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Sorry to hear about the lens problems Goldie I've had that once or twice (when I was on White-letter Hairstreaks of all things ) but it seemed to pass - perhaps see if your local camera shop offer a service? I've been 'off line' the last couple of days so catching up - the raised 'bugger off' abdomen is quiet a common thing - it's like the female raising her middle finger to the male Hope you get onto a Duke and Small Pearl soon

Have a goodun

Wurzel

That's a lovely Green HStreak Goldie - I haven't seen one with a proper streak this year in fact I've only seen one GHStr!
Hope your back gets better soon and that you find your Dukes and SPBFs . I must get up to Gait Barrows next sunny day.

Thanks Wurzel and Janet for your posts,
I'm going to find a camera shop near me Wurzel , it means waiting for repairs though and with the weather being so nice I decided it was time to get a spare, I decided to look on the internet and see what was on offer and I found a lens compatible with my camera for half price so I've sent for that, it's got a three year guarantee so should be okay and Cannon make it.
I don't think I'll be going up to the Lakes again until mid June Wurzel, it was packed on the motor way so I think I may have to pass on the Dukes and Frit's for this year, to tell you the truth both Jim and myself or feeling age creeping up at present

Hi! Janet, I took most of my shots of GHS's this year at Foulshaw Moss, it's a great place for GHS's also for Large Heath. I'm going up there again mid June to look for the Heath, hope fully we'll get nice weather then.
I've been up to GB twice now and been disappointed with the place, I felt sorry for the people that were there some had come from the Borders to see the Dukes and were very disappointed. It's a bit hit and miss up there at present there's so few of them about,
Although my back is much better it's a bit of a walk to the Duke site and I certainly felt it when I got back in the car Goldie

Disappointing to hear about the lack of Dukes at GB, Goldie, especially since they appear to be around in good numbers in north Yorkshire.

Hope you get your lens problems sorted soon. There are few things more frustrating than being out in the field with equipment that won't work.

Hi! David, Hope fully it won't be long before the new lens arrives and I can get going again I just hope the weather keeps up we've been really lucky here, one day of rain and Storm's which gave us rain but no thunder or lightning ,just skirting us.
Gait Barrow has had loads of work done ,Tree's chopped, bushes cleared, piles of logs every where, all well and good but no Dukes to talk about so far has I could see, usually when the Slipper Orchids are out the Dukes can also be seen, lets hope it's just a poor year for them. Goldie
I've just read Lanc's sightings and some one saw three Dukes yesterday at GB, we were there 3 hours on Saturday and saw none

It seems the Dukes are in low numbers at most of their sites Goldie - except for North Yorkshire.

Great Large White sequence Goldie, I've seen a few rejections recently, never LW though.
Sorry about your Duke shortage.

Thanks for your posts Janet , hope fully the Dukes will come back , with all the clearing that's been done up there, there's always a chance.
Glad you liked the Whites Sequence Andrew , I find the Female refusals fascinating , the funniest I've seen is the Speckled Wood playing Dead, waiting for my new lens to arrive although I did take those shots with a lens that's more suited for Land Scapes, any port in a storm Goldie

Not seen many Butterflies in the garden lately but this morning before the clouds appeared I spotted this GVW on the Boules Mauve, it looked so nice in there amongst the Fox Gloves and BM I just left the shot Goldie

This afternoon we expected a storm, 4.45pm, so far nothing's arrived but this rather battered Small Tortoiseshell arrived in the Garden took some lunch and shot off again The last one I saw was in April. Goldie

A Small Tort in any state is always a welcome sight Goldie Interesting that they seem to age like us humans as not only do they lose their scales ('hair'), look a bit more tatty but they their markings also go from blonde to white

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks for your post Wurzel, I love to see the Small Torts what ever state they're in I think they're a lovely little Butterfly, I'd love to see a Large Tort but the small will take some beating

I got a nice surprise today, weather wise it was dull until about 2pm then it changed to being very hot and humid, a Small White arrived in the Garden then a Large White but the big surprise was the Painted Lady who didn't arrive until about 5.45 pm, a very welcome sight I've not got my new lens yet but I was still pleased with the shots and my first PL this year Goldie

Cracking stuff Goldie a Painted Lady is always a welcome sight as well I only saw my first today as a fly-by so not shots Plus I was in the car so definitely no shots

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Cracking shots of the Painted Lady Goldie There have been reports of a few round here but I haven't seen one yet. A really lovely butterfly.

Thanks for your posts Wurzel and Pauline, yes it was a nice surprise when it arrived in the garden I thought at first was a STS, I was so pleased when I saw it was PL
Although the weather here has been great not too many Butterflies about, we plan to go to Witherslack this week all being well NBA have been seen there also SPF, so fingers crossed the weather keeps nice, in the mean time we've been entertained with a batch of young Starlings who arrive every day to feed, drink, and wash (thought you might enjoy these shots Pauline) Goldie

Great shots from your garden Goldie, love the Painted Lady.

Thank you Andrew, I got a great surprise when she flew in ( not quite sure if it's Male or Female) but I'll say she Goldie

Wonderful that you had an early Painted Lady visit your garden, Goldie, but with a double whammy of scabious and bowles mauve it's not surprising that it homed in on your patch! Hopefully there'll be more to follow later in the year.

Great sequence showing the bathing Starlings Goldie Good luck with the Small Pearls and NBAs

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I reckon you see more Painted Ladies than I do Goldie - your garden is a magnet for them!

Dave