Mark’s was a worthy winner, a difficult choice from so many exceptional photographs. The competition gallery provided a nice Autumn diversion. For what it is worth, I also rather liked the Adonis on the Hawthorn berries, the colour contrasts were fantastic.

No shortage of candidates for this topic. I visited Therfield Heath in late July and found several pairs mating. Periodically the male in this pair opened his wings showing his beautiful pale blue wings that contrast well with the brown underside of his mate.

I had planned to join the BC field trip to Whitecross Green, but the day was a washout. The weather the following day was good so I decided to visit on my own. After about four hours of searching I had seen a few likely flybys but nothing settled. Deciding to call it a day, I returned to the car par...

After an absence of c . 60 years, Adonis Blue was reported at Therfield Heath, Hertfordshire in late August. I think the explanation for the reappearance remains a mystery. I visited on 1 September and saw 20 males and fewer females one of which was very attractive. Despite her deformed wings, she w...

I cannot comment on North East, but there were plenty on the North Norfolk coast yesterday. All looked freshly emerged and I assume they were the progeny of the influx reported earlier in the summer. Initially, it was about 18oC and drizzling and a few PL were the only species flying. As rain stoppe...

Excellent news, well done. The Painted Ladies were a nice bonus.

I think that the last record for Small Blue at Devils Dyke, Cambridgeshire (just), was in 2004. There was a sighting at a new sight in South Cambridgeshire, reported on this website in 2018. I am told that Small Blue are appearing at new sites in Hertfordshire including man made habitats, designed t...

Brian Based on its popularity, I assume that Strumpshaw is a reliable site. However, I have never visited partly because of its reputation for crowds but also I have never been let down by the other sites as long as the sun shines. I saw 13 flying strongly at various points around Hickling yesterday...

A few hours at Hickling this afternoon and 13 Swallotails. All very active and only one settled briefly on an Elderflower, unfortunately, it didn’t feed and was off before I got close enough to photograph it. Interestingly, also saw double figures of Red Admiral and two Painted Lady. The Swallowtail...

Guy That’s brilliant, a friend of mine had them turn up on his land just inland from Cromer. Not as far from The Broads as Woodbridge but still a lot of farmland in between. Clearly they are capable of getting about. As you probably know there is a relationship between the aquatic plant “water solid...

Guy
Nice find. For what it’s worth, it looks good for Norfolk Hawker to me. Maybe send photograph and location to British Dragonfly Society, they are very helpful and welcome records.

It was a memorable day that was full of butterflies and the Small Blue finale will take some beating. Thank you again for the tour of Pitstone.

I can recommend St Boniface Down for Adonis Blue and should be good for Wall. However, maybe best to access from the coast road and up the footpath between the houses. The path soon joins a path that runs level across the slope. The access from the small road at the top of the Down is very steep. St...

The Small Blues at Pistone were the highlight of a very productive day. At one point Dave had four on his forearm and hand. They were also making photography difficult.

The only time I have seen this was in a freshly emerged Chalkhill Blue in 2018. At one point, he seemed to be using each half to stroke each of his eyes. Unfortunately, his patience for an attendant ant wore thin and he flew off. I don't know how common it is for freshly emerged adults to have the p...

Small Coppers seemed to have a good season in my garden in 2018, with sightings on and off from mid-May through to October. They particularly liked a patch of creeping thistles. The photograph I have selected shows a spider trying its luck, but this time it was unlucky. Can anybody ID the spider?

I was in Cornwall early in the flight season and plenty of Silver-studded Blues were perched on the marram grass and privet bushes. I came across this freshly emerged female on 1 June prior to her first flight.

I visited Totternnhoe Knolls on 17 May, the Dukes were either fighting amongst themselves or with the Dingy Skippers who seemed especially belligerent. Most of the Dukes I saw were starting to look a little tatty, the photograph I have chosen was an exception.

I had a great walk at Upton Towans on 11 July, the dunes were alive with butterflies. Gatekeepers, Small Skippers and Silver-studded Blues in large numbers with Dark Green Fritillary also putting in a good performance. Ragwort, seemed to be particularly popular. Although I have chosen a rather poor ...

Common Blues seemed to have a good year in 2018. I had more in my garden than ever before and at several sites I visited they were also very numerous. Lots of photographs to choose from but I have selected one I took in on 1 June at Upton Towans, one of my favourite sites for butterflying. Although ...