A beautiful memorial picture and words to match.

We seem to have spent all our time since our last update chasing/ checking out reports of possible/ probable/ actual Scarce Tortoiseshell here in Kent. So far it has eluded us and all we seem to find are Small Tortoiseshells, including 6 on our own garden buddleia. With regards the Monarch sighting....

I understand that there has been no further sighting of the Monarch butterfly since late yesterday morning despite suitable weather.

Neil, The owners of the house are really nice people with a fantastic wildflower garden,and being into nature they were fully aware of the potential significance of the sighting, contacting 3 or 4 of us immediately. They have since allowed some access so at least a dozen of the locals have seen it. ...

Thanks Neil for a very measured response. You will be aware that I spend a great deal of time on the coast myself so I am fully aware of some of the sightings, and often by very experienced people, of all sorts of things out of what is generally considered the right season. These are often dismissed...

Thanks Nick. And attached are photographs taken today of the even more exotic Monarch Butterfly in a private garden near Hamstreet, Kent. A stunning butterfly to see and watch in flight. There are no bits missing, the underside looks in good condition but the upper side looks a bit worn. Not sure wh...

Saturday 5th July 2014. A quite local day where the best thing noted was a distant Red Kite flying near Brenzett. Sunday 6th July 2014. A visit to Dungeness was best remembered for a visit to the Observatory where 2 Sussex Emeralds, Small Emerald, Small Ranunuclus and Least Carpet were on display. ...

I am aware, and have been allowed access, of a Monarch butterfly in a private garden near Hamstreet, Kent. Although a possible escape or release cannot be ruled out, it must also be considered that it could be of an Iberian source following recent days of seeming favourable winds and weather from th...

JCL at Oare Marshes: this was a muck-up, to be frank Thanks James for being so honest. We did arrive very quickly on the scene to be advised by JR of the situation. I for one would rather this situation than risk missing a real goodie because someone was not sure, or wanted to get home and check th...

Garden Tiger. Although fairly common it is a beautiful moth and as you say, very colourful.

Thanks Pauline. I said the same many years ago, but like butterflies, it becomes addictive. I have managed to stay away from the Micro moths (really small jobs)so far, but even those can be stunning. Quite how such an attractive and really bright moth as the Elephant Hawk moth can remain hidden from...

Pleased you caught up with them at Beckley. Now consider Bourne Wood at Hamstreet (nearer home). We saw 11 there the other day by taking the path up the small hill from the main entrance and following the main track with the coppiced area on your left. Stay on the main track and walk to the second c...

Now I have a dilemma. I have the day off work tomorrow to watch the Tour de France stage in Cambridge, but do I go to Fermyn instead?... Not for me to say how you spend a day, but my experience of the Tour de France in Kent a few years ago was a little disappointing. Admittedly we were on a fast se...

Can it get any better? When writing my update last time I thought that particular entry included our best sightings this year and it would be downhill from then. However, the goodies have just kept coming. The only downside is that it is all happening at once and there is not enough time to visit e...

Heath Fritillary at East Blean. Visited early pm today but a little disappointed. The area around the car park is now very overgrown with very little Cow Wheat on show. There must be real danger that the colony around the car park is in danger of being lost or at best very depleted. We only found 7 ...

A few photos to add to my last update. I make no excuses for adding 4 photos of the Fen Orchid. Although not the sharpest, they are difficult to photograph at only 75-100mm high and in difficult terrain, we have waited many years before connecting with this plant, so took great joy in seeing them. I...

Mega's and other Goodies Although the weather has been a mixed bag we have been out in the field every single day during what can only be described as a manic situation. Lots of things have been early and caught up with the normal early things, others have been on time, but very little has been lat...

For my last update we should have said that it was very nice to meet False Apollo at East Blean Woods on the 25 May 2014. Sorry the meeting was brief, but we were on our way to check out the skies around Sandwich where a Booted Eagle had been reported earlier. Neither of us was successful in finding...

Hoggers wrote I finished work early today so popped in to East Blean Wood for the Heath Fritillaries. I saw only two in the car park area Did you note the Norfolk Hawker flying around the car park? It was there at 13.15 hours and still there when we left at 14.30 hours. Fellow UKBer Marc Heath and ...

Late update. Its been a while since I last updated my Diary. Its so time consuming and to be honest I would rather be out in the field. Enough of my excuses. THURSDAY 15 MAY 2014 We visited Abbotts Wood in East Sussex. We was a little disappointed as the site has become a lot more overgrown than on...