OK - thanks for letting me know.
Best Wishes, Brian

The winners are all stunning photos, but I am trying to view all the 2019 competition entries, but cannot find a link to them?

Despite the near freezing temperatures last night and heavy frost this morning there were 3 Red Admirals in my garden at Harman's Cross near Swanage this lunchtime 6th November. They were settling on our Sassafras tree, and on Hazel, and on our flowering Colletia Ferox. Quite a sight with the Autumn...

Nice warm sunny day here in Swanage so went to Ballard Down. Saw 4 Clouded Yellows including a mating pair, plus Painted Lady, Red Admiral and Speckled Wood. Photo of the Clouded Yellow pair attached. I assume this is more or less end of season but who knows? This time last year I was at Southwick B...

This afternoon (25th October) was warm and sunny with very little wind so I popped up to Ballard Down near Swanage to see if anything was flying. I was hoping to see Clouded Yellow as they have been reported elsewhere recently, and as soon as I arrived at about 15:30 I saw 2 Clouded Yellow flying up...

I also saw a very very small Common Blue today at Ballard Down near Swanage.
It was darting about - quite difficult to follow, and looked similar in size to a Small Blue or smallish Brown Argus.
Photo attached - sorry but not good quality photo.
Regards, Brian Arnold

Jack, Thanks for your comments - The Valezinas in my garden were seen during the latter period that the SWFs were flying. By 14th August the only other SWFs were very faded and tatty, including one other normal female. Regards, Brian