Within 1 hour, had sightings yesterday of at least 3 different individual Brown Hairstreaks at Shipton Bellinger, coming down to blackthorn and bramble along the smaller parallel subsidiary path. Also plenty of common blue and reasonable numbers of holly blue, speckled woods and brimstones. Rgds, Alex

Pete/Zonda,

thanks for the replies. You're right Pete, Alan Thornbury's site is excellent - very detailed, well thought out and informative - thanks very much for the link,

cheers, Alex

Hi there, can anyone at all give me accurate directions to Brown Hairstreaks at Shipton Bellinger? I have tried patrolling this website for details but there seem to be none. Is this particular site a specially protected area so that no one can divulge the info, and if so, I completely understand if...

Would very much appreciate accurate directions to the Shipton Bellinger BH site. It would be a relatively easy journey for me for a species I'd love to see. Thanks for any help, Alex.

A little trip today with the kids to Golden Valley at Wick (nr Bristol) produced many commoner species plus a couple of white-letter hairstreaks and a lovely silver washed fritillary on purple buddlhea - would have got a nice pic if it hadn't meant walking across someone's lettuces whilst trespassin...

Yesterday in the garden, good condition small copper, small tort, Brimstone and Speckled wood (the Ice plants are pretty popular at the moment). Also this small tort in not so good condition!

A very brief trip to Black Rock (Cheddar Gorge) today produced plenty of silver washed frits on the wing, including a couple of aberrations (see pic), which I assume are 'Valesina' sub sp?
Also in evidence, small coppers, common blues and a brown argus.

After seeing Small Coppers in the garden the other day, a little jaunt around a few areas local to Bath yesterday did confirm that there is a reasonable abundance of this species on the wing at the moment, so worth some extra vigilance checking all those little orange/brown butterflies that seem to ...

I live quite near Bath and usually the butterflies I see in my garden have been a very good indication of trends throughout the local area. This year, obviously stacks of painted ladys, plenty of small torts and more than usual numbers of ringlets (and unfortunately, total lack of Holly Blue this ye...