Lockdown has meant so many of us have been restricted to our gardens during this grim pandemic. However, amongst all the gloom it’s great that we are showing more interest in our own garden wildlife. A surge of enquiries, particularly … Read More
Some sun at last encouraged several caterpillars to show yesterday at Polly Joke on the north Cornish coast. 3 Scarlet Tiger caterpillars were sunning themselves on nettle leaves, 2 Drinker Moth caterpillars were on bramble leave and 2 Fox moth … 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
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
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
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
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