Ahhh! The black twine-thing was there! It is down to the framing! Told you I was an expert!

As someone who dabbles with the clone tool from time to time I say "Chapeau!" (the French term, which is litterally "Hat!", so can be translated as "Hats off!" - although it doesn't state whether the hat is on or off! :lol: ) Just a couple of points from me, now being a...

Will check that out when I have a mo and get back to you. In the meantime today saw the arrival of 4 migrant bird species. Not butterflies, but hope that is OK. 3 Hirundine - possbily Swallows, but just a glimpse from the car. Definately either Swallow, House Martin or Sand Martin (Pénéstin) Several...

Wow - Spring has sprung! Today we had warm sunshine and blue skies all day. No coat, no hat, no gloves ...... great! :D During our dog "walkies" along the lane we saw: 8+ Brimstone (Citron) males 3+ Peacock (Le Paon du jour) 1 Large Tortoishelle (La Grande Tortue) Also of note were several...

Male Brimstone ("Citron" in French) yesterday (Thursday 12th). Several bees, including Bumble Bees (well, what I would call Bumble Bees) on the wing this week.

The forecast is for warmer weather next week here (between 16 and 19°), so fingers crossed - it is about time.

I have heard it said that in most parts of France the Scarce Swallowtail is common and the Common Swallowtail is, in fact, scarce! So for my country I have the scarce one!

Hi Lee, Glad I could be of some use! :wink: No, we don't get "Scarce Swallowtail" here - just have to put up with the old "Common Swallowtail' in our garden! Poor us! :roll: In fact, south of here I understand that the Common Swallowtail is more scarce than the Scarce Swallowtail! I d...

Bonjour Lee, I'm afraid my knowledge of sites is local to my area only. However, I have been doing a bit of surfing for you and have come up with a couple of ideas. One giving details of the butterflies recorded in the Maine et Loire area and the other giving a list of "Natura 2000" regist...

Great excitement here in Brittany today .............. we have our first ever frog spawn in our pond! :D Three clumps of spawn - obviously not long been laid (do you use that verb for frog spawn?) as the tadpoles are still tiny black dots. We put the pond in in the Autumn of 2008. I think we have a ...

The Mimosa trees have been in flower for 3 weeks now, here - at least those in a sunny position. But even those in sheltered spots are in flower this week. We also have Aneamonies in flower in the garden at the mo. A lovely sunny day here today - typical, as I went back to work, so had no chance to ...

Great idea to start a thread for the early sightings Felix. Good one! I will certainly post my March sightings on this thread.

We were lucky enough to escape the gale-force winds that struck elsewhere in France , but no March butterflies - rain all day!

So, going on that theorie, Spring officially began during the first week of February here in southern Brittany - a very fresh-looking Speckled Wood was found on my doorstep.

http://www.gitessouthbrittany.com/natur ... chives.htm

My ramblings over the last few years - including some decent photos. Enjoy.

Ca serait avec plaisir!!!! :) Not sure that I should be using the forum to discuss the idea, though. So please pm me. I can't wait for warmer weather and to get up at 5 am again to check out my moth trap. That's where butterflies have the edge - the best time to see them is in the day, in the sunshi...

:D Oooh! I'm famous! It's official! Thanks so much for recommending my website and Nature Notes! I now have renewed enthusiasm for keeping them a bit more up to date - last entry about a month ago! I can report my first butterfly of the year, which I recorded in the garden last week. A very fresh-lo...