Guy, I think it's a Moroccan Rock Lizard Lacerta perspicillata. Known only from Minorca in Europe, where it was first noted in 1928, a presumed introduction. Ref. Collins Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe. A nice find, Pete.

Misha

1. Fox moth
2. An ichneumon of the genus Amblyteles.
3. Dunno, probably an ichneumon.

Misha

I do wonder if the QoS breeding habitat will be destroyed when the farmer comes to plough his maize field, or does he leave an unploughed margin?

Misha

This bird (probably) was seen over Portland on 19th Sept. For further images see: http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk/latest_sept2009.htm.

Misha

There's a review at http://www.photozone.de. Unfortunately they don't test the IS claims.

Misha

I hesitate to cross swords with Jack, but I do not think that rounding up applies to grid references unlike decimals. A record from say SU 199099 is still in SU1909 and SU10. So you were right Pete after all.

Misha

Repeated my walk of the 8th yesterday. 92 Painted Ladies and 58 Clouded Yellows including a mating pair and 3 helice , one of which was definitely in ovipositing mode. Painted Lady numbers would have been higher if they had been as conspicuous as the Clouded Yellows at a distance. Saw a Stonechat at...

Zonda, the daisy like flowers are Seaside Daisy Erigeron glaucus . Yesterday there were several Clouded Yellows on the low cliffs to the east of the Bistro on the Beach. It's easier to clamber up there for photography. There were definitely several females about including at least one helice . Misha

Hi Lee.

I agree with Dave about the tiger moth and with you about the hawkmoth, but your third moth is Acontia lucida the Pale Shoulder, a noctuid and occasional migrant to these shores.

Misha

Sorry I didn't see you Zonda. Glad you got some of the Yellows. Painted Lady numbers well down today, except in the Boscombe Cliff Gardens, where there were around 30 on ivy together with several Red Admirals. Don't know where you found those Small Torts. I haven't seen any since August. I forgot to...

The first sun for nearly a week and butterflies in abundance. On the Bournemouth cliffs Painted Ladies more numerous than at any time since the May influx, and almost all richly coloured large specimens nectaring on Seaside Daisy and Michaelmas Daisy. Clouded Yellows also at peak numbers: a conserva...

Hi Pauline.

Although not an exact match with your description, the nearest I can suggest is the Coxcomb Prominent. If it is, then it will want to pupate in the earth. See http://www.rowlhouse.co.uk/photos/Butte ... pillar.jpg.

Misha

There are two five-spot burnets and yours is the Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Zygaena lonicerae.

Misha

Those Tigers are superb. I've never seen the species in Europe, only at Sharjah in the Gulf. The extra spot on the Small Heath is not too unusual. This type of variation occurs in many of the "browns".

Misha

Hi Andrew. I think you'll kick yourself. Had you considered Small Heath for the first? I agree with Grayling for the other. Any photos of the Plain Tigers?

Misha

If your grasshopper resembled the attached, when seen from the side, then it was the Egyptian Grasshopper, a common circum-mediterranean species.

Misha

Nice Pheasant Dave. Did you get any peasants, or aren't they in season yet?

Misha

Agreed. A super shot of the form eris.

Misha

Most interesting, don't you sink, Dr Freud?

Hi Zonda. Yesterday morning in increasingly windy conditions I walked the Boscombe and Southbourne cliffs and saw 10 Clouded Yellows, all patrolling males. At this time of year the same walk can sometimes yield more than a hundred, so it continues to be a below par year. If eggs are laid in mid Sept...