Still a decent numder of Clouded Yellow about at Clife Pools, Kent yesterday, but so badly behaved! As compensation, this Wall posed closed-wing for me (albeit into the sun). I can't get enough of that beautiful underwing design.

Cliffe Pools, Kent Mon 21/9. Still a fair number of Clouded Yellow about, but mainly sailing past. Just this one male hung around for a while, going from flower to flower. Pleased with this ('burst' function) shot, but not telling you how many hundred duds needed discarding.

Little flora around at Vanbrugh Pits, Greenwich today - so looked like 1 Speckled Wood would be it. Then saw 1 small stem of ragwort - with a Brown Argus and Small Copper. Then another 2xSC turned up - then one of them started turning purple! Memorable! @joebeale.bsky.social @dustygedge.bsky.social

At Cliffe Pools, Kent Fri 11/9. Quickly had around 6 Clouded Yellow fly-bys, so thought I was in for a bumper CY day. Then the sun went in, and never came out again. Not much else happened. Will check weather more carefully next time. Meanwhile here's a nice Common Blue I saw.

Whilst hunting butterflies near Monmouth yesterday (28/7), i came across these other very smart insects.

On a ramble near Monmouth yesterday (28/7) i came across this crazy mixed up Small Copper. Please feel free to supply official nomenclature!

With the current scarcity of Small Tortoiseshell in the south east, it's been a treat to see a fair number near Monmouth. 2 on this small buddleia accompanied by 6 Painted Lady.

This time last year we saw the first Gatekeeper ever in our Greenwich back garden - maybe we're going to get one a year from now on...

High Elms, Kent Sat 11/7 - nice to see my first (2) White Letter Hairstreak of the year (& first since 2020). A few Purple Hairstreak and plenty of Silver Washed Fritillary also around.

Also at Bookham Common Surrey, Fri 4/7 - a small number of Purple Hairstreak were coming down, and the first one gave me my first fully open-wing shot in the 8 years since i started in the butterfly racket. Female at 8.27am. One male also opened up for a pic, but no actual purple visible.

Single Purple Emperor seen at Bookham Common, Surrey Fri 4/7 - a bit battered, but a welcome sight all the same. It came down, danced round us before landing, and was quite settled - but inevitably a dog or bike hurried past within a minute, and off it went. Thanks for the tip @stevewg.bsky.social

White Admiral, High Elms Country Park, Kent - yesterday.

The Painted Lady invasion reaches the streets of Greenwich @joebeale.bsky.social @dustygedge.bsky.social

Yikes! Had similar experience to an earlier poster - found my small potted Alder Buckthorn with zero leaves - thought I'd not watered enough in recent drought. But then noticed 2 very fat Brimstone caterpillars. Transferred them to large bush in garden - let's see them eat their way through that!

It was beginning to look like i would draw a total blank at Vanbrugh Pits, Greenwich this afternoon. but then 3 Marbled White and a Meadow Brown - all lovely and fresh - popped up. @joebeale.bsky.social @dustygedge.bsky.social

Glanville Fritillary at Compton Down, Dorset 28/5. GB Life tick #53 (#54 if you count L Tort). Also Small Blue, Grizzled & Dingy Skippers. Dazzling Adonis Blue everywhere + 1 Clouded Yellow. Thanks to @garyh-56.bsky.social for his earlier post saving me the complication of an Isle of Wight trip.

A fair few Heath Fritillary seen in Thornden Wood, Kent 25/5/26

Hooray! Brimstone caterpillar on Alder Buckthorn that i planted just for that purpose. It was planted several years ago, and we immediately had a couple of years with good numbers of them. Then i read that once the plant is over 3yrs old they won't use them - and we've had none since - until today!

I'm assuming the stripiness means we have the joy of young Dunnocks in our Greenwich back garden (please let me know if I'm wrong!)

Well @thenorfolkcoast.bsky.social beat me to it a few days ago, but I'll post mine anyhow - had never seen Holly Blue ovipositing on Pyracantha before. Greenwich back garden phone shot.

We don't get much of this kind of thing in our small Greenwich back garden.

Yay! Green Hairstreak at Vanbrugh Pits, Greenwich again this year. @joebeale.bsky.social @dustygedge.bsky.social (down in the main dip - on the main stand of brambles).

Female Brimstone waiting for a bus in our Greenwich back garden today (phone shot).

Came to Norfolk last summer for the butterflies (Swallowtail). This time I'm here for the football - but the Holly Blue is out in force in the residential streets bordering Norwich city centre (phone shot - best not to zoom in!).

Wonder if we will be treated to Green Hairstreak again this year at Vanbrugh Pits, Greenwich. Not yesterday anyhow. But 2 Comma, Small White, Peacock and a pretty Holly Blue that wouldn't keep still

Male Orange Tip in the Gravesend area 07.04.26. A few males and females seen.

Curlew, Topsham, Devon, just now

My daughter bought me a ceramic cow (don't ask) - containing sheeps wool - to hang out for the birds. A Great Tit got to grips with it and ended up as... a Bearded Tit!

Not seen a Wren in our Greenwich back garden for years Happy Days! @joebeale.bsky.social @dustygedge.bsky.social

A Comma and 3 Peacock at Vanbrugh Pits, Greenwich this afternoon. One Peacock frequently opened and closed its wings, making a change from the usual open wing shot @joebeale.bsky.social @dustygedge.bsky.social