Yes it was a surprise to see a Peacock just across the Welsh border! I guess I was equally surprised by the Painted Lady this afternoon. It can't be long before they all head south!

The good weekend weather meant a couple of days making use of our National Trust membership. On Saturday we visited Chirk Castle in Wales and when the sun came out at lunch time so did the butterflies. In total we saw 30+ Small Tortoiseshells, 4 Speckled Wood, 3 Comma, 2 Red Admiral, and one each of...

Visited the gardens at Dunham Massey near Manchester earlier today. Temperature was 21c and quite a few butterflies to be seen.

Most common were Small Totroiseshells with 6 in total being seen. Others were Speckled Wood - 3, Comma - 2 and singles for Red Admiral, Large and Small Whites.

Thanks Chris,

We have an area in the garden about 2 metres by 3 metres which we have planted with a range of wild flowers. This year it has been very popular with both butterflies and bees.

David

Spent the day in the garden watching the Small Tortoiseshells on the Marjoram and Scabias. At one point there were 15 different butterflies in the garden which is an all time record. This may not seem a lot but we live 700 feet above sea level on the western edge of the Pennines. Other butterflies s...

Spent the morning looking for Chalkhill Blues at Rodborough Common in Gloucestershire. At least 50+ seen together with Meadow Brown, various Whites, Comma and a Small Tortoiseshell. Highlight later in the day was a brief view of a Clouded Yellow in a National Trust garden near Gloucester.

Visited Bernwood Forest in Oxfordshire earlier today. The highlight was a brief sighting of a Purple Emperor which flew out of one tree and disappeared into the trees on the other side of the track. White Admirals were more common with 5 individuals being seen one of which settled sufficiently to en...

Spent a couple of hours at Arnside Knott today. Both the Graylings and the larger Fritillaries are now out in large numbers with the Fritillaries very reluctant to land in temperatures of 24 degrees. There were 100+ Grayling and at least that many Fritillaries with the majority seemingly Dark Green ...

Visited Walton Common in North Somerset earlier today and met the warden who told me they are hoping to increase the grazing to try to control the grass which was much longer than in previous years. Most common butterflies were: Marbled White 20+ Meadow Brown 20+ Ringlet 10+ Speckled Wood 5 Also see...

A short vist to Arnside Knott today produced:

Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary - 10+

Small Heath - 10+

Dingy Skipper - 3

Large Skipper - 1

Common Blue -1

Brimstone -2 (1 male and 1 female)

Speckled Wood - 2

Small Tortoiseshell flew over the garden this morning. By far the earliest in the year that I have seen a butterfly in North East Lancashire. The only previous butterfly seen so far this year was a Peacock in the middle of Venice on 16 February.

Thanks Vince.

I've ordered a pair. They were slightly cheaper from the Camera Club (£94.99) so I've ordered from them.

David

Not sure if this is the correct forum but can anyone recomend a suitable pair of binoculars for watching butterflies? My family want to buy me a pair for Christmas/birthday.

Thanks Guy,

I found the App very useful. It certainly saved carrying a book (with a 15 kg weight limit on the flight!)

Not sure if this close up helps with identification?

Took this picture on Zakynthos, Greece on 25 August. My initial thought was Eastern Wood White although all my books (as well as the excellent Padfield, Eeles et all App) say their flight season is April to July? This individual was one of two we saw at different places on the island.

Saw this Meadow Brown in Gloucestershire on Tuesday. seems to be white where it would normally be orange!

Visited Arnside Knott and Warton Cragg on Morecambe Bay today. Literally dozens of fritillaries at Arnside although all the ones that settled appeared to be Dark Green Fritillaries. Also seen here were about 30 Graylings, one Northern Brown Argus, 20+ Meadow Browns, several Small Heath and Ringlet p...

Visited Rhyd-y-foel in North Wales looking for Silver Studded Blues. A very accessable site only about 30 yards from the road. We saw about 50 butterflies in the area at the foot of the limestone cliffs. The colony here was established from stock from the Geat Orme in Llandudno.

Finally some sunshine and some butterflies. Visited Walton Common in North Somerset. Half a dozen each of Grizzled and Dingy Skippers, 3 Brimstone, 2 Green Hairstreaks, 2 Orange Tips, a Speckled Wood and a Holy Blue.

Finally seen a butterfly this year in North East Lancahire! A small Tortoiseshell flying round the local garden centre in Burnley.