Got out really early today and didn't get home until 7pm! Made the most of the weather.... First call was magdalen hill down and it was pretty quiet as I was early but saw good numbers of green hairstreaks including six doing battle when two holly blues joined in - mayhem. Then went over to St Cathe...

Hi guy - is your 2009 duke a male? The shape of the left forewing looks very pointed - or it may be the angle as you cannot see the right one? If so it is very orange particularly on the hindwings - Mark

Have just seen on my local news that the spraying commenced today. On checking the article on the FC website they state "Non-target caterpillar species present at the time might be affected, but are expected to re-colonise the area from surrounding woodland." however they are not specific ...

I noticed the following, by Matthew Oates, on the Purple Empire website " the Forestry Commission is proposing to aerial spray a small SSSI wood near Pangbourne, Berks, with Bacillus thuringiensis, which kills Lepidoptera larvae, in order to eliminate Oak Processionary Moth.  The wood is repute...

Hi All - I am looking forward to it - have booked to go on the 11th Jume. Mark

Hi all - regarding he darkness of grizzled skippers I think it is probably more to do with the freshness of the butterfly. From my observations they only appear black for a day or two after emerging - they even appear to have a metallic sheen when they are very fresh. Once they have been out for a f...

Duke of Burgundy at Noar Hill today - only one but very welcome Mark

First non hibernator of the year - grizzled skipper at Butser hill yesterday. Spent two hours searching and managed two poor shots before it was off and then the cloud came in
Strange to have seen grizzled before speckled wood and orange tip. Guess that is the way the season is going

Hurrah first Grizzled Skipper of the year for me this morning atButser Hill - Hampshire

Happy birthday Neil, mine was the 25th, and my Papilios arrived on the day too :D very impressed with them. I think you would be hard pressed to better them for the money the close focus is superb and whilst I normally carry a full sized pair these are light and easy to carry 'just in case'. Would b...

I am sure there will be photos at some point but Matthew Oates has seen two Large Tortoisehells today at Walters Copse IOW see https://twitter.com/ntmatthewoates/stat ... 3360273409 it gets better Mark

In case anyone is interested Amazon has Pentax papilio 8.5x21 Close focus binoculars for just £79.99 plus p&p. Having read the great reviews last year have been looking to buy some and now they are £30 cheaper - glad I waited :D Mark See http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pentax-8-5x21-Close-Papilio-Binocu...

Apologies if I might be stealing Mark Colvins thunder here but I have noticed that the Oxford University Museum of Natural History has two behind the scenes tour of its Entomology department this year for the princely sum of £5. The first is on 7th May and judging by Mark's reports it could be worth...

Short item about the NHM collection and live exhibition - Mark
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22025537

Thanks - looks like your right - would be interested to know how it got there 600' above sea level with the nearest property two or three miles away!

Weather looked more reasonable today so I thought I would take a look round the Butser Hill area and check out a few areas that I don't normally visit. However just before I left I had the opportunity to photograph my 'fishing' blackbird. I have had the same female nest in the garden for at east the...

Can highly recommend the Sussex bc report - have bought the last three and I am awaiting delivery of the latest :D The Hants BC one is also very comprehensive and a thoroughly good read with a significant moth section which is always very interesting - being a member I receive this automatically - h...

Cheers David - its delightful - a proper hobbit house set in to the side of the hill with windows at the front, spiral staircase that you have to be 5ft 4in to negotiate and a cellar that you access from the front room that is dug into the hill behind! Sadly now it has passed out of the family who h...

My first butterfly of 2013 - Brimstone :) Today I had the sad task of helping clear my father in laws house who passed away last year. His home was a beautiful 16th century stone cottage in Watledge, a small hamlet on a hill overlooking the beautiful Cotswold village of Nailsworth. The day was very ...

My first butterfly of 2013 - Brimstone :) Today I had the sad task of helping clear my father in laws house who passed away last year. His home was a beautiful 16th century stone cottage in Watledge, a small hamlet on a hill overlooking the beautiful Cotswold village of Nailsworth. The day was very ...