Another overwintering Red Admiral butterfly was feeding on winter flowering heather in our Cornish garden today. This follows two different Red Admirals recorded in January. Even in this mild part of Cornwall it’s unusual to see them flying during the … Read More
The Catalonia region of Spain is well known for having some wonderful butterflies. One of the most beautiful is the stunning Swallowtail Butterfly, Papilio machaon. Lieve De Strooper took this great photo of one feeding on zinnia flowers in her … Read More
These three sightings of very different looking caterpillars were recorded in Germany. A magnificent Goat Moth caterpillar was seen by Eva Almajan near the Krumme Lanke Lake in Berlin. While, in Bavaria, Germany, Normajean Spencer spotted a green form of … Read More
This Giant Swallowtail (Papilio crespontes) butterfly caterpillar, also known as the Orange Dog, was feeding on a Lemon Tree in Bell, Florida. In the United States and many other countries worldwide the caterpillars of several species of Swallowtail butterfly feed … Read More
This scarce, white form of Small Copper Butterfly was photographed on the Lizard Peninsular, Cornwall. It was one of several other Small Coppers nectaring on yarrow, hemp agrimony and fleabane. Earlier in the year Ted Benham sighted a white form … Read More
The twentieth anniversary of National Moth Night takes place over three nights between 26th and 28th September. This year the magnificent Clifden Nonpareil Catacolia fraxini also known as the Blue Underwing, is one of the targeted species. For those unfamiliar … Read More
A Long-tailed Blue butterfly was an unexpected but very welcome recent arrival to our Cornish garden. Being my first Long-tailed Blue in the British Isles I could scarcely believe my eyes when it dived at speed onto a lavender bush … Read More
Anita Smith had a rare but very welcome visitor to her garden in Morayshire, Scotland. This magnificent Death’s-head Hawkmoth was first seen in her neighbours garden and then photographed on a trellis in Anita’s. This long distance flyer is the … Read More
This fascinating caterpillar sighting was made in Guyana, South America. Andrea Stephenson recorded as many as twenty caterpillars known locally as Hairy Worms feeding on her juniper tree. These 2.5 inch long, distinctively marked caterpillars appeared harmless enough but the … Read More
Several species of butterfly appear to be having a very good year in Cornwall. This mating pair of Brown Argus were two of many seen amongst the dunes at Penhale Sands on the North Cornish coast. The first Common Blues … Read More
Our first Holly Blue of the year was seen in the garden on the 26th March. 6th species of the year – only 52 to go! As so often with this species it stopped only briefly giving little opportunity to … Read More
Only another 53 butterfly species to go! This Speckled Wood seen on the 24th March was my 5th butterfly species of the year. Following overwintering butterflies such as Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Brimstone and Comma this Speckled Wood was the first … Read More
A trip to Cabilla Wood, near Bodmin in Cornwall at the weekend to photograph Brimstone Butterflies couldn’t have turned out much better considering it’s still only February. To see over 30 of these stunning butterflies on a walk along the … Read More
A February trip to Cabilla Wood, near Bodmin in Cornwall to photograph early Brimstone Butterflies had an unexpected bonus instore. While ‘trying’ to take photos of Brimstones flitting from primrose to primrose in an open glade alongside the River Fowey … Read More
The February sunshine encouraged two overwintering Peacock butterflies to sunbath on the path leading down to Kynance Cove in south west Cornwall. Stunning butterflies in an equally beautiful setting. Another Peacock was seen the following day at Flushing on the … Read More
A Small Tortoiseshell found fluttering in the bathroom is my first butterfly of the year. A welcome sight despite the butterfly having been prematurely aroused from its overwintering slumber by the warmth of the central heating. Without any nectaring sources … Read More
Five Common Eider Ducks were feeding on crabs in Newlyn Harbour yesterday. It was fascinating watching the ducks surface with extremely lively crabs and to try to eat them before the waiting gulls could snatch them away. All were immature … Read More
