In the sunny periods we had singles of Brimstone, what looked like a Large White, Comma and Red Admiral in the garden today (the latter two duking it out on the perennial geraniums). Also my first Holly Blue of the year, a very obliging male. Wow! A Holly Blue in late March. That is fantastic. I wo...

The burst of sunshine this afternoon after a grey and drizzly morning brought out a couple of local Commas, but that was all today.Comma3 170324.JPG Dave That is a lovely photo Dave. I sometimes dwell on the fact that I always go for the standard 'fill the screen, get as close as possible' photo an...

Now you see it, now you don't. That was a bit gruesome and sad. A little white butterfly (small or green veined) was fluttering against the outside glass of my conservatory. I admired it for 3 seconds. A sparrow slammed in to the glass, collected the butterfly up in its beak and ate it. Live, grueso...

I am not sufficiently educated on butterflies yet to be able to offer any meaningful comment on the debate about the appearances of the Black Veined White but I am enjoying the conversation about it. The discussion about the possibility of an unauthorised release is educational for me. Knowing that ...

Lovely Grizzled Skipper photos BB

I really like that Eyed Hawk Moth quartet photo Neil. Nice to go out and to be excited about returning home to see what developments there have been. In the lives of many, I imagine they are just wondering what to watch next on Netflix when they get back home. Yes, that breeze is extremely crisp and...

Absolutely stunning photos as ever Pauline. A bit mesmerised with the quality of the photos. The blues are so photogenic on their underwings.

It's not a Black Veined White. Crataegi has a very distinctive marking at the outer edge of the cell (marked in red) which is lacking in the butterfly above: Inked4BVWhite(1).jpg I am a little bit in awe of you being able to pick out this little bit of detail for the identification David. I aspire ...

Absolutely nothing to report from South Derbyshire today or yesterday. Cold, quite breezy, a heavy blanket of cloud and occasional fine rain. I am sitting in the house with a hoodie on. The BBC forecast that there would be sunshine from 3pm onwards for yesterday and today but there was absolutely no...

As usual I always feel a bit bad drawing attention to one photo amongst a batch of total winners, but I really like the Speckled Wood one Dave.

One common feature with your latest offerings that struck me is how pristine they all look - devoid of any fading or tears.

Hi Otep. Just sent you a PM. I have heard that Swynnerton is good for Grizzled Skipper but never been there myself. Being a MOD site I think that permission is needed to visit, I think that someone in West Mids branch has a contact there and sometimes arranges guided walks. Cheers, Neil. Thank you ...

Wow ! Seriously folks, this is the best website ever. Thank you ever so much Neil and Barrie. I now have both the resources to look on my lonesome and also a field trip that I could attend. The latter might be better as it probably enhances my chances of seeing one with so many pairs of eyes and peo...

Lovely vivid Small Copper, about as fresh as they get! Indeed, a wonderful vivid colour and great photos. I have noticed this about our Wolves kit wearing friends. They are either bright orange for me or quite a comparatively dull orange. Do they fade quickly, or are they born different shades? Or ...

millerd wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 6:54 pm In the excellent company of Wurzel and a good many other species.
Dave

How many species of Wurzel are there Dave?

Sorry about the above.

Lovely photo!

Ha, secretly Neil I was rather hoping that you would come to my rescue. Thank you. I have seen occasional references to Cannock Chase being a good place but without any precise reference points. I recall when I was after Green Hairstreak someone wrote exactly where they were on the Chase, a stones t...

I am a bit ashamed to admit that I have never seen a Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary. I intend to rectify that in 2023. I said that in 2022 too but I will gloss over that. Where is the nearest place to me where I am likely to see some? I live in South Derbyshire close to Swadlincote, on the border o...

Bertl wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 9:45 am Visited Appin on the Scottish West Coast yesterday. Chequered skipper, SPBF, Marsh Fritillary and Small heath on the wing.

Lovely photos there Bertl which I view with a tinge of jealousy. A nice array of lesser seen butterflies. I have yet to even see a SPBF which I am a bit ashamed of.

This is something that I really want to do, find some local caterpillars and rear them carefully in a home for them like yours Chris and watch them go through their cycle. I am currently perplexed by the fact that I had really good caterpillar spotting eyes when I was a child. Since I started lookin...

Cracking photos Neil. Your words resonated with me. The highs of Prestbury Hill for variety and volume and then back to our own heartland, the land that butterflies largely forgot. Glad to note that Large Skippers will be with me soon, judging by your photo of the female. That should get my transect...

Thanks Guy. I must dispute your self proclaimed amateur status though. Your photos look professional to my eye. I went in to the realms of camera hunting today and had to go and take a lie down with a suspected fried brain. It is another conversation piece in itself perhaps but I did actually tell m...