www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Thanks John, I am now starting to doubt myself. Looking at the image again, I think I was misled by the shape (which is broad at one end) and thus mistook it for a newly emerged pupa. Having said that, it's not the normal shape for a larva either, so I have to assume that this is the form a larva takes when it stops feeding and prepares to hibernate.
Vince

I did wonder I had to take a second look myself the first time I saw that one!

Happy new year everyone and lets hope the weather helps the insects this year.

Just updated my moth blog with the summary of 2016 catch for those interested in moths and the first moth for 2017 info can be found at:

https://hortonheathmoths.wordpress.com/

BW

Andy

Happy new year to you too Andy! Hope your eye is recovering. The owls have been on form lately. Kestrels too!!

I went out on Sunday with Pauline to find some Purple Hairstreak Ovum, whilst it took longer than we thought we did find 4 or 5 individuals. I have loaded image un-cropped then cropped so those of you not accustomed to this side of butterfly images can get an idea of the size.
Cheers

Andy

Your shots came out good A despite all your grumbling about the wind Think we should make it clear that these shots of the eggs were taken whilst they were on the tree thanks to the stunted nature of the Oaks at Browndown. Reckon I'll get round to posting mine about July

Stunning images, Andy, and I truly admire your patience in looking for these ova. They're far harder to find than those of the Brown Hairstreak.

Thanks for your comments Pauline and David,

Here are a few snaps from my travels over the last couple of weeks,

Green Tiger Beetle and Adder
Cheers

Andy

Great set of shots Andy especially the second Adder one I almost trod on one last weekend

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi! Andy great shot of the Adder, I've never seen one , hope I don't trip over one this Summer Goldie

Whilst my main reason for being a UKB member is butterflies, what I also like is to see images of other wildlife and those adder shots are extremely welcome, Andy. I happen upon these creatures several times every year and I become more fascinated every time I see them.

Many thanks for sharing.

Thanks, Wurzel, Goldie & David,

As most of you who know my work I have not been on here as much and am more into the Moths and their recording but always take an interest in general nature I will always be just as keen with the butterflies so here is the first post a series of general stuff including the moths and butterflies, just conscious now of the space/server issues as well that Pete is so kindly trying to address.

So for the mothers fist here is a recent selection

72.022 [BF 2063] Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica) 16.024 [BF 0445] Ocnerostoma friesei 15.063 [BF 0341] Phyllonorycter maestingella 28.019 [BF 0649] Esperia sulphurella Parornix species, this would need dissecting to establish the exact species which I am only just getting into

Morning all,

And here is the best of the rest!
Mandarin Ducks, Sand Lizards with a few Pearls for good measure Male Sand Lizard with common lizard Male & Female sand lizard And the rather aggressive courtship behaviour of the male and last but not least the pearls

wonderful shot for the Pearl.
whereabouts do you see these ?

cheers.

Thanks for the comment sonomoha, unfortunately the site for the pearls is a bit sensitive at the moment, its not near Bristol though.

Regards

Andy

Great set of shots from the Lizards through to Mandarin all topped off with some cracking Pearls Andy

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I can't quite decide which is more beautiful - the lizard or the Pearl Bordered Fritillary.

I love the Pearls Andy, Goldie

Thanks you all for your comments on the recent batch of photos.

Decided on Magdalene Hill this morning as I had not been there for a year of 2, silly really as its only 20 minutes away. Anyway I Walked a full circuit of the site from about 8:30 so very Cool wind and variable amount of sun I found a couple of larvae early on with the odd day flying moth & Butterfly, it wasn’t until I go around to the large patch of Hedge Mustard that I noticed any qty of Butterflies. Below are a few snaps in rough order of finding them from the trip, sorry for quality of some as it was breezy.

Butterfly Count from around the site:
Small Blue - 4
Common Blue - 1
Dingy Skipper - 2
Grizzled Skipper - 6+
Orange Tip - 3 (Male)
Large White - 1
Small White - 1
Green Hairstreak - 10+
Brown Argus - 6+
Peacock - 1
Red Admiral - 1
Small Heath - 1

72.012 [BF 2029] Brown-tail (Euproctis chrysorrhoea) Common Buzzard, not to bad from 200+ yards away with a macro lens 61.018 [BF 1574] Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) 07.015 [BF 0140] Nematopogon swammerdamella. Pretty sure anyway 07.006 [BF 0150] Adela reaumurella 72.013 [BF 2030] Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis) 49.354 [BF 1251] Grapholita jungiella 70.061 [BF 1738] Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) Golden-Bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle 57.002 [BF 1534] Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae) 61.010 [BF 1569] Small Blue (Cupido minimus) Eurydema oleracea - Brassica Shieldbug 61.015 [B&F 1572] Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) 61.005 [BF 1555] Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi) I may pop back tomorrow and as my old school teacher said try harder and get some better pictures

Cheers

Andy

I don't think you could get better shots Andy if you go back I envy you the Grizzle and Small Blue ,1st one I've not seen yet 2 sone I've not seen for ages. Goldie