It depends on whether you count Camberwell Beauty as a British species! In August 1995, while on a walk on a holiday in the Lake District, my Uncle and I stumbled across one the 250+ that were seen in the UK in that influx. Even though we were both more into birds than butterflies then, we both rec...

Padfield wrote: ↑Tue Apr 09, 2024 9:14 am In 1985, during the university long vacation...

Absolutely fantastic, heart warming, gripping tale Guy. I enjoyed reading that. Thank you for taking the time to write it.

smythric wrote: ↑Mon Apr 08, 2024 7:19 pm Found 3 5th instar PBF larvae basking in the Wyre Forest today2Q2A9835 pbf side.jpg2Q2A9776 pbf.jpg

Fantastic find Smythric. I bet you were well chuffed to see these.

A proper butterflying day today with 16 C temperatures, full sun, and a gentle breeze. A total of 9 species and 62 butterflies, which included 20 peacocks and 14 Small Tortoiseshell. To my surprise the first sighting of both a Painted Lady [1]: 2024.04.08 Painted Lady Baddow Hall Park.jpg and Large...

Has anyone on the forum seen Valezina? I have a feeling that I am going to see her this year.

Do you recall your first ever sighting of a British species that left you totally awe struck - one debut sighting above all others? Mine was the Silver Washed Fritillary. I saw my first in Grafton Wood in Worcestershire. My eyes were as big as saucers. It seemed so large and so orange. It's flight c...

I saw 642 Red Admirals in 2023. I saw 49 in 2022.

What is interesting is that I have seen just 1 so far in 2024 - which suggests that they all flew off at the end of 2023.

I like the photo collection Trevor as not only are they very good, but there is one or two of each species, which makes for a nice selection box.

Absolutely awesome photos Dave. Really surprised to see the Orange Tip on the finger photos. I am lucky if I get within 10 foot of one round my way. Do you use Garlic Mustard aftershave?

Things are going absolutely crazy with a second new species for the year in the garden within three days. Weak sunshine in a shelter corner tempted a Holly Blue to feed on the perennial wallflower for a few minutes: P1020820.JPG Jealous of the Holly Blue sighting Rob. What a fantastic photo too. My...

SarahM wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 9:01 am

Chris L wrote: ↑Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:18 pm
There is somebody who might help me with the Cumbria Crew

I will happily help you find the Cumbrian species Chris.
Sarah

Thank you Sarah. I shall get in my car immediately. I will be with you at 4pm and we can go out and see the species I need.

Absolutely perfect Orange Tip photos Neil. So colourful and crisp. I am in awe. I find photographing Orange Tip extremely challenging. Perpetual motion and skittish they are up here in Derbyshire. They also don't appear until the 3rd week in April

Thanks, Chris. I suspect that Adders are far more localised and much rarer in your part of the world than mine, although it appears that you travel quite widely. You might consider joining your local Amphibian & Reptile group - most will run events for members. Either way, you will have a much ...

Great nostalgia Jack. Half of my family are from Blofield, so near to where your memories are described. I think that my earliest memories of butterflies are sat on the lawn of the back garden as a young boy in the first sunny days of spring. It would be a weekend. Dad reading The Observer sat in a ...

Katrina wrote: ↑Tue Apr 02, 2024 9:23 pm Thanks David, Ben and Rob. It made it worthwhile going out.

Lovely photo Katrina. Your reward for going out. You have to be in it to win it.

On Saturday I assumed that Kathleen would prevent any butterfly walks for me but it was warm and quite sunny at lunchtime. - Brimstone 8 - Peacock 7 - Comma 1 - Small Tortoiseshell 4 - Small White 1 About half of the Brimstone were female, the first ladies of the species I have seen this year. The g...

David M wrote: ↑Sun Apr 07, 2024 10:36 am Friday 5th, Cwm Ivy, Gower:

Brimstone 2
Peacock 2
Holly Blue 1

05.HollyBluemale(1).JPG

Your numbers seem down on what you normally get at your sites David. Obviously the weather is a factor but I am sure that you normally get higher numbers when the sun does appear.

As forecast, warmest day of the year ruined by 20 mph winds with 40 mph gusts on Saturday with the same Sunday but with lower temperatures. Not as much direct sunlight as expected, so the butterflies struggled. However, they were there low down in the grasses, nectaring on dandelions or chasing eac...

Cooler and still windy today (7th), but less sunshine (though what there was was stronger than yesterday). Not as many butterflies on my local patch, though I encountered the same nine species overall. Highlights included a beautifully marked fresh male GVW...GVW1 070424.JPG...an equally new male C...

2 today for me, a Comma and a Small Tortoiseshell. That's 69 in total for 2024. On this day in 2023 I had seen 3 in total, but last year was a truly dreadful start. On this day in 2022 I had seen 327 in total. The 69 have consisted of: - 31 Comma - 14 Brimstone - 13 Small Tortoiseshell - 9 Peacock -...