Padfield wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 9:51 pm Maybe it's the same ant as well as the same caterpillar. True love in the meadow.

He was eating heart shapes into the leaves a few posts back.....

Great shots of the camouflaged cats - with all the different instars taken into account I think WLH cats take it to another level.

Really nice whites on Cow Parsley a while back Paul, and great to see the Small Coppers performing at Wanstead. Their ancestors were just as pretty.

I’m amazed you managed to see anything at all today Katrina, and to get good photos is remarkable! Great effort.

Inspiring shots as always Neil. Yes, the weather is challenging, but next time we cross paths you’ll still be more tanned than ever, and I’ll still be burnt, so something is clearly getting through! Today is awful however - I’ll concede that! Disappointing at Rewell but with your stamp all over the ...

Thanks Dave, but I’m sure you’d have no trouble. Once you get your eye in they’re not so hard to pick out. I’m doing ok so far David, but losing touch with the majority is inevitable - my job is to delay that point for as long as possible..... May 19th. Some photos and updates from a very enjoyable ...

What a superb shot with the shieldbug Trevor - great to have something for scale.

Glad you hit the jackpot - always a bit disheartening when you think it’s just not going to be your year with a certain species.

What a fabulous chain of voyeurism! I wonder if you were the terminus, or if there might’ve been another pair of eyes on you from the bushes - Heaven forbid! :shock: Very interesting observation David, although looking closely at that pic there does seem to be a rogue proboscis flicking about - are ...

Just to echo everyone else - that really is a beautiful shot Goldie! Perfection.

The shots are brilliant Guy - I know how hard it is! Your tips for aging them are interesting - I’ve accidentally adopted a few recently when cutting low hanging elm to feed other species. I’ll have to squeeze a non iris post into my PD and perhaps you can tell me which instar they are. Really enjoy...

Hi Mark - yes that’s about the difference I’m seeing for timings in Sussex woods. Beautiful photos.

What a brilliant trip and fascinating report from Mill Hill Paul. I’ve been watching it turn gradually yellow from the A27 in recent days and must now call in - I guess you just missed Adonis, but I guess we mustn’t be greedy!

Thanks for your very kind comments Pauline, Trevor and Wurzel. Trevor - yes - I wrote a post about predictions at the start of May and included a very early prediction based on the weather throughout May and June being fairly average. “Currently i can imagine a season with an extended wait for the e...

I must admit I’m not a big fan of the letter/number system Jon, but 20 is about my limit for themed names. Gerry Anderson characters would be excellent (if a little before my time) - I’ll bear it in mind! Thanks again David - now spring has arrived every trip to the woods is a pleasure - the freezin...

What wonderful rabbits! We have guinea pigs, but if we had a bit more space would definitely get rabbits. Great shots of the Brown Hairstreaks - I too am pushing my luck by not covering things that really should have a sleeve. So nice without one, but any moment now I’ll regret it.......

Super selection of late Dave, but that Dingy is the pick for me - really enjoyed them this year. Must have just missed you at Rewell but no doubt we’ll cross paths soon.....

Great result and a lovely series of images.

Well that certainly is pleasing to hear, Guy and David. I will do my best to keep in touch with them for as long as possible..... Yesterday (7th) definitely seemed a better day for stripping off (if you’re a caterpillar), so I stopped off at the Emperor woods on the way back from a day with PBFs at ...

Ah - glad you found them Paul! The River Roding to the east of the park is worth wandering up and down too.

We used to use copydex as I believe it is solvent free, but anything similar will do. But I’m sure you’re right that you won’t cause any damage to the butterfly via the cremaster anyway... Once the cremaster is glued we would then use cotton to gently tie the pupa to the dowel and stand it upright a...

Very interesting Guy. It’s inevitable that most of us gravitate towards the headline species, but ‘cabbage whites’ really are fascinating! For a couple of years a while back I lived in a first floor flat in London and had only a window ledge to play with. I grew various Brassicaceae and had a wonder...