Hi, Just to add my experience of this - about 3 years ago I bought 2 Buckthorn bushes, one from local nursery and one from Naturescape. Both grew well and in the first year I ended up with 23 Brimstone larvae. Never saw any Brimstone butterflies and never spotted the ova but the larvae were certainl...

Hi, We stayed here last year http://www.lochsidelodges.co.uk/ and had the most fantastic two weeks. I believe that one of the two lodges can take a dog and you are right on the shore of Loch Creran with Glasdrum Wood about 3 miles up the road. We went from 31st May and the skippers were flying for t...

Hi Denise, Noticed your reply to Guy about the flowers and butterflies course and that you planned to go to Fort William for Chequered Skippers - we went last year (end of May) and the best place for them was actually Glasdrum Wood - although they were very near the end of their flight period. We me...

Hi, Not posted for quite a while - work too busy chiefly! Wondered if this was widely known about - follow this link to find out and you can also do something about it. http://www.planningdisaster.co.uk/ PLANNING DISASTER a campaign against the government's plans to remove community voices from the ...

Hi Dave, I find that Oasis is briliant for keeping flowers (and also twigs etc) living for a long time. When I have adults to feed I usually water a block of it and then stick in some cut wild flowers (I have a small "wild" area with hawkbit, scabious, knapweed, buttercup, marjoram etc in)...

Mountain Ringlet! We climbed up Langdale Pike near Harrison Stickle to see them last week but there was not a sign! Mind you it was hot and sunny while we were walking up to the location but went cloudy and dull when we arrived so maybe that is the reason. We also went to Honister and walked up the ...

Hi Mark,

I know this is not Scotland but if you go up or back on the M6 you could do worse than calling at Arnside Knott - just back from there and there were quite a few NBA there.

Cheers
George

Hi, Just back from Arnside Knott - what a fantastic place!! Hundreds of fritillaries around - seem to be DG near the top of the hill and HB over on what is known as Cowslip field. Though they are difficult to tell apart!! Also saw Red Admiral, Painted Lady (both firsts of this year), Grayling (10-12...

Yet another new development planned!?? In yesterdays Daily Express. "Plans to build an ‘Eco-town’ of 15,000 houses at Weston Otmoor, north of Oxford, have been slammed by Europe’s largest conservation charity, the RSPB. The charity has slated the plans, which threaten the Wendlebury Meads and M...

I would love to help but sadly have not seen a single Small Tortoiseshell this year - plenty of Peacock larval webs however but not found any ST yet.

George

Also signed

George

Hi

We were thinking of visiting Glapthorne to see Black Hairstreaks this weekend (weather allowing!) - does anyone know if they are likely to be still flying there?

Thanks
George

How could I not include this one - sorry it is not a butterfly!!!

And here are the other pics!!

Hi, Just back from a fantastic holiday in Scotland - here are some pics. We saw Chequered Skippers aplenty at Gladrum Woods (but they were also to be found in other places!) Small PBF, Small Heath, Common Blue, Orange Tip, Scottish GV white etc. In fact we saw more butterflies in two weeks in SCotla...

Hi,

I have found a Dingy Skipper at last - my local colony are 2-3 weeks later this year. Still no Commas or Small Tortoiseshells, in fact during a walk in the area the most common butterfly was Dingy Skipper!!

Has anyone else noticed what a strange start to this butterfly year we are having or is it just in the East Midlands! Usually see quite a few Commas but have seen none at all this year. On the other hand there have been loads of Speckled Woods & Holly Blues - even one female (Holly Blue) oviposi...

Green Hairstreak on Saturday

Male Orange Tip resting!

Hi Angie,
Do you mean Xcaret - if so it is a fantastic place to visit - 3500m2 free flight area. When we went we had to go back twice as it was so good. If you do go it is worth staying for the evening show which is breathtaking!
Have fun

cheers
George