First Brimstone of the year yesterday in my Somerset garden, spring is on its way.

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Children of the sun. I found this a very enjoyable video on u tube by accident. A very interesting SO Mo/Macro video, showing some very interesting species including Dusky large Blue and many others , hope you enjoy the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10JTbfSecC4 MAY_4850 Dusky Large Blue (Ph...

Natural Reserve Moëze-Oléron, Charente-Maritime Hi Chris, I was fortunate in seeing several cardinals nectering on a plant in front of the Reserve's reception at the Ferme de Plaisance as shown 15-09 2011, it seems they were a chance meeting. I frequently return to Moëze in the hopes of seeing them ...

Hi Chris, it certainly looks like a Coypu, also known as a Myocastor,or Ragondin they are very common creatures in wetland areas such as the Vendee (la Venise Verte) and the Charente-Maritime, any English tourist can be forgiven if they mistake these animals as Otters as they swim showing only the h...

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) in my garden.
La belle Dame (Vanessa cardui) on my visit to the Marais de Brouage-Moëze, Charente Maritime, France 19-09-202


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Seasons Greetings to all at UK Butterflies.

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Visitors to my garden, a selection of Common blues, they seemed to more numerous than in previous years.

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13-11-2022 its warm!!! has spring come? this mornings sightings, a bumble bee passed by, then a tortoiseshell,
global warming or global warning?

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Good numbers of Clouded yellows seen at a dependable site that I regularly visit at the Natural Reserve of Moëze-Oléron, Charente-Maritime, France. APR_2709_00001.jpg Full details at a later date. Sunrise over the Reserve of Moëze from the ramparts of the Citadel of Brouage. MAY_7225.jpg Citadel of ...

We now leave for our next favorite location, Pointe Saint-Clément and the Baie de l'Aiguillon, our planned Camping site at Esnandes was closed, our first disappointment. oh well just a minor set back, another disappointment awaited, the excellent little seafood restaurant overlooking the Baie was al...

Hello Owen. The site below will give a great deal of information on Charaxes jasius. type in Charaxes jasius then click on thumb nail,this will give the sightings map as far as Gibraltar, click on one of the squares for data. hope this is of help.  https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com/?q=(Charaxes%20...

France, September. Our September visit to France was to revisit some of our favorite locations. Maillezais is a small village situated in the Vendée in the region known as the Green Venice, the ruined Abbey of Saint-Pierre makes it a popular tourist attraction, incidentally it is twinned with Glasto...

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Hi Pete There was a lot of video of pompiers operating at Hostens, as well as local French, many came from Poland
I may be wrong, I do hope so, I will contact my friends from St Medard perhaps they can add some detail.

https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com Looks as if it got in the wrong folder David, thanks for your correction. On the subject of the Minois dryas (Grand nègre des bois) Here's one taken at a site near Hostens, Girond. [attachment=3]JUL_7644 Great Sooty Satyr (Satyrus ferula). Most likely the site has...

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Memories from long ago.
A few pictures of Great Sooty Satyr (Satyrus ferula) taken near Sedron above the Jabron Valley, Near Sisteron, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence,France.
Roger will know this location as I gave him directions.
Hope I have the IDs correct.

https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com Garden subjects for the camera have now diminished, Bumbles have all taken shelter somewhere. Several Small Whites are still on the wing, one very worn Common Blue flitting around, however a newly emerged Meadow Brown was happily nectaring and willing to pose for ...

https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com Not the first Holly blue in the garden but a very welcome visitor. MAY_8424.jpg MAY_8439.jpg MAY_8490.jpg A pair of Ravens high  above the house attracted my attention by their distinctive croaking. APR_2205.jpg APR_2208.jpg The first Red Admiral seen but no pictu...

Visiters to my garden, part 2. https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com Medard, your queen Bombus terrestris has what are known as phoretic mites. These are relatively harmless to the bee, though this is a heavy load. Some drop off on flowers & attach to other bees. Thank You aeshna5 a most helpful r...

Visiters to my garden. https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com Some more visitors to my Garden. The Bumble is of most interest ,I presume it's a queen because of its size so I took some pics ,when seen on screen it has what may be parasites , can someone with experience and knowledge comment please? MAY...

Hello Matthew, thank you for identifying Atylotus rusticus , I confess that identification of insects is not my strong point. https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com A few visitors to the garden undeterred by the heat. A minute bee gathering pollen in "panniers" that seemed oversized for the b...