When looking at some photographs I took last week, I noticed that a Grizzled Skipper has what appears to be a very hairy knee. Artefact or real, any ideas?

Painted Lady and Red Admiral popping up in Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire

Only been to two Grizzled Skipper sites so far this year, so can’t comment on what sort of season they are having. At least there is hope for next season.

Only a few species flying on the Cornish cliffs yesterday and Small Pearls easily outnumbered the sum of the rest. Mating and egg laying in evidence a dark individual stood out. None today, it’s raining

I would like to support Paul’s advice and add that introducing genotypes of unknown or inappropriate provenance has the potential to prevent local adaptations developing or undo any that may have developed. Also, undermines the value of recording.

The Brimstone that mated in my garden on 15 March remained coupled until the afternoon of the 18th when the male departed. The female remained in situ until mid-morning on 22. Apart from the day of Saharan rain the other days saw plenty of butterfly action, I guess she would rather sit tight and saf...

Brimstone continue to be the most numerous species in my Cambridgeshire garden. At least 5 males and two females simultaneously earlier today. Having photographed a pair for the first time last week, a pair flew past and mated under a shrub. They joined at 11:42 and we’re still together at 17:50, I ...

Thank you David & Dave, it was a real treat being able to watch her overwinter and hopefully progress her line. The speed that the male found her was impressive, I now understand the purpose of the incessant patrolling of the males in spring that photographers find so frustrating.

At last some warmish sunshine and three male Brimstone patrolling the garden. Unintentionally, I disturbed the female Brimstone that has been in a privet hedge since November 11. She only flew a few metres and settled in the sunshine, within a minute one of the males discovered her. An extremely bri...

I watched a Peacock fly across my garden today and land on the paved path. As it landed, a Robin flew from a nearby shrub, grabbed the butterfly and flew straight back into the shrub. Within seconds, the Peacock flew out of the shrub, over the path, over the hedge and was not seen again. I did not c...

I would also be happy to find these breeding in Wincanton!

I am very fond of the Wall and my favourite was also my first sighting in 2021, in a classic Wall pose.

In recent years most of my sightings and photographs of White-letter Hairstreak have been in two local woods that contain plenty of Elm of varying sizes and states of health and support reliable numbers of White-letter Hairstreak. However, in 2021, whilst looking for Dark Green Fritillary and maybe ...

The Small Skipper in my garden are a highlight of summer and did pretty well in 2021. Rather than choosing a photograph of a roosting butterfly I have gone for images that seem to capture the lively character of this butterfly.

The hedge has lost a few leaves, but the Brimstone has now been in residence for 3 months.

Despite taking plenty of acceptable photographs of Small Tortoiseshell in 2021, my favourite was a bit of luck. I was patiently waiting by a privet for a Dark Green Fritillary to visit when a Small Tortoiseshell landed and alerted me to a species I had not previously seen at this site.

My first sighting was in April when the Cornish cliffs were pink with Thrift and at their most beautiful. A second brood in August, resulted in more sightings.

For me, Small Copper are one of the highlights of the end of the season and some nice weather in October allowed me to enjoy the last butterflies of 2021.

David M wrote: ↑Tue Feb 01, 2022 11:00 pm Looks like a fine spray of bergenia there, Wolfson.

Thank you for the plant ID, lots of winter flowering garden plants in PZ for insects tempted out on mild days.

My annual visit to the Chilterns was too early for Small Blue, but I did catch up with both broods at a local site that became established (?) a few years ago.