www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Think we bumped into you at resell wood on Saturday. We only managed a couple of peacocks and then gave up as the cloud cover came over.

If you go to Arundel you should have a walk along the stream below the castle. There are quite a lot of water voles there and they are very used to the large number of people walking on the footpath thete and can be sitting on the bank just a couple of feet from you and take no notice of you at all!

Today was a good day. I went to Heyshott to look for the Duke of Burgundys. I met Susie there and later Neil. I found 2 myself, one of which was particularly easy to photograph, so much so I even had time to play with the camera and find how to adjust the aperture on the pictures. I also went for a walk to do a cursory check for other Dukes but quickly decided to head back to the one I had found previously which was still in the same spot when I returned. Neil then arrived and gave me a little help with the photography. Thank you Neil for the help and for helping protect the Dukes! We then went to look for other Dukes but in fact Neil spotted all the rest. I then pushed my luck by going to Rewell Wood but it started lightly drizzling on the way there and didn't stop. Overall, though, an excellent day.

Those last two, particularly the Duke are stunning, your playing with the aperture has paid off to get that lovely blurred background

Simply love the Dingy on the canvas.

Amazing how butterflies will occasionally pose unnaturally for the camera!

Thank you William and David. I still get excited when a butterfly lands on my backpack.

Like the others have said some cracking shots , the last two being the cream of a very good crop. I really like the back pack one as it shows the scale of the butterfly - it's all too easy to forget how small they are after spending so long peering through a lens

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Third attempt today to find the PBFs at Rewell Wood, and successful at last! I saw 4 PBFs , one Brimstone, a Speckled Wood and two whites which weren't stopping for an ID. Some of the PBFs I found were showing signs of wear and tear.

Lovely Duke of Burgundy and Pearl-bordered Fritillary photos Katrina, its amazing how quickly some of the PBF are showing signs of wear.

Mike

Excellent news about the PBF's - I really need to get soem but they still haven't emerged over our way yet

Have a goodun

Wurzel

On the way to Heyshott the sun began to shine and I stopped at the meadow at Kithurst where I saw 3 Dingy Skippers, 3 Brimstones, 3 definite and possible 4 Duke of Burgundys, one Green-Veined White and one Orange-Tip. I then went on to Heyshott and saw plenty of Duke of Burgundys and Dingy Skippers, some Brimstones and a Speckled Wood. On the way home I stopped off at the Downs, I didn't find much but just as I was leaving luckily for me I bumped into Mud-puddling. He found 2 roosting Grizzled Skippers and one Small Copper (my first of the year) and I eventually found one Grizzled Skipper. (thank you Mud-puddling!)

Not the best photo but can anyone tell me if this is a Duke or a Duchess?

Smashing Brimstone shot Katrina and like the Small Copper too

Hi Katrina,
That's a Duchess. Good find!
BWs, Neil

Thank you Pauline - the Small Copper was thanks to Mud-puddling.
Thanks Neil, I didn't notice it was a Duchess at the time but thought the abdomen looked a bit fatter when looking at the photos. Duchess was at Heyshott yesterday.

Great pictures Katrina. You must be very south! We don't get most of those species up here, but those that we do will not be around for another month or so!

Thank you Nick. I live in Sussex and we are very lucky here to have so many species. Equally lucky to have helpful local enthusiasts and experts.

Fantastic shots Katrina I especially like the Brimstones and the Duke head shot Still not seen any reports of Dukes or Pearls in Wiltshire so hopefully this weekend.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Today on the Downs I found 3 Small Coppers, 4 Dingy Skippers, 3 Grizzled Skippers, 2 Brown Arguses and 2 Green Hairstreaks. I then went to Pulborough Brooks and saw newts in the pond. I quickly stopped at Kithurst Hill and found 3 Dingy Skippers, 3 Brimstones 2 Duke of Burgundys and one Green-Veined White.

Your green hairstreak is sublime

This evening I went to Mill Hill to try and get some roosting Dingy Skipper photos, having admired others on this website. I had tried to look for roosting butterflies on Friday afternoon at Kithurst Meadow but found only a Pretty Chalk Carpet Moth and 3 spiders. This evening was much more successful and I saw 6 roosting Dingy Skippers 1 Grizzled Skipper and one spider.