Thanks to you all for your very kind comments after my last few posts. I did spend a considerable amount of time monitoring the PE flight season, but only really to check that numbers on site were in line with predictions based upon thorough searches for pupae. This checked out fine with just a few ...

I’m hoping the numbers this year will reignite the debate around ST. We’ve had an unusual year in many ways, but the high rainfall leading to lush nettle beds, and the cold spring/late start must be significant factors. Throw in the parasitoids and you’ve got plenty to untangle!

Wonderful to see the small tortoiseshells Trevor! The summer brood should be at peak now - I don’t have many still to emerge.

Great stuff Andy - I rely on your updates from Friston when planning a visit so good to know that now’s the time!

Interesting summary Neil. I certainly agree that 2022 could be strong at Knepp, and this has the potential to give some context to my own assessment of this season. It’s always a difficult judgement to make though, particularly defining ‘par’ in a rapidly evolving site and disentangling absolute num...

You paint a wonderful early summer picture Wurzel! Very enjoyable to read about species I miss out on (in the uk) most years. Lovely stuff.

A pleasure to follow along with your trip Guy. Particularly partial to the striped graylings and all things hilltopping (I find spending time with these species at their high points a unique kind of wildlife experience), but really it’s just exciting to read along and start thinking about exploring ...

Spot on Max - I see them down in local front gardens throughout the flight period - often before they are officially thought to be on the wing. For me, having them as such an ever-present throughout June/July has been one of the highlights of moving down to Brighton. Looking forward to hearing more ...

Brilliant morning by the sounds of it David. By all accounts Savernake has been particularly good this year. The Sussex sites have been relatively poor as expected (a poor year for knepp still delivers lots of butterflies), probably due to the drought conditions that led to many trees dropping lower...

Once again a fascinating read Pauline! I do love the mix of early stages, close up wing detail photography, and your own personal experiences out in the field. Try not to let these photographers put you off enjoying the PE flight season. I completely understand how the experiences you’ve had would h...

On Thursday the 15th of July I teamed up with Terry Goble to lead a Greenwings tour targeting woodland butterflies and particularly purple emperor. We first visited Southwater Woods to release Skinny Moo - the caterpillar I had adopted to check to see if she would survive the tachinid attack. She di...

After a couple of weeks of regular night time pupae searches via UV I ended up with 13 pupae across the entire site. 8 of these were predated, 5 emerged. What predates them I don’t know, but I plan to find out with trail cameras next year. Up until now pupae have been too difficult to locate to hope...

Hi Jon - yes - I’ve gone a bit quiet just when the climax of the season is upon us! To be honest, I’ve been largely preoccupied with other species of late - particularly my investigations into the nettle feeders and their associated parasitoid complex. If there’s one time for me to switch off from P...

Oh and you were right about that strange creature being a larva carrying its frass around - a green tortoise beetle larva or something very similar. I didn’t know either - but we do now!

Great to see Chiddingfold finally kicking off Pauline - unless anyone has anything pre Wednesday then I’d say you were there for day 1. I made my first visit in good weather the day before - just a touch out. I was surprised not to bump into anyone, but it seems you all knew Wednesday was kick off. ...

How uplifting to see a post like that Guy! Looking forward to seeing what else you turn up - I’m sure you’ll enjoy every moment - happy hunting!

Interesting posts as ever Pauline. I think you have a spectacle moth cat on the nettles - I keep accidentally adopting them this year - actually more like a temporary placement as they soon get returned! Is that small tort not just faded? I see them too, and just assume they’re old timers - but perh...

Hi Butterflyboy!

Your quest will take you to some wonderful places - I’m sure you’ll enjoy every moment!

I’m glad you’ve started a diary so we can come along for the ride………

What a fantastic experience Neil, and beautifully photographed!

I searched for caterpillars at Oversley Wood last winter, but found nothing - obviously they were there somewhere.

Hope you get lucky again when you return - you’ll surely return…….

A double haiku - must’ve been a good day!

An enjoyable read as ever Wurzel - good luck getting out to enjoy the woodland species just getting going.