At last some butterflies to enjoy locally on the Isle of Wight. My local woodland was full of butterflies plus golden-ringed and emperor dragonflies, common darter and common blue damselfly. The butterflies were large white, silver-washed fritillary, red and white admirals, gatekeeper, marbled white...

This year my wife and I decided to make our garden more wildlife friendly, so after no mow May we have let the grass and flowers grow. We sowed some wild flower seeds in the spring and we have a lovely crop of oxeye daisies, birdsfoot trefoil, and other wild flowers. Sadly, there are no insects or b...

Apologies for posting my recent foreign trip on this thread instead of overseas. I will repost there if required.

David M wrote: ↑Sun Jun 30, 2024 4:43 am Some warm, settled weather is badly needed or this year could go down as one of the worst ever for butterfly numbers...

I agree. Here on the Isle of Wight it has been atrocious.

Just back from a group trip to Bulgaria and Serbia. In 11 days we saw 143 species!
I attach a few photos for you to enjoy.

Katrina wrote: ↑Fri Jun 14, 2024 5:42 pm Your in flight shot may be lucky but it is beautiful!

Thank you! A moment of serendipity.

Some Glanville fritillaries from Mottistone Down and Bonchurch on the Isle of Wight including one in flight when it took of just as I pressed the shutter button!

I visited one of the prime sites in the west of the Isle of Wight today and saw just one dingy skipper. Also, one female common blue on the coast path. Nothing at all seen in Farringford Garden which is still worth a visit for the gorgeous flowers.

Thanks for all the meteorological information. Despite this my experience is that there is a dearth of insects of all sorts here on the Isle of Wight.

Lovely photos from your trip.on Saturday. My daughter used to live at Morden, but I never visited Hutchinson's Bank. Really pleased that you saw Duke of Burgundy and marsh fritillaries. All the others we have here on the Isle of Wight.

I was interested to see your common or forest mother of pearl butterfly that you saw. I am lucky on the Isle of Wight in that we have Butterfly World only 6 miles away.It was the first butterfly farm in a garden centre in the UK, I believe, and the fifth in the world when it opened in 1983.. I have ...

Recently I have been visiting gardens, nature reserves and downland in Kent and Sussex. I have been upset by the lack of butterflies and dragonflies. Is it the same in other parts of the country? Perhaps the very wet March and April have not helped.

Why do Adonis blues love dog poo!

Seen yesterday at Mottistone Down Isle of Wight.

First painted lady seen by me this year. Feeding on valerian in my front garden.

Not one of the easiest butterflies to spot especially in today's weather! Green hairstreak- the only green butterfly in the UK.

This photo catches the stunning blue of the Adonis blue butterfly.

Seen last week in northern Spain.Stunningly fresh Adonis blue.

Can anyone recommend a tour company for overseas butterfly/wildlife tours please? Greenwings, Naturetrek, Green Tours and Mariposa Nature Tours advertise in the Butterfly Conservation magazine. I have been on several British Bulgarian Society trips which were excellent. Any comments will be apprecia...

Some gorgeous winning photos and many more which did not win. Well done everyone for entering the competition.