Very interesting Gull observations Jack. I clearly remember when we drove about in the 1970s, you would push a thermometer out into the airstream and we discussed air temperature and windchill factors. All these things play a part in so many ways. Back in those now faraway schooldays, the bain of my...

Regarding the final paragraph of my previous post, for those not familiar with the Japanese Apatura metis substituta , here's what this beautiful insect looks like. It was worth the effort keeping them going in the depths of a UK winter :~ http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Apa...

All well and good but nothing can show a really mini micro-climate's average temperature. I have in mind a few square metres in a south facing sheltered hollow with a few Thistles which could feasibly maintain a sustainable average temperature to enable some to complete a satisfactory emergence. Not...

It is quite possible for both scenarios to be the actual case here. Both successful partial home bred hibernators/emergers and occasional genuine fresh immigrants. The far south of these Islands has an extensive micro climate along much of the coast which can be very different from that only a mile ...

Still not seen an active butterfly this month but obviously some are active in my area. Checking "The Gloster Birder" on-line as I usually do most days produced this for yesterday : . Forest of Dean:~ A Peacock butterfly in the car park at Dilke Hospital at midday. (Frank Williams). . A co...

Why would they 'instinctively' fly north at this time of year when previous evidence suggests the instinct is to fly south? My suggestion (which I fully expect to be shot down :D ) is that a butterfly emerging from a 'wintering' chrysalis would exhibit spring behaviour. Whether the increasing dayle...

that excess of power going nowhere without an end product. ...but the end product is the heat output, which enables it to fly and reach nectar sources ahead of its competitors! Mike As soon as I typed that I wondered if anyone would pick up on that... well done ;) Meantime ... back to winter cardui...

Moths frequently do that muscle warming exercise prior to taking to the air. Apparently Bumblebees can uncouple their flight muscles from their wings, so that they can warm up without taking off! There's a video taken with a thermal-imaging camera, at http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Bumblebee#p003...

The Sussex Wood I frequently observed those iris courtship flights including the one with the male's fast vibrating wings was Minepit Copse in 1972. I had observed iris there from the 1960s. I also saw the same thing several times in a less well known part of the Bentley Woods complex and other Wilt...

I have nothing learned to add, but can illustrate this pre-take-off warming up in a chequered skipper: [video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1RbYCEEAQs[/video] The day had rather suddenly cooled when I took this. Guy I have always regarded skippers as 'half-moth' butterflies. Moths frequently do t...

A kindly cousin bought me one of those years ago. I have never seen a butterfly enter it or found one in it. However, I have seen both Small Tortoisehells and Peacocks enter a narrow slot like that in an outhouse eaves or brick wall. I suspect that positioning is far more important for the insects t...

This picture was taken a few minutes walk from where my wife works. http://www.birder.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Waxwings%20171212.jpg A delight to the eyes. Picture from a report on the Gloster Birder. Reports of flocks of varying numbers from all over the county this past month. A delight to the eyes. S...

Dead flies, Hover flies and Bumble Bees only in my garden lately. Soaked during the rain then frozen to death when the skies clear during the night and the temperature drops rapidly. Still plenty of waxwings about locally too.

It's a sign ...

X-Posted from Padfield's thread ... :~ Clouded Yellows and Queen of Spains still about in the cold Swiss sunshine. Remarkable. Very cold in Gloucestershire the past few days. Too cold for any insect flight. One or two dead Bumble Bees on the garden path. Frozen to death. They were nectaring on the A...

Clouded Yellows and Queen of Spains still about in the cold Swiss sunshine. Remarkable. Very cold in Gloucestershire the past few days. Too cold for any insect flight. One or two dead Bumble Bees on the garden path. Frozen to death. They were nectaring on the Arbutus only a few days ago. Very little...

Interesting pictures Guy. Another night sky enthusiast and butterfly enthusiasts I see... :) For my naked eye, Orion is the most easily identified and beautiful collection of stars in the northern night sky this time of year. Even with much local light pollution, always easy to see and identify on a...

Glorious sunshine in my south facing back garden today. Despite much disturbance with alterations to patio and pathways, two Red Admirals actively about the flowers including the Mahonia, which is now a blaze of bright yellow flowers as well as the Strawberry Tree. Not seen to feed from the Mahonia....

Do these shrubs always flower so late? Yes, without fail. One of their many attractions. Where can you buy these shrubs from? Got mine from a local Garden Centre. Bought three £4 each including the one in my pictures above. The small one I got in 1972 which grew to be a large Tree-Bush cost a £1 ba...

Do these shrubs always flower so late? Yes, without fail. One of their many attractions. I'll dig out a print of my huge bush I had at the bottom of the garden. Some winters there would be several Red Admirals feeding from the flowers on the occasional sunny winter days. The memory is not what it o...

My younger son who worked from 6am this morning, reported a frost on his car when he started it at 5.45 am. I suspected there would be a frost as last night there were cloudless skies and lots of stars to be seen in all directions. I placed a small off-cut of lino over his car's front screen so he c...