Monthly Archives: May 2018

Having posted butterflies for the past three days I felt that I was on a roll, and got up this morning with a plan to track down another one – but on discovering that it was overcast, windy, and cold, … Continued

This morning R and I went up to Hampton Wood in Warwickshire, hoping to find Banded Demoiselles in the water meadow. It turned out to be too early for them at this site (though photos of them are beginning to … Continued

Again. I was driving down the road towards the disused railway line where the Grizzled Skippers hang out, when I realised that another car was tucked into the verge at the top of the footpath, where I’d been intending to … Continued

This morning I made my first visit of the year to the Butterfly Conservation reserve at Prestbury Hill. Because all of my target species are small, I realised that I was going to have to search the sheltered lower slopes … Continued

Mad dogs and Englishwomen: I walked three miles along a disused railway line today, in searing mid-day heat, in search of a Grizzled Skipper. I found one too, but it was much less impressed with me than I was with … Continued

The first of the year for me: a Large Red Damselfly in the far garden this morning. If you’ve been following my pointless ramblings for any length of time you’ll know that damsel and dragonflies hold a special place in … Continued

This is apparently slated to be the hottest May Day Bank Holiday weekend in the history of May Day Bank Holiday weekends. It was certainly too hot today for my comfort, and it wasn’t a particularly good day for bees … Continued

I first found this caterpillar – or one of its “siblings” – a couple of days ago, and after posting photos to a Facebook forum I had it at least tentatively identified as the larva of a Scarlet Tiger moth. … Continued

I think I may have missed my métier. When I hear people commenting in tones of disbelief about some wildlife photographer or cameraperson who’s said to have spent three months of eight-hour days sitting in a hide, waiting to get … Continued

I’m still heavily corseted today, but moving a little more easily than yesterday; given which, I decided this morning to make a small road trip – just up to the wetland reserve at Upton Warren. Because birds. Evidence of my … Continued