Over 200 Grey Seals were hauled out at Mutton Cove, Godrevy in Cornwall last week. They seem to be doing well as we only saw half that number in January a few years ago. This is still one of our … Read More
Another overwintering Red Admiral butterfly was feeding on winter flowering heather in our Cornish garden today. This follows two different Red Admirals recorded in January. Even in this mild part of Cornwall it’s unusual to see them flying during the … Read More
The Catalonia region of Spain is well known for having some wonderful butterflies. One of the most beautiful is the stunning Swallowtail Butterfly, Papilio machaon. Lieve De Strooper took this great photo of one feeding on zinnia flowers in her … Read More
These three sightings of very different looking caterpillars were recorded in Germany. A magnificent Goat Moth caterpillar was seen by Eva Almajan near the Krumme Lanke Lake in Berlin. While, in Bavaria, Germany, Normajean Spencer spotted a green form of … Read More
This Giant Swallowtail (Papilio crespontes) butterfly caterpillar, also known as the Orange Dog, was feeding on a Lemon Tree in Bell, Florida. In the United States and many other countries worldwide the caterpillars of several species of Swallowtail butterfly feed … Read More
This scarce, white form of Small Copper Butterfly was photographed on the Lizard Peninsular, Cornwall. It was one of several other Small Coppers nectaring on yarrow, hemp agrimony and fleabane. Earlier in the year Ted Benham sighted a white form … Read More
The twentieth anniversary of National Moth Night takes place over three nights between 26th and 28th September. This year the magnificent Clifden Nonpareil Catacolia fraxini also known as the Blue Underwing, is one of the targeted species. For those unfamiliar … Read More
A Long-tailed Blue butterfly was an unexpected but very welcome recent arrival to our Cornish garden. Being my first Long-tailed Blue in the British Isles I could scarcely believe my eyes when it dived at speed onto a lavender bush … Read More
Anita Smith had a rare but very welcome visitor to her garden in Morayshire, Scotland. This magnificent Death’s-head Hawkmoth was first seen in her neighbours garden and then photographed on a trellis in Anita’s. This long distance flyer is the … Read More
This fascinating caterpillar sighting was made in Guyana, South America. Andrea Stephenson recorded as many as twenty caterpillars known locally as Hairy Worms feeding on her juniper tree. These 2.5 inch long, distinctively marked caterpillars appeared harmless enough but the … Read More
Several species of butterfly appear to be having a very good year in Cornwall. This mating pair of Brown Argus were two of many seen amongst the dunes at Penhale Sands on the North Cornish coast. The first Common Blues … Read More
Our first Holly Blue of the year was seen in the garden on the 26th March. 6th species of the year – only 52 to go! As so often with this species it stopped only briefly giving little opportunity to … Read More
Only another 53 butterfly species to go! This Speckled Wood seen on the 24th March was my 5th butterfly species of the year. Following overwintering butterflies such as Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Brimstone and Comma this Speckled Wood was the first … Read More
A trip to Cabilla Wood, near Bodmin in Cornwall at the weekend to photograph Brimstone Butterflies couldn’t have turned out much better considering it’s still only February. To see over 30 of these stunning butterflies on a walk along the … Read More
A February trip to Cabilla Wood, near Bodmin in Cornwall to photograph early Brimstone Butterflies had an unexpected bonus instore. While ‘trying’ to take photos of Brimstones flitting from primrose to primrose in an open glade alongside the River Fowey … Read More
The February sunshine encouraged two overwintering Peacock butterflies to sunbath on the path leading down to Kynance Cove in south west Cornwall. Stunning butterflies in an equally beautiful setting. Another Peacock was seen the following day at Flushing on the … Read More
A Small Tortoiseshell found fluttering in the bathroom is my first butterfly of the year. A welcome sight despite the butterfly having been prematurely aroused from its overwintering slumber by the warmth of the central heating. Without any nectaring sources … Read More