Numbers of migrant Clouded Yellow butterflies in south west Cornwall have been low this year. Certainly not a Clouded Yellow Year compared to 2014 when we were lucky to witness the spectacular sight of hundreds in a single field by … Read More
This American Painted Lady butterfly, Vanessa virginiensis, a very rare butterfly for the UK, was recorded and photographed by Rowena Castillo-Nicholls and husband Rob at Nare Head on the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall on the 20th September. Rowena is a … Read More
Unexpectedly high numbers of Painted Lady butterflies were seen yesterday on a coastal site on the Lizard Peninsula, in South Cornwall. Since the southerly winds that had brought the large numbers of migrant Striped Hawkmoths had been replaced for over … Read More
This time of year the Cornish coastline is looking its best. Rugged cliffs and blue seas providing as stunning backdrop to a rich diversity of colouful plants. Not surprisingly these plants support a wide diversity of common and rare insects. … Read More
This pair of Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterflies, Bolaria euphrosyne, were photographed at Fellover Brake, Tuckingmill, Cornwall during the week. Several others were seen flying low over the bracken when ever the sun broke through the clouds. This is the earliest flying … Read More
Red Admiral caterpillars have been busy over the last few weeks constructing their nettle tents in our Cornish garden. Several are fully grown now and it was fascinating to watch a pale form of the caterpillar construct its final nettle … Read More
This Comma butterfly seen basking in warm sunshine at Penhale Dunes on the North coast of Cornwall was one of several seen in the last week at different Cornish locations. Other March sightings included ones in Falmouth and Glendurgan Gardens … Read More
Recent sunshine has enticed a few overwintering butterflies out into the garden. Whilst the odd Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral butterfly hasn’t been surprising a Hummingbird Hawkmoth certainly was. This early record may have been either a migrant or one … Read More
During last summer several Purple Hairstreak butterflies were seen from the top of a viewing platform erected as part of a moth study beside an oak tree at Trelusback Farm in Cornwall. Although the Purple Hairstreak butterflies frustratingly spend most … Read More
Two Red Admiral butterflies in our Cornish garden were a welcome sight this morning. Earlier in the week a Small Tortoiseshell was our first butterfly of the year. Fortunately a winter flowering heather is in full bloom and providing a … Read More
After what has felt a very long pandemic year its been great to be out and about once more with the camera. Wildlife really does lift the spirits, particularly when visiting a conservation success story. The Marsh Fritillary butterfly featured … Read More
This unusual sighting of a Swallowtail caterpillar in Brighton, England was received from Nick Fry. Given that it’s a long way from the only resident UK Swallowtail Butterfly population in the Fens of Norfolk the origins of the female butterfly … Read More