this morning i was back in Sundon Chalk Pits... it was breezy and cloudy at first, although the sun came through at midday. there were lots of Dingy Skippers, a few Small Heaths, one Red Admiral, a couple of Green Hairstreaks and some blues... i am OK on Green Butterflies, but i would like some hel...

this morning i was back in Sundon Chalk Pits... it was breezy and cloudy at first, although the sun came through at midday. there were lots of Dingy Skippers, a few Small Heaths, one Red Admiral, a couple of Green Hairstreaks and some blues... i am OK on Green Butterflies, but i would like some help...

today i went to Hexton Chalk Pit. it is a small nature reserve in the Bedfordshire Chilterns. there was plenty of Dingy Skipper activity, including this pair 52061612681_5b9ce223cc_c.jpg i also found this strange plant... any suggestions ? 52062101745_d579909cfc_c.jpg Hi, Charles Your orchid may be...

aeshna5 wrote: ↑Tue May 10, 2022 5:29 am Certainly an orchid rosette-looks like Early Purple to me-presumably one that isn't flowering as they should be flowering by now.

thank you for your help aeshna... i followed up your information and found this:

https://twitter.com/drtrevordines/statu ... 8314238976


Charles

today i went to Hexton Chalk Pit. it is a small nature reserve in the Bedfordshire Chilterns.
there was plenty of Dingy Skipper activity, including this pair
i also found this strange plant... any suggestions ?

Hello Charles , Think your moth is Pyrausta Nigrata ,A relative of the Mint moth ,i see them from time to time . Regards Allan.W. Your moth is Pyrausta nigrata . Regards Toby thanks Allan & Toby. it did look the same shape and size as a Mint moth, but without the red/orange features.

Went to the Chilterns today. Started at Barton Hills and then moved on to Sundon. Plenty of Dingy Skippers at both locations. They seem to enjoy hanging around old bonfire sites. Small Heaths and Brown Argus are just starting at Barton Hills. One Green Hairstreak at BH. Orange Tips still on the wing...

went to Sundon chalk pits today for the first time this year. the weather was very pleasant and i saw a dozen Dingy Skippers and a couple of Green Hairstreaks. the GH in the photo sat on a twig a metre above the ground for at least 10 minutes... it did not seem to mind me taking pictures of it. 5203...

By way of adding some contrast to Dave's Brimstones photo (not to mention all other snaps ever featured in these pages), I offer you a record shot where I was clearly focusing in the wrong place and yes it did fly off before I could get a closer shot. Was still pleased to see a Grizzled Skipper and...

things are stirring in the Bedfordshire Chilterns
these are from this morning... i only saw one of each

saw first Holly Blue of the season in the middle of St Neots this morning, then an Orange Tip or two at Little Paxton Nature Reserve.

the first butterfly of 2022 !

this morning in the Knot Garden at Buckden Towers Cambridgeshire.

the garden is sheltered by high brick walls and soon warms up on a day like today.

this Peacock appeared and enjoyed the sunshine on a stone wall

perhaps Erebia meta

https://lepiforum.org/bh/personen/helmu ... eta_us.jpg

i did not get many Iris pics this year...

this is from Lilford Wood near Fermyn Woods

this one was from April, near Buckden Cambridgeshire:
this is from August, Pegsdon Hills Bedfordshire: it looks like a paraglider

this was at Telegraph Hill in the Bedfordshire Chilterns

June 26th

Hi Charles, picture of a mature Mistle Thrush hoping you will enjoy birding, fledglings were referred to by my father as squabs , juvenile Pigeons were also referred to as squabs in Somerset. sorry for the delay in replying Medard :oops: thanks for the lovely Mistle Thrush pic :D i expect we shall ...

this one thought i couldn't see him

28th May 2021 at Barton Hills Bedfordshire

this one was in the Barton Hills on June 8th: