Saw a vey interesting courtship display ? of a pair of Clouded Yellows at on Monday. One of them, I imagine the female just resting with her wings wide open for at least half a minute whilst the other, a smaller one and possibly the male, flitted around her eying her open wings from several angles. ...

Hi Sifenn, and others who have given advice and special thanks Sifenn for such detailed information, I now have to persuade my friends to give me an hour there to have a try. They want to stop at a place called Symondsbury Estate near Bridport as it has a cafe and toilets. Looking at the landscape i...

I will be travelling home to Devon along the A35 this Sunday on the way home from Lymington to Exeter with friends who are not interested in Butterflies unfortunately. I need a Silver Spotted Skipper (and also a Chalkhill Blue) for my photographic Butterfly collection, two species I have not seen or...

Hi, out of interest I have just returned from a Holiday in the Chanel Island of Jersey and had the same experience. On the 21st of July whilst walking the coast paths in the North of the Island I notice quite a few absolutely fresh pristine Green Hairstreaks all resting on ferns and drying their win...

Many thanks indeed for that most useful information, all noted for the future.

Just returned from a very pleasant trip to Jersey in the Chanel Isles, not much chance for butterfly photography but I did see this presumed Large Skipper, but I have never seen a Large Skipper so heavily patterned as this little chap in the UK, any comments welcome

Out strolling along the Devon coast paths today in search of Clouded Yellows ,although very warm pleasant but none to be seen. In fact for the perfect butterfly conditions very few were flying at all, which was unusual and a little disappointing. However whilst stopping to admire the costal views I ...

Hi Mark, and so many thanks for your advice and information, seems like I will have to wait another year when I plan to make them my target species as I cant travel to any of the well known sites this summer. I did manage to get my first ever Glanville's this year in Dorset even though they were pro...

Hi all, I am taking a friend to the Beaulieu Motor Museum in early August (first week) for a Birthday present and to make it a more memorable weekend I wonder if on the way home to the South West we might stop at a reliable Purple Emperor site to try and get my first ever photo of this outstanding s...

Every year I survey a local long grass, uncut meadow near my home for counting grassland Butterflies. On Thursday I was there as usual searching for the first appearance of the Marbled Whites which usually start to emerge anytime now. But to my great surprise I spotted a Fritillary skimming around o...

Dear Otep she was really a lovely deep blue and very striking,and thanks to Dave for your information, all noted with great interest. I wonder what the true Blue form actually looks like and how it is distinguished.Or is the "Blue Form" of the species just a general name for any like mine....

It was a cool cloudy morning yesterday with little sun until the afternoon but I did spot this Common Blue snuggled up in the grass of a local meadow.Obviously a female, but a very blue one and I hazarded a guess at being the Blue form of the species. Any thoughts welcome, and sorry about all the bl...

Just an observation I made yesterday that I have never seen myself before. Spotted a Green Hairstreak nectaring on the open ground on Common Lousewort away from any significant tall shrubs or large gorse bushes on a Dartmoor Common yesterday. Never seen this on open Moorland before, thought it might...

A truly perfect butterfly day today in Devon, full sun blue skies and 16 degrees with light wind. I spent the afternoon at the celebrated Garden House (check website www.thegardenhouse.org.uk) Lots of Orange tips there enjoying this lovely Devon day, here are a pair in cop, on Lady smock. Brimstones...

Hi Solomon,
I think I could assist with an interview if I don't get camera shy before Late Summer!
Not sure where you are in the South West but I am in Plymouth.
Let me know nearer the time,
Devon Dave.

Hi Deborah,
yes they are flying here in Devon today too. Just over the Chanel from you I saw 2 today,
Dave.

Hi Owen, I can offer some advice on seeing Butterflies in Seville for your visit this April. I spent a week on a sightseeing holiday in Seville in February 2020 and managed to spot some nice Butterflies at the same time. As it was not intended to be a Butterfly excursion I did not take my usual top ...

Many thanks to Chris for the suggestion of Alder Buckthorn and Bugboy, Downland Boy, and Allan for the additional thoughts, photos, and information. All comments added to my person knowledge and experience bank. This summer I will revisit the site and slit some berries with a penknife to see if it a...

A pair of Large Skippers in Cop. Bircham Valley LNR.24.6.21

The stunning patterns of a Marsh Fritillary. Dartmoor 26.05.21