I also saw many larval nests last year but I wonder what percentage of caterpillars survived to imago stage, although it was a good year. I have for the past few years picked up half a dozen caterpillars to raise with my granddaughter. We usually have the odd one die due to a parasite. Last year I p...

I do have Purple Hairstreak locally. I saw them in Aversley Wood, Cambs but most were high up in the trees. A single down low but still out of reach of the camera 7th July. I did manage a few quick shots at Woodwalton Fen on the 12th and 19th but mostly I was standing at a distance pointing them out...

I spent a lot more time in my local wood, Aversley, last year due to the lockdown. 5th July

I found a couple in August on a fallen twig after we had the high winds. Phil stuck the twig in his garden. Are they viable? would welcome any advice also

Has to be my favourite as it's the first I have ever seen. Aversley Wood, Cambs. April 15th LT _0058.jpg Tortoiseshell 0067.jpg Restricted travel had it's advantages for me, I wouldn't normally visit this wood in spring even though it's just a short walk. Just a shame it got spooked by a Peacock and...

Woodwalton Marsh, 13.05.20. There are only one or two seen here now. The management of the site has changed in recent years but I think they probably prosper on the railway embankment.

Green Hairstreak, Barnack Hills and Holes

Black Hairstreak, Monks Wood

I've barely set foot outside Huntingdonshire since March so Dark Green Fritillary wasn't one I was expecting to see this year. I did have a lot of time on my hands so I spent most days visiting the local woods. I can't tell you how surprised, and pleased, I was to come across this one in Monks Wood ...

My first Black Hairstreak of the year, albeit in the pupal stage. I was hoping to find the caterpillars, I found dozens of caterpillars but not the one I was searching for. Monks Wood, Cambs

I had a Holly Blue flying around our garden just now and I noticed the same. After inspecting the many bonsai trees in our back yard it chose the Pyracantha to lay on.

Today on my little walk up to my local wood I spotted something a bit special, I knew as soon as I spotted it on the path. Unfortunately it was beside a peacock that decided to fly and it was soon high up on a tree. Both recorders from Cambs-Essex branch have agreed it's a large tortoiseshell, I had...

Purple Emperor season tends to be a very busy time, I had a couple visits after work to look for them in Aversley Wood on the edge of my village to no avail, the only time I had free. I skipped off work for an extended lunch 17th July. As I approached the pond where I saw them last year I met a coup...

This year instead of buying the painted lady caterpillars for my granddaughter I collected some caterpillars from the patch of nettles by my office. Six in total, two turned out to be parasitised, one was a small tortoiseshell. We had both green and brown chrysalis, the green being on the sunnier si...

30th June, had a brief evening visit to Arnside Knot. Such a lovely site, I always visit if I'm in the area

I used to travel to Newmarket for Dingy Skipper but a I found out a very few years ago I could find them 5 minutes up the road Norman Cross, Cambs 4th May

I'm in two minds. I found 6 or 7 pupa, which I have never looked for before, found they were rather easy to locate once I started. But on reflection a mating pair. In my experience they tend to fly up into the trees but these stayed low down. June 9th, Monks Wood

It was very windy in August. This was a visit to Aston Rowant on 11th. I was lucky to get anything really.

We did have a trip to Scotland with Nick and Jack. The weather on the first day was perfect but it went down hill from then on Chequered Skipper 190604 553.jpg Not so far from home one of the first in England for a long time :D Chequered Skipper_0006.jpg Great project and lucky it's nearby and we co...

Since I asked for it to be delivered to my office I wasn't expecting it until today, postie was very amused as I snatched it from his hand :D A very comprehensive reference guide. Thank you Peter for all your hard work. I did order a second copy for Imogen (Peacock), she likes to look through my but...