Callum You appear to have had a great time. I did almost the same trip as you a few years ago and saw many of the same things. We went looking for Bottle Nosed Dolphin but were unlucky. Did get Minke Whale though so I wasn't complaining. Loch Ruthven is wonderful - not just for those grebes, but the...

2nd May 2019, Bentley Wood, 9.30-11 AM, 95% cloud. 10-12 degrees, 13 degrees in the fleeting sun Cool and overcast. I must have been mad to travel from Alton in East Hampshire across to Bentley Wood on the border of Wiltshire and as it was the morning rush hour when I did, it took 1.5 hours. I staye...

Wurzel, David - In one day, my first GV White, Brown Argus and Small Heath of the year. So with all the stuff that's going on round here for me at the moment I was surprised that the Brimstone was the species that offered the greatest surprise. I don't even know how it was possible for these two but...

Paul, great shots of spring butterflies. Also looking back into your PD a couple of weeks I was fascinated about what you wrote on Elms. I will keep an eye out in future.

David - Nice to see your report that the Dukes are doing well at Rodborough Common. I lived only a few miles away from this site some years back but I don't think they were there then.

James - love that close-up of the Greenstreak wing. I am getting into close-up shots myself. It can open up a whole new world of things you never noticed before about butterflies.

Bugboy - I realised I hadn't visited your PD for awhile. I had to go back 5 or six pages! OMG!!! I have just seen your Spanish visit. A fine line up of Spanish butterflies culminating (in my humble opinion) in your sequence of Festoons. Open wing, roosting, close up, mating and even a larva. But apa...

Goldie - Hope you are mending better and better each day. If the butterflies are not forthcoming then wine is the ideal substitute! And if your jigsaws are of pictures of butterflies - even better!

Wurzel - It never ceases to amaze me what an observant nature-watcher can find. A fly on a butterfly!?! Weird.

Callum - Just catching up with your recent posts. You have been busy and it has really paid dividends. I cannot work out what was best out of: Emperor Moth from beneath A cute vole Pine Marten Badger stretching up a tree trunk Black Grouse lek Fulmar in flight - close shot Courting OTips OTip female...

Dave - Aha, You got a Clouded Yellow. Not seen one of those yet this year. Love the Wall shots too but what really took my fancy was your Early Spider Orchids and Fulmar. The close-up on the orchid bloom is a stunner. Samphire Hoe looks to be a great place. Also I used to visit Folkestone Warren whe...

Neil - Its a 1 hour drive for me to see Pearls and because of circumstances I don't do this every year so I have seen none so far. It seems all I need to do is visit your PD. Its a lot closer and I get to see them mating and also the odd ab as well!!! Also, amongst all your wonderful pics of them is...

Mark - Nice set of Pearl shots. Not seen them this year so far. Also you've also got a pic of mating OTips. It was my first time getting one this year and yet I see other people on this forum have done the same. The OTips seem to be having a great year and with luck may do next year too. Also - I ag...

Neil - Great moths recently. I liked your Waved Umber and of course the Choc Tip. I've not seen either of these before. The Choc seems to be dark, milk and white choc all in one! Plus Adela's. I've had some success with pics of them like you did this year and never before. It must be the cooler weat...

Andrew - Snap. I got my first mating pair of OTIps too this year. But you also got a great shot of a pair of Sm Coppers mating with wings open too. I've only ever seen that once and it was a few years ago. You got both these events in quick succession, lucky devil.

Trevor - Lovely "String of Pearls" shots and an interesting Small Tort aberration. Also the Walls, not a butterfly I am able to get to see where I live. Fantastic stuff.

30th April 2019, Alice Holt Woods, 4-5 pm, mostly sunny, 17 degrees 2 Green-veined Whites (my first this year) 1 Red Ad, 2 Brim, 3 OTip, 3 Sp Wd, 1 Comma and 4 H Blues (including my first female of the year). P1050813.JPG P1050821.JPG P1050827.JPG P1050829.JPG Orange Tip - coming in to land.JPG Also...

30th April 2019, Magdalen Hill, 10.15-12.15, 50% cloud, 11-15 degrees 6 Brown Argus (my first this year) 1 Small Heath (my first this year) 1 Sm Copper, 3 H Blue, 4 Brim, 2 OTip, 1 S White, 2 Grizzled Skips, 1 Dingy Skip, 2 Red Ads, 7 Greenstreaks. P1050741.JPG P1050735.JPG P1050756.JPG P1050768.JPG...

David - That's an interesting idea re the Holly Blue scales. Adjacent to this churchyard (but obscured by the lilac and other shrubs) there is a sand and gravel extraction works. I wonder if they have any processes that involve liquids that may have affected this butterfly? I guess we shall never kn...

Same day, Kingsley Old Church, 3.45-4.45 pm, 80% cloud, 15 degrees Two H Blue, 1 Greenstreak and 1 Comma were all on the same Lilac at the same time, even though they all moved onto other things like Yews and Bluebells and even a Gatepost, etc at certain times. Also Sp Wd, OTip. a0.JPG a1.JPG a2.JPG...