David M wrote: ↑Mon Dec 12, 2022 5:32 pm That Fine-lined Stripe-streak is indeed superb, Steve. No wonder it was top of your hit-list.

Absolutely David, fairly common and tame to boot

10th December Everglades A pre-flight visit to the Everglade, to while away a few hours before our 6pm departure produced three unexpected additional species to my holiday list. My first Monarch Danaus plexippus of the holiday flitted around a few flowering shrubs at the entrance to the airboat rid...

Along with all the fine butterfly species there were some excellent birds to be seen. I’ve added a few of the more colourful species to help finish off this report Black-cowled Oriole..JPG Orange Oriole.JPG Tropical Kingbird.JPG Yucatan Jay.JPG Green Jay..JPG Costa Maya was our last port of call bef...

A particular patch of scrubby forest edge was proving very productive, and I returned to this patch four or five times, during my wanderings, to see what was present. DSC01985.JPG Each visit provided something new, and I managed to see Common Lemmark Juditha caucana and Pale-banded Crescent Phyciode...

Various large Sulphurs would fly through at a great speed of knots only stopping to nectar for a second or so. Although challenging I did manage to get a couple of record shots of both Apricot Sulphur Phoebis argante and Orange-barred Sulphur Phoebis philea . I also came across a single Barred Yello...

With Skippers being absent on Cozumel, good numbers of various species were readily seen on Costa Maya including Turk’s-cap White-Skipper Heliopetes macaira and Guatemalan Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus adepta. Others included Julia’s Skipper Nastra julia , Sachem Atalopedes campestris , Fiery Skipper Hyl...

7th December. Roatan, Honduras Strong winds and strong currents prevented us from landing. Bummer….. I had high hopes for some decent butterflies on Roatan, having visited before as a birder and noting the odd species flying around, but alas it was not to be. I had to be content with watching Red-f...

Retracing my steps, and heading back to the park, I came across a superb Fine-lined Stripe-streak Arawacus sito nectoring on flowers by the road edge. This was top of my ‘most wanted’ list for Cozumel and it didn’t disappoint, being totally fine with me getting down on my hands and knees to catch it...

Leaving the park, I decided to wander along where the forest met the roadside scrub. This proved ideal habitat for quite a few species, especially in the many sunny clearings. First up was the diminutive Cloaked Scintillant Detritivor barnesi , a metalmark that gives our Small Blue a run for its mon...

4th December. Off the coast of Cuba A day at sea but there are worse places to see England breeze through to the quarter finals of the World Cup. A couple of wandering Magnificent Frigatebirds, overhead, added to the enjoyment. England.JPG Mag.JPG 5th December Cozumel, Mexico. The island of Cozumel...

3rd December. Miami, Florida I had a couple of hours to explore the local area before the shuttle bus would arrive to take us to Port Everglades and our ship for the next week, the Star Princess. No butterflies seen in the grounds but after a two-minute walk away from the hotel I came across some ‘...

After a last-minute cancellation of our Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale in March 2020, due to covid, we were given a refund and a free replacement cruise to be taken before the end of 2022. We chose to book at the latter end of the time scale and opted for a cruise sailing from 2nd December 20...

Outstanding stuff Pete. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Lots of for the Clearwings.

One of the harbingers of spring in my garden, this beautifully fresh female was my favourite photo this year. Melksham, Wiltshire

Excellent numbers at Cotley Hill, Wiltshire this year. This is my favourite out of many taken.

My earliest was on 14th Apri, so nice and fresh. Battlesbury Hill, Wiltshire.
Thereafter good numbers both there and Cotley Hill, Wiltshire

Three Red Admirals seen this lunchtime. All typically flighty. Beacon Hill, Wiltshire

A visit to Battlesbury Hill, Warminster, Wiltshire on 25th April enabled me to connect with a nice fresh male. My earliest date for this species.

Small Tortoiseshell in spring like conditions this lunchtime. Melksham, Wiltshire

A decent year for Dingy's on my local patches.