i love reading these accounts of foreign butterfly hunts

aeshna5 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 19, 2022 5:00 am Green Drab, Ophiusa tirhaca.

thank you so much aeshna !

Charles

can anyone identify this handsome beast ?

it was seen in Cairo yesterday

The link below takes you to a YouTube video showing a wing repair on a Citrus Swallowtail in South Africa. I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. On the plus side the chap in the video probably extended the life of the butterfly by a few hours or maybe days. He seemed quite experienced in handling...

PhilM wrote: ↑Fri Jun 17, 2022 7:24 pm Hi Charles,

Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha)

Regards,
Phil.

thanks for helping out Phil !

Charles

Back to Sundon Chalk today ! Apart from one dog walker i had the massive site to myself :shock: i arrived quite early and was able to take a picture of a Marbled White... later on they just keep moving. The Dark Green Fritillaries were also hyperactive, mainly keeping about 6" above the ground....

this medium sized moth flew in through the window and settled on my shirt.

do you know what kind it is ( the moth, not the shirt ) ?

thanks Pete (& Bob) for your excellent histoire. my favourite pic was the Large Tortoiseshell.

i guess the farmer may not have been a fan of Brexit....

Glorious weather in the Sundon Chalk Workings today...

plenty of fresh Dark Green Fritillaries on the wing. the Small Blues are plentiful. Just one or two Dingy Skippers lingering. Also one Green Hairstreak.
And a Painted Lady.

Plenty of Small Blues at Sundon Chalk Workings today.

Also Marbled Whites & some fast flying Fritillaries... either Dark Green or Silver Washed...

some lively caterpillars on nettles too:

David M wrote: ↑Mon Jun 06, 2022 6:53 am Thanks Charles/Steve,

Nothing like a Pasha to get people gasping.

Only the second time I've seen them, so quite a moment for me too.

Pashas are very entertaining

lovely pics of the Pasha !
am looking forward to the next thrilling instalment

Large Skipper and Drinker Moth caterpillar Charles... PS: Lots of Small Blue out at Trumpington Meadows in Cambridge today - They have exploded in number this year after being discovered there about 4 years ago. thanks for your assistance Trev ! i am glad to hear that the Cambridge Blues are prospe...

i had a lovely trip to Ivinghoe today. i saw this delightful Small Blue and several Orange Skippers 52119801515_43ce3e6e69_c.jpg 52119335668_44227ef2db_c.jpg 52119560879_64e9e33c14_c.jpg and a caterpillar... 52118271822_85b9d39584_c.jpg any suggestions for the Skipper & the caterpillar ? 8)

on Thursday i shall go down to the Chilterns & look for a Dark Green Fritillary

is it sitting on a snake ?

i went slightly further afield today... Ivinghoe Beacon.

i saw a Duke, and my first Meadow Brown of the season

the Duke was happy to be photographed, unlike the Meadow Brown which led me a merry dance.

i popped in to Woodwalton Marsh reserve at lunchtime. i saw this Grizzled Skipper waiting for the sun to come out

i tried a new setting on the camera and was delighted with the results Impressive. Need sunglasses for that one, Charles. :) That is one stunning Green Hairstreak Charles ! ....................................Nice one !! Allan.W. thanks guys ! it turned out very well :)

Weather fabulous at Sundon... i expected lots of motorcycles but did not see a single one !

plenty of Dingy Skippers & Green Hairstreaks though

i tried a new setting on the camera and was delighted with the results: