I found this one nectaring on a tall Marsh Thistle at Strumpshaw Fen in early June. Over a period of 20 minutes it flew off and glided back several times providing wonderful views but awkward to photograph. Eventually it settled on a flower cluster right in front of me. A truly memorable experience....

I was alerted to the early emergence of Black Hairstreaks this year by reports of sightings on the Cambs-Essex BC site in early June. I had not seen this species previously so I quickly arranged a visit to Monks Wood which isn't too far from me. I was delighted to to get good views of quite a few be...

At least half a dozen Clouded Yellows have been present for the last two weeks in this intensively arable area of NW Essex centred on two fields recently sown with lucerne.

I had a good day at Strumpshaw Fen on the 11th with several Swallowtails seen at various locations. This one was in view nicely for a few minutes by Lackford Run..

They have seemed less numerous over the last couple of years in my part of the world and still rather elusive last year.
But I did see a few and this nice individual was recorded on midsummer's day in Bradfield Woods, Suffolk.

Swallowtails emerged early last year and this individual was recorded on the 22nd of May at Strumpshaw Fen. It was flying in view for several minutes, pausing to perch on phragmites seed heads while investigating passing Brimstones but it was always a bit too high or too far away. Fortunately it set...

It has been wonderful to see Silver-washed Fritillaries return to suitable woodland in Essex and Suffolk over the last 5 years or so.

These photos of a male and a female were taken on midsummer's day this year at Bradfield Woods, Suffolk.

This had to be my favourite because it is the first upper-wing photo of this species that I have ever managed to get. It was taken in Bradfield Woods, Suffolk in late June.

The Purple Emperor is a recent arrival in my part of the world (West Essex / Suffolk) and I was delighted to find that one of my local woods seems to have a decent colony. These two, equal favourites, were seen at Rowney Wood, Essex at the beginning of July this year. IMGB3631_edited-11.jpg IMGB3565...

I like this one because he is displaying a bit of both sides of the wings.
I caught up with him while he rested from feeding in a wild patch of my north Essex garden.

I can't comment on the situation in Norfolk but the Purple Emperor has certainly spread across Suffolk over the last two years. The photo below was taken in late June this year at Bradfield Woods in Suffolk which is only 60 odd miles from Sheringham as the PE flies. If they are not already present i...

A short expedition to south Essex on a hot and sunny day in mid June provided my first ever views of Heath Fritillaries. I was very pleased to get a few photos and I particularly like this one.

I didn't see many Green Hairstreaks this year but I stumbled across this nice one whilst searching for Dukes at Totternhoe in the second week of May.

This was taken at Totternhoe Quarry, Beds on 10th May. The day started overcast and I had to wait for a couple of hours until a break in the clouds produced this one perched on a small hawthorn bush next to me. I had been worried that I was going to be disappointed with this expedition but I saw a t...

I had a good day in early July at Therfield Heath, Herts when I saw this one. The weather was less favourable as the month went on so I was thankful to have had this opportunity.

This has to be my favourite Chalkhill Blue photo this year because it is the only decent one I got. It was early in the season at Therfield Heath, Hertfordshire. Later in July and August my free days seemed always to coincide with poor weather.

It was warm and sunny on Wednesday so I made a first ever visit to Hockley Woods, Essex in the hope of seeing some Heath Fritillaries. I saw quite a few (20+) along newly coppiced ride edges. Some were showing signs of wear and tear so had clearly been flying for a while now. They were very active a...

There have been a few reports of Swallowtails emerging early this year so I thought that a visit to to Strumpshaw Fen on Monday could be worthwhile. I saw a couple flying over the reeds in the morning and later in the afternoon I was rewarded with good views of this specimen. IMGB2266_edited-4.jpg I...

I had never seen a Glanville Fritillary so a visit to friends on the Isle of Wight in early June presented an ideal opportunity. Fortunately the weather was quite good and I found good numbers of them at a couple of locations along the south coast. I particularly like this photo because it's a nice ...

My nearest chalk grassland site is Therfield Heath near Royston, Herts and decent weather on 21st July provided an opportunity for some butterfly photography.

The Chalkhill Blues were rather active and flighty but this mating pair were generous enough to pose for me.