Hi Eccles,

- this might help:

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-butterfly_walk-rodborough_common.pdf

Simon

Hi Eccles,

I was there last weekend. A dozen plus Dukes, in several locations. Keep to the lower slopes facing the Severn Estuary
and you can't go wrong.

Lot's of Green Hairstreaks and Dingy skippers too, and a few Pasque flowers showing.

Simon

I am surprised the "Flying this week" list on the ukbutterflies home page doesn't include the speckled wood, which is still fairly common around here (Bath). Anyone else seeing them?

Simon

I've had a peacock hibernate in a hedgehog box - wich is one more than the number of hedgehogs that have used it

Simon

So that will be why I can't find a reference image in any of my books that allows me to pin down which sallow it is!!!!

Many thanks.

Simon

Can anyone put me out of my misery with this one? I think it is some kind of sallow, but can't find a reference image in any of my books that allows me to be more definitive.

Simon

A Red Admiral and a couple of Commas seen today nectaring on ivy at Ham Green near Bristol - the Commas were the first I have seen in over a month and the first of the autumn generation I have seen so far this year. I came across another later in the day some miles away. Has their emergence this ye...

Hi Jack,

I am not aware of Dukes at either site but that does not mean they are not there. I have never been to Pewsey at the right time of year, and I have only ever passed above the Westbury white horse. Something to try for next year, maybe, in which case I'll be sure to let you know.

Simon

Fair numbers of Adonis Blues at Pewsey Downs NNR on Saturday, having survived the heavy downpours the previous night/week/month. A good place was below the horse figure. http://www.bath.ac.uk/~pyssc/butterflies/091308/pewsey.jpg http://www.bath.ac.uk/~pyssc/butterflies/091308/ab2.jpg http://www.bath...

Thanks for the comments. I remember relying on the one spot/two spot distinction when I first started trying to separate meadow browns and gatekeepers, but these days I don't find it necessary. I can almost invariably ID them just by the general impression they give (what birders call the jizz, I gu...

I find grape hyacinth attracts lots of interest early in the year. Peacocks, tortoiseshells and comma all enjoy visiting clumps of the flowers. Grows anywhere in our garden, around the base of trees, amongst grass, or in flower beds. Doesn't appear to need anything special as far as soil is concerne...

How common is it for Meadow Browns to have two white spots? This one caught my attention at the weekend.

Simon C

padfield wrote:

What a stunner. Absolutely gorgeous. Are they common?

Simon

This is Otty - she's never been on a walk with me, but she likes watching the butterflies in the garden!

Simon

Sorry Gruditch, I know Broughton Down is in Hampshire. Bad wording on my part, that's all. I forgot to add, you can get a train to Salisbury and bus to Broughton, then walk to the Down in 10 mins. There is also a pub in Broughton, which does food. Best place for SSS was the lower slopes at the weste...

Thanks for the comments JKT, Denise. The SWF is certainly one of my favourite shots from the holiday. The weather forecast was suspect, so we planned a day sightseeing in Solothurn, then it brightened up in the afternoon and we jumped onto a train traveling into the nearby mountains, aiming to get t...

First time I've seen these in the UK - a real delight.



Simon

SSS are no longer found in Somerset. In Wiltshire they occur on Porton Down but I believe it is in a restricted access MOD area (marked Danger on OS maps) where they test things it is best not to think about - I suppose it might make for some interesting abberations! Broughton Down, a few miles WNW ...

Thanks Guy. The one ID'd as Large Blue was pretty docile as it was overcast and cool at the time, so I never got much sight of the ups, but I'm pretty sure Ive got a closer shot that I will dig out and post. I saw large blue elsewhere which were more like the ones I am familiar with from Collard Hil...

We spent a few days walking and sightseeing in Switzerland earlier this month, and I am just getting round to going through some photos and IDing what we saw. It was wonderful to recognise so many of the UK species in large numbers, and to see so many butterflies in general. A couple of highlights w...