Denbies was a deep disappointment this morning as I didn't see a single butterfly. I tried my luck at a woodland site in Five Oaks and had better luck during a brief walk with three brimstones, a comma and my first orange tip of the year. Similar here, I walked 4 miles and didn't see any either, ju...

One of my corn marigolds is about to flower, seems a bit early? Then again it felt like summer today with 19.2C max and bright sunshine, also it is technically the start of British summer time today, which I could never understand why when spring is really just begun (well in a normal year it has us...

It may be a common "weed" but one of the best plants in spring for insects, butterflies, bees etc... is dandelions, I have seen today and yesterday, butterflies and bees going from dandelion flower to another and another and seen bees and flies also love the flowers. I concur also with rag...

19.1C here, very sunny, was in the wrong place me thinks...just 2 small tortoiseshell and a peacock in this part of east Down, Northern Ireland. Will pass by a damp meadow tomorrow coming home, so will have to stop and have a look around 4pm, see what is about.

Last week saw my first speckled wood and yesterday managed to photograph my first butterfly of the year, a small white in my garden:
Hopefully I might see more today when I am out searching.

I have about 7 willows in my garden (Grey sallow, goat willow, common osier and hybrid osier) and moths don't seem to come to the catkins (or never seen any when I have looked) might just be unlucky or might be that they are in the side of the garden that gets less moths than the other side with the...

Thanks, that's fine, was thinking that may have been the case with EF-S lenses being closer to the camera mirror than EF lenses. May have to wait until I can afford a longer lens.

I have the Canon 55-250mm IS lens but can't afford a longer lens for now, so is it possible to get a teleconverter to fit that lens? I have been reading on-linw that there might not be any that fit this lens, but recently been very interested in birding and noticed this lens is a little short for bi...

Here is the finished video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-BYBMuZWNw[/video]

Dave from Northern Ireland wrote: I actually see more peacocks in autumn (10 times as many) than I do in spring with the odd one or two about and very few until then. But that is how it used to be in England. N.Ireland is nearer the edge of the Peacock's distribution range so the situations/strateg...

Thanks Pete. I'll post the video once its finished.

I am working on a video about ivy and want to show its flower importance for hibernating butterflies, but for some reason, don't have any photos of a butterfly feeding on ivy flowers. If anyone has any, be appreciated as I would like to get this video finished soon as possible. Also (no so necessary...

Must admit, I see more Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells in spring. I actually see more peacocks in autumn (10 times as many) than I do in spring with the odd one or two about and very few until then. Anyway, saw no butterflies yet, but hoping in the next few weeks that changes and I can start find...

currently 18.5C here, for start of March, feels more like July! Not that I mind the odd warm spell, supposed to get a bit cooler and rain over the next few days here. Petty I am busy later or this would have been perfect butterfly hunting weather. Why must the weather be like this when your busy and...

Alexanders and ground-elders out in flower all over the place here.

We now have some crocus and small daffs in flower, the buds are starting to form. The birds are starting to get friendly too. We do not seem to be as advanced as some other parts of the country. I noticed daffodils and crocuses in flower here last sunday, but not sure how that is compared to other ...

I just saw the last episode yesterday as I recorded it, was impressed by the Olympic meadows and the city flower meadows looked great. Made me think. The title of the show was "Bees Butterflies and Blooms" and there has been less about butterflies than there was bees and hoverflies. In a t...

The site is now back on-line (for the moment anyway, lets hope it stays that way) If you are interested why not join the Garden Moths Survey (GMS). This is a survey being carried out in gardens all over the UK on a regular basis March to November. You can join the Chat Site and get the "experts...

Thanks again. I was thinking Perennial cornflower for the second as I used to have one in my old garden, but was just told it could be a common knapweed. Yes your right it is Alexanders for the other, less than a mile from the coast and it seems to be all over the sides of the road here too.

Ok, I have got the first one the non willow with the comment "File comment: Leaves" here as a species of wild geranium, but can't quite find the right one with the type of leaf shape this one has. The last image I now think is a ground elder?