Good numbers of freshly emerged High Brown Fritillary flying on Exmoor in beautiful sunshine, at least 30 including three mating pairs - a few adders and ticks too.
I had forgotten how steep the slopes are and how high the bracken was!
Kind Regards
Mark

Hi Pauline - you know you are forgiven after all these years - just! That looks like a beetle of some sort and the Gilkicker weevil is only found on Birds Foot Trefoil to the best of my knowledge? Worth looking out for at Browndown as its its only known UK site - or even Europe I think?

Had a look for the Frog and Bee Orchids at Fairmile last weekend and couldn’t find either - but that doesn’t mean much where Frog Orchids are concerned as they can hide in plain sight!

Hi Jonathan,
From my limited experience you won’t go too far wrong under the power lines at Glasdrum - I saw good numbers there a couple of years ago walking a couple of hundred meters each way - good numbers of PBF too. Can’t help with your other queries unfortunately sorry.
Kind Regards
Mark

Yes John they have been out at Strumpshaw since the 14th
https://twitter.com/rspbintheeast/statu ... 17824?s=12
Kind Regards
Mark

Hi Gill As a couple of other contributors have noted spbf and pbf are no longer found on the island and they are pretty scarce in Hampshire now too. As well as the sites already mentioned I found a little disused chalk pit on the downs above Brighstone the other year which was brimming with butterfl...

Hi Pauline You will be pleased to know that this is the earliest the Duke has ever been recorded in Hampshire by a full week - the previous earliest was 8 April in 2017. I guess in the greater scheme of things it possibly sends a more ominous message about the climate in general - but that is anothe...

Had a fabulous trip to Daneway this year and saw good numbers but experienced a beautiful female taken in the act of egg laying by the equally rare - if not more so - Downland Robberfly Machimus rusticus which is listed as vulnerable. The robberfly is quite large 25mm but dropped its prey as I tried...

I made the long journey to Northern Ireland to see the final of the UK resident species this year. I timed it perfectly and the weather was great which meant there were really good numbers flying at Craigavon Lakes. It was very interesting to see the different habitat and the almost urban environmen...

I spent a soggy day there yesterday and managed to encourage my wife and daughter too - I had been in two minds but glad I made the effort. What encouraged me most was the number of young people that Chris Packham et al had managed to enthuse especially Bella Lack as Neil said quite inspiring. Disap...

Count me in too please

Hi Guy whilst I don't post much these days I always follow your - and Minnies - adventures with great interest. Having been through a similar situation myself I can relate to the decision you have made and wish you and your dad well. Hope the move goes without hitch and the piano is ready for your a...

Hi Jim probabaly the best reserve to visit would be Magdalen Hill Down its 15miles from Southampton near Winchester but good train service to Winchester and there is bus stop right outside the reserve. Chalk Downland managed by Hants BC so should be perfect for non-scottish species - Chalk Hill Blue...

Hi Pauline
looks good for a male to me - bold underside markings, wings not 'rounded' and the white border spots on hind wings a bit dull - stand to be corrected tho. There are good numbers of females out at Alice Holt - saw six yesterday.
Kind regards
Mark

Great shot Deborah - looks like it might well be a female which don't have any purple - and its on the caterpillars food plant Sallow.
Kind regards
Mark

PS the Robberfly only got a six month suspended sentence

Here is the sadly deceased lady - I deprived the predator of its tea but sadly she didn’t survive - although I ha watched her lay at least half a dozen eggs so hopefully her progeny will come through!

Hi Wurzel
I was their last week and they were still flying well at 4pm - great site and good numbers too - finished with a pint of Rare Find in the Daneway Inn. Saw an unfortunate individual taken by a Downland Robberfly which is a rare beast in itself!

Thanks for posting that Roger that was a mouthwatering clip and I would love to see the whole film. The Link to ELM was very interesting too - I had never heard of him previously but obviously a significant figure in entomology last century
Kind Regards
Mark

I would second what Trevor says, had my 8.5 for three years and they are superb - good for birds too but obviously a compromise over full size bins, I have some Leicas specifically for this, but the upside is you don’t know you are carrying them.
Can’t recommend them highly enough.
Mark