www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

This poor old post has gone a bit off piste - and it's my fault, again.

I did my damnedest but I couldn't find anything to mock you for, Martin!! Instead, I thoroughly enjoyed browsing your pictures and will return again.

I'm not sure if I would be confident about that C. boeticus - though it looks quite good for that (I think we discussed that before). But maybe that's just because I haven't seen boeticus yet! Nor do I believe in your goshawk - it looks like an eagle sp!! But I expect you'll tell me it was taken at a goshawk farm (if not, then how on earth did you get so close to a raptor?). Say less and keep your cred, Padfield...

Don't forget to stop goggling your computers and turn the telly on at 7.30 folks, BBC2. I'm offline now so I can get an hour in with a student before it starts. No passing!!

Guy

Hi Martin,

I really enjoyed your photos, birds and butterflies, but I have to agree with Guy and say that your Goshawk does look rather like an eagle species. However saying that, it is a great picture. What lens did you use?

Denise

Guy,
It's down as boeticus because you and Matt (Rowlings) both said it was!

Re. the Goshawk...that's what the owner told me, who am I to disagree? It was much sleeker than that normally...I caught it while it was shaking it's feathers and preening.

Denise,
It was a Canon 100-400L IS

Martin.

My first butterfly of 2008 was a (90% sure - it didn't stop moving) Peacock up by the Bridgewater Monument above Aldbury on 20th January. I remember that day as being 8/8 low cloud, but rather mild. It also started raining near the end of the walk.

Today I spotted an early Comma, nectaring on similarly early Blackthorn on Horsenden Hill at lunchtime. Picture at:

http://piccies.flybywire.org.uk/Butterf ... yComma.jpg

My first ever February butterfly that. And exactly 1 month earlier than last year's Comma, my previous earliest Comma sighting (11/03/2007). Now only December has failed to yield any wild butterflies for me...

Hello,

The butterflies seen in February in Shoreham and the surrounding area are:

http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Butterflies1X2007.htm

Peacock (2008), Brimstone, Painted Lady and Red Admiral.

An extra day this year to increase the total.

First Adur Butterfly Dates 2003 to 2008
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/ButterfliesFFT.htm

Adur Butterfly & Large Moth List
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Butterfly-list2008.html

Cheers

Andy Horton
glaucus@hotmail.com
Adur Valley Nature Notes
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2007.html
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2008.html
Adur Valley Nature Notes: February 2008
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Feb2008.html

Adur Valley & Downs Gallery
http://www.flickr.com/groups/adur/pool/

Hi Martin/all,
Some lovely stuff in your gallery, especially that nigrina. I've had several, ahem, semis before (i.e. obliterae), but never the full monty. I'm 99% sure the problematic bird is an immature Goldie. We're off to a flying start here in sunny Sussex - already had 9 Brimmies and 2 Hummingbird Hawks reported to our (BC) website.
Neil

Sussex Butterflies

http://www.sussex-butterflies.org.uk/sightings.html