Swells Hill P1240132.JPG Where shall we three meet again? On Carline Thistles at half past ten. (Well it was half past eleven really but that doesn't rhyme) Back Garden We moved all the plants we recently bought for the border from the patio and into places in the border. They were still in their po...

Gloria and I have bought some new plants for our back garden and before planting we put them on the patio. P1240080.JPG That's nice for them I hear you say. I am so glad I know that piece of information. But wait! Look a bit closer... P1240074.JPG A Hummingbird Hawkmoth dived down and started nectar...

Wurzel - Thanks for the moth ID confirmation
David - I know, I am amazed as you are re the Small Copper. I guess I just haven't yet found the best spots for them here yet

Not too much to report lately, just three things really. The only Nature Reserve I have visited recently has been Swifts Hill and the only butterfly of note was the Small Copper, my first since my move to this district. Copper at Swifts Hill.JPG But in my back garden one morning I had just started w...

Goldie: Thanks for that. So it wasn't an isolated incident then. They really do like getting up on the roof if they can. David: If it rains all the time before you go away, I am sure they will still be there on your return. Wurzel: Sound advice. I was aware of that. The previous owners of our house ...

Trevor Thank you for your very kind post. Those foxes are pretty agile aren't they? But I had no idea they could jump as high as you say. It has finally explained to me something I witnessed when I was a teenager but could never explain. I once saw a fox asleep on top of someones lean-to house exten...

Well I haven't been butterflying too much recently, what with the rain, DIY and when we do get a chance to go out, its me and Gloria day-tripping the Cotswolds. But I did get out to walk my local patch, Swells Hill, the other day. My species count for this site is slowly creeping up to now include G...

David
Thanks for the moth ID confirmation

This moth was resting in our porch this morning. I think it is a Buff Ermine. Can anyone confirm or otherwise?

Thanks.

A new Nature Reserve for me today. This is a Butterfly Conservation reserve called Rough Bank just north of Bisley and less than a 30 min drive away from my house. I went there to see if any DG Frits were flying but I didn't see any. However did see... M Brown, M White, Ringlet, L & S & E Sk...

Dave

Nice to see you visiting my patch at Rodborough. The Bear is my local - I can walk to it if I want (and stagger back).

Kev, Wurzel, David, Bugboy I am so pleased with my smallish haul of Large Blues this year. There was no way I had the ability to find 16 (Dave) or more than 20 (Bugboy) and I think they are probably in decline now so I shall not be trying again. I did try Rodborough Common again, this time in a plac...

Back at Daneway today and my second ever pair of mating Large Blues.
Can you tell from its expression that its in the heat of passion?

I counted 111 Marbled Whites this morning on Swells Hill Bank, approx double of yesterday and almost equalling the Meadow Browns. I also saw two more Small Skippers and one Large Skipper. P1230030.JPG P1230038.JPG P1230096.JPG It was a bit overcast to begin with and it was my intention merely to ret...

Wurzel - Yep you are right, I broke my duck today.

Two days ago I had an hour to spare so I decided to do a walk around my local patch at Swells Hill because I hadn’t actually been there since spring. What a change. The cowslips had gone of course to be replaced by some quite tall grass which the Meadow Browns had now called home. It was teeming wit...

Wurzel, David - Thanks for your replies. It has been quite frustrating for me to know I am so close to Large Blues but had no luck with them - but things will pick up. I know this because...

Nice to know you saw the Large Blues at Daneway. I shall have a go tomorrow.

Today I was reminded of the song lyric... 'If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with' Why? 'Cos I went to Daneway with the knowledge that Large Blues were seen flying there yesterday but when I went there today I saw none and yet instead I saw 23 Greater Butterfly Orchids! Grea...

Off I went to Strawberry Bank again to get amongst the Marshies. My thinking was that they were probably at peak now and when I got there I was correct. I counted 18 in total and many of them were becoming translucent with age. I also saw 3 Small Blue, 6 Common Blue, 2 faded Dingies, 8 Small Heath, ...