The site of my local Small Blue colony was fried to a crisp in 2022. The grassland was brown and crunchy and I doubted the ability of the second brood to breed successfully. My first visit in late May yielded no Small Blue and seemed to confirm my concerns. However, a return visit on 5 June was succ...

I normally see Silver-studded blue at the coastal sites in North Cornwall. However, last June I visited a Norfolk site when the season was just starting. Only males but very fresh.

Like many others, I took many photographs of Red Admiral last year and choosing a favourite is difficult. In May I photographed a mating pair on my garden bench and this should qualify for its rarity. However, I have already posted this and I favour an underside photograph also taken in my garden in...

Spectacular as the Purple Emperor is, I don’t make any effort to see it. Partly because our paths usually cross and partly because of the “popularity” (Millerd’s exception noted) of the reliable sites. Last season was no exception and a morning looking for Purple Hairstreak yielded a few sightings. ...

Saturday 6th in the garden.

Great photograph of the rodent being dropped. The kestrels near me perch in trees watching the Barn Owls feeding and “mug” the owl. My observation is they nearly always succeed. Not good for the owls in this wet winter, but owls hunting in daylight must offer some benefit.

A few larval webs in my garden resulted in a flush of Peacock in late July. Lovely to see the Thistles, Ragwort and other wildflowers feeding one of our most colourful butterflies. I’ve chosen a photograph that reminds me of those far off summer days.

Not particularly numerous in ‘23 but they were still popping up into November in Cornwall. The most I ever saw together was a group of 10 feeding on Hemp Agrimony on 6 August whilst looking for Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary in Cornwall. It’s a photograph of one of these that I’ve selected as my fa...

I was lucky to take some photographs of Orange Tip interacting but can’t decide on a favourite, so three from me.

As usual, plenty of Large White about but didn’t take many photographs. This one in the garden was enjoying the Valerian a favourite of Large White in Cornwall.

I didn’t bump into any Large Tortoiseshell in UK this year but did encounter a few on my travels.

Holly Blue had a fantastic season in my South Cambridgeshire garden, especially the spring brood. When the Holly flower buds opened in late April, the females turned their attention to the Cornus flower buds. At times there were several females simultaneously laying eggs whilst the males investigate...

I particularly enjoy this species, partly because I have helped with the habitat management at some of the Essex sites, without which the colonies would disappear. After working in a cold, muddy wood in the depths of winter it is very satisfying to visit the woods in June and see good numbers of Hea...

My contribution from the season.

Visits to a local disused railway cutting are a springtime highlight and the resident population of Green Hairstreak never disappoint. I have chosen this photograph because it shows the range of colour well.

In my Cambridgeshire garden: Holly Blue were prolific 1st and 2nd generation. Brown Argus 1st generation outstanding as were Red Admiral. The most noticeable absentee was Ringlet.

One of my favourite Duke of Burgundy sites has some very steep slopes. I suspect this will become a problem in a few years, but I am still able (just) to take advantage of the opportunity slopes provide. After an early start, I was sitting on a slope having a coffee and noticed a Duke perched a few ...

A very easy choice. Taking a stroll around my garden looking at the fresh Marbled White, Skippers etc. when I came across my first garden Dark Green Fritillary . They are present in a quarry a few miles away and in good numbers at Therfield Heath, getting on for 10 miles away, so it was only a matte...

I am rather fond of the Comma and find the underside particularly attractive. However, for some reason I like to see a butterfly’s shadow and the Comma casts a great shadow, odd, but that is why I chose this photograph.

Tuesday 7th - Penzance, 2 Red Admiral, 1 Comma & 1 Painted Lady in Garden, had to find the camera!