Today on Exmoor. I arrived at 7-am, the sky was overcast, not at all promising, experience has taught me it only needed a ray of sunshine to bring the winged wonders out , I had to wait until 11am and a break in the gloom, a half hour of sunshine did the trick. One of small number of very pretty Orc...

Hi Jim, did you see the Downy Emeralds at Priddy? (and the SPBFs, for that matter?) Yes Chris,the Downys are active at the moment ,difficult to capture as ever, large red Damselflies can be seen at the same location. Black Darters and the Emperor will be emerging soon, along with the beautiful Emer...

That's a cracking  picture  of the Large Heath David, regrettable a species I have not seen and most unlikely too now, however I shall try again for the Heath fritillary. The question has been asked elsewhere on UKB,where are all the butterflies ? My visit to the Sweet track at Shapwick Moor produce...

Greenie Thanks for you comments, yesterday my wife and I took a trip to Haddon Hill Exmoor hoping to see the Heath Fritillary but without success, however Small Heaths were plentiful plus a few moths, we then took a very narrow back road to Tarr Steps, by chance I noted growing at the side of the ro...

The Sweet track https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com yesterday 12-06-2021 First Meadow brown of the year seen plus one torn Red Admiral JAN_3743 Meadow brown.jpg a tiny frog. JAN_3751 Frog.jpg Four Cattle Egrets in full summer plumage. On the road to Draycott Sleights MAR_3960 Buttercup field.jpg Fai...

It may be a pipe-dream this year, but I haven’t quite given up yet. We'll see how things develop and hopefully by the end of the month there will be more clarity. Hi Roger,David Being the eternal optimist I haven't given up on September either. Doigts croisés Here's a Suggestion, if France is of li...

Your bug is a male Oedemera nobilis . Cheers Greenie Thank you Greenie, when all else fails there's always someone who has the answer here on UKB. Another bug  picture taken at the Sweet Track, Shapwick Moor NNR and a Moth, same location, I will take a shot at Common carpet. Bugs and Butterflies se...

Priddy Mineries At last , I was beginning to envie those of you who have been posting photos of a wide variety of butterflies from other parts of the UK, my only species seen have been a couple of Specked woods one large white half a dozen small whites and the odd green veined white. https://jamesgi...

Does anyone know when a butterfly app will be developed with enough reference images, to identify a species, when taking a picture of a butterfly a bit like a flora identification app? Hello Phil , take a look at these apps ,https://www.spinysoftware.com/nature-guides  I use the Europe version, the...

Another moth to ID
Moths from my cousin's moth trap, the poplar moth is a first for me , three have been found in the trap, a good year for Moths ?

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Fast food I apologize for the off topic post but not being able to visit France either for Butterflies or the gastronomic delights of France is so very depressing. https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com A recent post referred to and pictured a large snail, I've lost track of the original post but thoug...

At the age of eighty I now find walking difficult, nevertheless I daily use my Nikon D500 with a F4 300 lens, it will take a 1.7 converter for additional reach if desired, the camera's autofocus is extremely fast, this combination is light and can be hand held, great for twitchy subjects, supported ...

A handsome looking moth, thanks for the ID Trev.
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Can someone please identify this caterpillar, found this morning 29-05-2021 at Westhay NNR.
35 mm appox.

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I recall finding my first Marsh Fritillaries at a site East of Bath, North of the A4 towards Colerne, my Mothers ancestral home, but cannot recall directions, can you help. https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com/ With a little help from Wiltshire butterfly conservation website I managed to find the si...

Thanks  Matsukaze,  scutulana looks like a good match ,I will log it on Dorset records.
I recall finding my first Marsh Fritillaries at a site East of Bath, North of the A4  towards Colerne, my Mothers ancestral home, but cannot recall directions, can you help.
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Return to  Lydlinch Common. This morning didn't look very promising but my wife made the decision for me, by the time we arrived at Lydlinch Common the weather had improved , I immediately found a freshly emerged Grizzled Skipper and a few steps further two newly emerged Marsh Fritillary the purpose...

Hi Charles, picture of a mature Mistle Thrush hoping you will enjoy birding, fledglings were referred to by my father as squabs , juvenile Pigeons were also referred to as squabs in Somerset.

After a week of chilling temperatures this morning there were good numbers of migrating hirondelles passing across Tealham Moor,  plus a happy Sedge Warbler, warbling, Perhaps they know something we don't know.

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A walk along the old Somerset and Dorset line Shapwick NNR yesterday brought out the Green veined whites and this morning one brave Small tortoiseshell sheltering from a cold breeze.