Site visit Hatfield Forest 26/06/2024 The hunt for a Purple Emperor was successful when His Imperial Majesty deigned to grant me a morning audience, with my head bowed down in the mud and outstretched arms trying desperately to get a decent photograph of this stunning butterfly: 2024.06.26 Purple E...

There was a cuteness competition amongst the Skippers on my local patch late this afternoon. Not quite fair as the first two were probably out today, but the last one was getting on a bit. :) I do like a Skipper cuteness competition Dave, and what delightful examples you have posted. :D Site visit ...

Site visit Maldon Wick NR 23/06/2024 So proud that I finally got my first photograph of a White-letter Hairstreak, and what is more, a superb in-flight action one too. Not an easy shot to capture using an iPhone 11 Plus with the subject 6 metres high above :lol: :lol: :lol: 2024.06.23 White-letter ...

Site visit Great Holland Pits 22/06/2024 Target species was a White-letter Hairstreak which duly appeared within 10 minutes of being there, along with the first of three White Admiral: 2024.06.22 White Admiral Great Holland Pits 001.jpg 2024.06.22 White Admiral Great Holland Pits 002.jpg However, t...

... waiting for the first Small & Essex Skipper Spoke too soon ... a few hours later an Essex Skipper made himself known and allowed me to take some decent photographs for the first sighting of the year. Once again Essex reliably emerged prior to the Small Skipper - well it is Essex. 2024.06.21...

A general lack of most insects which is concerning. Same here unfortunately - mostly just a few Meadow Brown [rather than the 100s] and Small Heath in the open grassland within the flood plain, waiting for the first Small & Essex Skipper, although finally saw my first Ringlet yesterday. Banded ...

I came across this female Heath Fritillary today: 2024.06.17 Heath Fritillary Hockley Woods a.jpg She was fluttering low in the Common Cow-wheat Melampyrum pratense : 2024.06.17 Heath Fritillary Hockley Woods b.jpg As she was near to the path I thought I would keep a close eye on her, while I was on...

Holly Blue ovipositing on Tufted Vetch Vicia cracca in the meadow at Meadgate Fields Open Space yesterday after pretending she was a Common Blue for a while searching for just the right plant to lay her eggs on:

Site visit Hatfield Forest + Flitch Way [Dunmow Cutting] 13/06/2024 Quiet because of the overcast conditions, however, I did see a few gems in the brief spells of sunshine, including a Brown Argus courtship: 2024.06.13 Brown Argus Hatfield Forest a.jpg 2024.06.13 Brown Argus Hatfield Forest b.jpg 2...

Two freshly emerged Commas

Party time down in Hockley Wood this afternoon when the sun decided to appear! Still partying in South Essex, Paul: 2024.06.09 Heath Fritillary Hockley Woods c.JPEG And this poor chap maybe a little too hard as he seems to have a damaged left lower wing: 2024.06.09 Heath Fritillary Hockley Woods a....

Fantastic- looking forward to seeing the same tomorrow when I will be there.

I made a friend today.
Not a good start to flying, but got a helping hand to join in with the fun.

One Tree Hill, Essex 06/06/2024 Quiet apart from sexual reproduction activity: 2024.06.06 Small Heath OTH.jpg 2024.06.06 Common Blue OTH c.jpg Also, first Large Skipper sighting for 2024. Half the density of Small Heath since last visit a fortnight ago - 69 seen. Still a female Brimstone flying aro...

02/06/2024 Meadgate Fields Open Space After visiting a couple of nature reserves to find a lack of butterflies, I had a walk around my local patch to find much more butterfly activity - not a lot but far more entertaining than places you might expect to be more rewarding. I started off by finding a...

02/06/2024 Site visit: Danbury Common All I found was one female Brimstone flying around the site pausing to nectar on bramble flowers while looking for Common Buckthorn; 2024.06.02 Brimstone Danbury Common.JPEG And 14 Small Heath which tested my ability to get a clear, well-focused shot - obviousl...

As I understand it, Wood Ants are an important factor to have to establish Heath Fritillary since they have a symbiotic relationship with Cow-wheat, the ants helping to disperse the seeds. An interesting one isn't Paul - it is the kind of information, as a bit of an ecologist and plantsperson, that...

02/06/2024 Site visit: Thrift Wood Nature Reserve, Bicknacre Thrift Wood, 48 acres of ancient woodland, is managed by Essex Wildlife Trust and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It was one of the chosen sites for the reintroduction of the Heath Fritillary within Essex. This took place...

I came across a very dark male Meadow Brown in my local park yesterday - quite a stunner:

Yes, I think so too - it seems more likely that it is a later first brood emergence from an earlier overwintering stage.