www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

I was disappointed to miss the eclipse but I may now have a good excuse to visit Indonesia next year and America the year after so that I can see their total eclipses...! Worth a try..

No sun here today just wind and rain, but last night I had a go at photographing the moon.

I attached my mono ccd camera to my telescope at lowest magnification and here's the result A fascinating landscape ( or rather " moonscape" ) I could easily imagine exploring it on foot There's a full moon early next month so if the sky's clear I will have another go.

HI Hoggers,

I would like to congratulate you for those magnificent images of the Moon, the detail is incredible.
Is it possible for you to get close ups of some the features on the surface, eg. craters , mountains etc.?.

Best wishes,
TREVOR.

Hoggers wrote:There's a full moon early next month so if the sky's clear I will have another go.

Shall look forward to that, Hoggers. Those latest images are astoundingly good.

Many thanks for your kind comments. It was my first attempt at imaging the moon and it says far more about the technology involved than anything I did that they came out so well.

I believe I can get closer in if I use my Barlow lens so I'll give it a try next time.

Who knows, I may see a Clanger!

I got a look at the sun today during some gaps in the cloud There were some magnificent prominences on display When you remember the scale that's involved it's truly astounding.

Leaving work earlier this afternoon I almost stepped on this Small Tortoiseshell He looked bright enough but was immobile and clearly in a dangerous position so I moved him to a sunnier spot to hopefully warm up.

Once home I went for a wander around the garden and was soon joined by a Peacock enjoying my Crocuses An unfamiliar snatch of bird song caught my ear and I looked up to see a Canary perched on my roof! I was interested to see that he has a ring on his leg which I suppose means he's someone's pet He flew off soon afterwards. I doubt he'll survive for long on his own.

So often when I look at the sun I get a surprise. Today was no exception. If you remember the hedge-like prominence visible yesterday Well today it appears to have launched itself off in to space Extending for hundreds of thousands of miles Stunning And here's a quick look at the full disc

I saw my first Swallow of the Summer yesterday, all on its own, hawking for flies above a lake in Ashford on a cold and dismal morning.

On my walk that day I also came across a dead Barn Owl, just lying in the grass by the river. I was very sad to see it.

The Froggy mating season seems to be over for another year.Every night from 16th February right up until 30th March I'd hear them croaking and splashing about in the garden pond and this was a typical scene I guess it's the female in the middle. She's gone a funny colour Maybe they're squeezing her too hard?

But now the croaking and other goings on have stopped. There's lots of spawn, some of which has already developed into wriggling Taddies.

I was all day today in the garden. No butterflies alas, but I was happy to see a Bee-Fly on my Wallflowers A pair of Buzzards circled above my house while I did the gardening. It's the first time I've seen this bird in central Ashford.

I got out my sun scope and took a look And here's a towering prominence from a couple of days ago

I felt rather left out over the Easter Holiday. Unlike many other parts of the UK the weather here wasn't up to much. It was generally cloudy and rather chilly. I didn't see a single butterfly. And naturally enough today I went back to work and out came the sun!

Luckily, I managed to finish early. On my drive home I was buzzed by a Peacock and spotted two Brimstones along the way.

Once home I grabbed the dog and set off for a walk along the riverbank. There we soon came upon Small Tortoiseshells Including a courting pair We saw 9 in all And 3 Peacocks It was good to go out for a walk and find butterflies without having to try.

When we got back I took a look at the sun Here's a closer look at a group of sunspots And some prominences Also, yesterday (dull though it was ) I heard my first Blackcaps of the year.

HI Hoggers,
Around here







HI Hoggers,

Around here ( Hailsham ) Commas are the most plentiful Butterfly at the moment.
Though on my travels I have seen more Peacocks than anything else.

Looking forward to your posts.
TREVOR.

Apologies Hoggers , pressed a wrong button !
TREVOR.

Hi Trevor, I usually have a Comma in my garden but haven't seen one so far this year. I think things down here are a little behind at the moment. For example, on April 5th last year I had a Holly Blue and an Orange Tip in the garden! So far this year I've seen only Small Tortoiseshells and Peacocks.

Talking of Peacocks this fine looking specimen was sunbathing on the garden fence today But despite appearances there was something wrong with this individual. It flew in a weak and erratic manner then crash landed in the grass and was struggling to get airborne so I scooped it up and put it in a safe place

It certainly looks alright Hoggers - has any further light be shed on why it's flight was so unsteady - could it have been too cool?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

A beautiful day down here in Kent. On my drive to work ( my car telling me it was 23C outside!) I saw three whites ( GV or Small) and in my garden I saw my first Comma and best of all, a Holly Blue!

About 12 days ago when the weather seemed perfect I took a walk around Dungeness looking out for Small Coppers. I didn't find any.

Today was sunny, about 12C but with a strong and clod wind blowing.

Nonetheless, I thought it was worth going back for another try. I'm glad I did

They're back! The wind kept them low down so there's more of pebble than Copper in my photos And relocating them in the wind after they've gone for a quick foray wasn't easy I've got to brush up on my Copper Hunting Skills But such a pleasure to see them again. In all I found 8 one of which was a member of the Small Copper Blue Badge Club (SCBBC for short)

Welcome back! Here's to a long and productive 2015 And here's a few images of something most peculiar that appeared on the sun this week What looks like a vast bottomless chasm was in fact a huge flare with an ejection of matter heading right for us

Cracking shots Hoggers Now you've got your first Small Copper it feels like the season has started proper

Have a goodun

Wurzel

You really do have a thing for Small Coppers, Hoggers.

Excellent images of a lovely butterfly.

Great photos of the Copper Hoggers, hope I can do the same soon Goldie

I wondered how long it would before you posted the first Dungeness Small Copper... All the bits of the jigsaw are coming together! Great selection of photos.

Dave

Goodness me Hoggers you've taken some cracking photos recently! Some of them have been out of this world "literally"..... I'll get me coat.

I would love to see some Small Coppers, it feels like an age since I last saw one.

ATB

James

Many thanks for your kind comments. Of all the butterflies that share this island of ours the Small Copper is the one that delights me the most and I hope I get to see lots and lots of them!

Ever the optimist, I planted Sorrel a couple of years ago and now have a nice little patch of it so maybe I'll get a special Coppery visitor one day?

A butterfly that I am lucky enough to have in the garden is the Holly Blue and today when I got home I found one.

Very fidgety But this individual was showing particular interest in one flower bed that had just been "watered" by my Spaniel So I managed to get closer than usual

Ah yes! Hoggers and his Small Coppers, great photos and good to see them

Nice Holly Blue as well.

Cheers,

Neil.