On Saturday 4th May, I was checking eggs of the Orange tip at Pent y Sais Nature reserve near Swansea. I visit this site regularly every year and I was pleasantly surprised to see that eggs of the orange tip had been laid on all the flowers and in a rather large quantity. I found also the first inst...

Thanks Nick, I totally agree. The Gwent levels has a vast range of invertebrates and aquatic plants, some of which are very rare and protected. The problem in this country is that although some species are protected, their habitat is not. I have read many times in the British Wildlife magazine that ...

Thank you for signing up. A 6 lane motorway will also bring new housing development and commercial centers. Anything will be justified for new development once the motorway is build just for the sake of the economy..... There is more information on this link : https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-sou...

I have just signed up the petition against the M4 motorway Project over the Gwent levels which will destroy exceptional and unique habitat. The Welsh Govt is about to make a decision and it is in favour of it, it is time to stop this very onerous and useless project which will save around 7 minutes ...

Nothing much one can do, like David said it's the game of nature. Great Spotted Cuckoos feed mainly on hairy caterpillars but I doubt this bird will eat all of the caterpillars. Even if this has an impact on the population of the Glanville I don't think it will decimate it to the point of extinction...

Hi David,

I concur with Allan, I am pretty sure it is the young 'shoot' of a bracket fungus. I did see the same type of growth on trees before and after careful examination, I concluded that it was this rather than a cocoon of some sort.
Sylvie

Hi Allan, Thank you. I think it could be a black cutworm which develops into the moth Agrostis ipsilon (Dark Sword-grass moth). However I don't know if this species is to be found in the UK. It is a widespread species found worldwide in the northern hemisphere according to Wikipedia. I can't find it...

Can anybody help with the identification of this caterpillar? I found 2 specimens in my garden last year (Swansea / West Glamorgan).
Thank you.
Sylvie

Hi Sooty,

Sadly I am unable to see your pictures .... I can't get into your website either, it must be my 'overprotected system'.
Do you have a page on flickr?
I completely concur regarding the Gulf Fritillary, a stunning butterfly !
Kind regards,
Sylvie

Hi David,

Dragonflies were very active and wary. I have to admit that there is some cropping done on my pictures, I was about half a meter away from the subjects. I use a 150mm Sigma lens with optical stabilizer, it's a great lens for this kind of work.
Sylvie

Hi David, Yes, indeed Paul and I have done a lot of reading and research before going (we spent about 8 months researching before going). The research for habitats is I think the most valuable part of the preparation and also picking up the right time to go. We chose different places to go without a...

SKIPPERS (Hesperiidae): There are 272 species of Skippers in North America, 137 of those are found in Arizona. Dull Firetip (Apyrrothrix Araxes): it is one of my favourites, not dull at all I think. It is a big butterfly, in fact all the Skippers over there are big in size. We saw many specimens on ...

Thank you all for your replies. I love your Road Runner, Medard. We did see them also and always crossing the roads. I never managed to get a picture, they were gone by the time we reached the point of crossing. Cacti are also one of my many interests and I was also very eager to see Carnegiea gigan...

ADMIRALS AND RELATIVES (LIMENITIDINAE): Mourning Cloak in the US / Camberwell Beauty in our area (Nymphalis antiopa) : I had seen this species in France many years ago so I was delighted to see it again. It was found in a canyon flying from one tree to the other but always coming back to perch on it...

TRUE BRUSH FOOTS (Nymphalinae): Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia): a common species, seen in any habitats. A very variable species on the upperside. Bordered Patch2.JPG Bordered Patch.JPG Bordered Patch3.JPG Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas) : very small in size. It is similar and very often seen wit...

BRUSH FOOTED FAMILY this is a big family which includes, Snouts, Heliconians and Fritillaries, True Brush Foot (checkerspots, crescents, commas, ladies), Admirals and relatives, Leafwings, Emperors, Satyrs, Monarch. They are called Brush footed or four-footed because the front legs are shorter. Thes...

METALMARKS (Riodinidae) is a group that is found mainly in the tropics where there are around 1000 species. They also have an association with ants. Palmer’s Metalmark (Apodemia palmeri): One of my favourites. They are very tolerant of each other. They can be seen feeding on the same flower bumping ...

Hi Goldie, Indeed the larvae of a lot of our blues in Europe depends on the ants, but the larvae is picked up by the ants and brought to the nests by the ants which is not the case for Reakirt's. I find that connection fascinating. Hi David and Pete, I would definitively recommend a trip there. Ariz...

Thank you, Goldie, I am glad you enjoy this thread. There will be more to come. Hi Pete, Costa Rica having a tropical climate may have only one form of the Tailed Orange. The Tailed Orange found in the Spring in Arizona has the same form as the specimen you photographed (nice photo). GOSSAMER-WING B...

Thank you for your replies. You are quite right Chris, the temperature was unbearable and at midday, one tends to look for the shade and so do the majority of insects especially dragonflies. Some Arizonians told us that this temperature was unusual at this time of year. It should have been in the lo...