www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Hi Allan, thanks for the identification on that Brown Argus, it certainly caught my eye, and I'm glad you've enjoyed reading through my diary: as Wurzel says, "not long to go now"!

Hi David, I've never seen one of the true white spotted Northern Brown Arguses so when that aberrant form appeared at Dungeness it gave me quite a surprise!

They do indeed exist, Goldie ( well, at Dungeness at least! ) I sometimes wonder if the nuclear power station has anything to do with these oddities ?!

Maybe I should visit there one night to see if any of the butterflies glow in the dark...!

Best wishes,

Hoggers

My pond full of croaking frogs produced their first batch of spawn this week (2nd March)

I've kept a note over the last few years of the first appearance dates 2011 - 16th March

2012 - 29 February

2013 - 10th March

2014 - 26 February

2015 - 9th March I still have at least four tadpoles from last year. They are slightly larger than the usual tadpole just about to sprout legs. I can only guess that by remaining at the tadpole stage through the winter they will (if they survive) mature to the adult stage ahead of the spring newcomers, be bigger and stronger and thus enjoy an advantage over their fellows.A risky strategy!

I popped into the wood on my walk with the dog this morning to see if any spring flowers were out. It was rather chilly but many birds were singing including Chaffinches and Wrens ( I also heard a Buzzard mewling, a very mournful sound indeed.)

The first spring flower I came across was this Wood Anemone (I didn't have my camera with me today,so used my phone)
There were a couple more in flower but clearly with many hundreds to come later.

I saw a few Primroses and wintery Snowdrops What I wanted to see was a spring flower and eventually I found a Bluebell.There's a carpet of Bluebell leaves throughout the wood but this was the only one I found in flower. Still, it won't be long before they're out in their thousands and the wood will be filled with their scent

Your photos are very encouraging Hoggers, soon be Spring Goldie

I saw this in the paper yesterday Let's all get spotting!

Best wishes,

Hoggers.

If anyone is better placed to 'save' Small Coppers than you, Hoggers, I'd be very surprised indeed.

That said, they've been 'patchy' for a few years now so it'd be nice to see fair numbers of them in 2016.

The warden at Dungeness Nature Reserve seems to be doing rather well where saving Small Coppers is concerned, David!
I just go along and reap the benefits.

A new sign of Spring appeared in my garden today: the Blue Tits began nest building they've been popping in now and again over the last month or so to check out the box But today for the first time they ( I say "they" but I'm not sure if it's just one of the pair as yet ) began bringing in nesting material Although they are quite fussy and sometimes bring in a piece of straw etc only to remove it moments later It's good to see them back

Hi! Hogger's can't wait to see your Small Copper's again Goldie

I hope I get the chance, Goldie : if you Google " decline in Small Coppers " ( or words to that effect ) you'll see lots of detailed coverage of the trouble they're in.

I hope they have a better 2016

Best wishes

Hoggers

Yesterday I saw my first butterfly of 2016, a Peacock fluttering around inside my garden shed.

Today I went for a stroll around Dungeness and came upon a Small Tortoiseshell Lovely to see them again.

Most excitingly, however, on the drive home I saw a Small White on the Brenzett roundabout! Much earlier than I'd expected.

Glad you got your first BF Hogger's, in spite of the weather yesterday, I didn't see one where I saw them the week before, I think that's strange considering the weather was great.Goldie

Good to see you're off the mark Hoggers - not much longer now until the first Coppers?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Yes Wurzel, not long now! No more than 2/3 weeks I hope.

Once Storm Katie had blasted her way through I spent the day in the garden. I saw three species of bee on my flowering Lungwort : I haven't identified two of them yet ( one of these was a brilliant black all over ) but I'm fairly sure the third was a Queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee.

As for butterflies today, a Small Tortoiseshell paid me a quick visit on the still high winds.

I heard my first Chiffchaff the other day. Whenever I hear one I always remember Edward Thomas, our great poet of the countryside, who once said that every note of a Chiffchaff's song is a nail in winter's coffin.

Sounds good to me!

Best wishes,

Hoggers.

We've had a pleasant spell of warm days down here in Kent and I've seen a few Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells enjoying the sunshine. It was so warm here in Ashford this morning that I thought I'd go on my first Dungeness Small Copper Hunt of 2016. It's very early in the season and I didn't really expect to find any Coppers, but that didn't stop me hoping to find one!

When I got to Dungeness it wasn't as warm as inland Ashford, although still bright and sunny.

First off I bumped into the Warden, David, who greeted me with the words "It must be Spring!"

He hadn't seen any Coppers but told told me to keep an eye open for Firecrests as they've been passing through Dungeness in large numbers recently.

I walked my usual route. In the Observatory moat I came across two Small Tortoiseshells Then I saw a pretty little bird sporting a nifty bright flash on its head, so I took a snap (albeit through my macro lens ) And I guess it was one of the many Firecrests on migration.

I also came upon this member of the reptile clan He was keeping a close eye on me.

Alas, no Small Coppers for me today. But it was good to be out there again.

Anyone visiting the Observatory moat please do look out for broken glass and rusty metal: there's rather a lot of it lying around.

On the drive home a Brimstone crossed the A2070 ahead of me, my first of the year.

Definitely a Firecrest Hoggers - you can tell by the bold white eye stripe
Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi Hoggers,
Lynne and I were at Dungeness yesterday,half hoping for a really early Copper as well 'but like yourself,had no luck,didn,t really expect any if i'm honest,we also saw a couple of cracking little Firecrests,i believe the OBS, had a spring record count of 120 ! on one day,sadly the clouds rolled in and that was that,plenty on the wing now in Orlestone forest,
Regards Allan.W. ps. Did see one Small Tort; in the moat.

Knowing I would be finishing work early today and having seen the weather forecast I took my camera with me this morning with a view to going on a Small Copper Expedition at Dungeness.

I got there around 1230. It was warm and sunny with a light breeze. I soon found several Small Tortoiseshells but not a single Copper until about an hour into my search when... A magnificent female Blue Badger! Stunning! After six months' absence you can imagine the joy I felt to see my first Small Copper of 2016 More beautiful than anything else in sight The Small Copper Season has begun!

What a beauty. Fresh as a daisy.

First of hundreds I guess, Hoggers?

Simply beautiful Hogger's, your off to a great start. Goldie

She's a real beaut! Good start to the Dungeness Copper season