Lesser Celandine

Local Patch, 2nd April

Another fine day. At Dunstable STW there were five Small Tortoiseshell, two Peacock and one Brimstone. A Weasel darted out from a ditch - all too briefly.

Spring !

After the long wait . . .

Extremadura, Spain, May 2008

Spanish Purple Hairstreak

The Marsh Fritillary Eurodryas aurinia beckeri is a variable species across europe and asia. This one was basking in the garden of our base in Extremadura.

Speckled Wood



A female Common Blue

Thanks to Don Green and David Anderson who helped in the identification of the lacewing Nemoptera pennis.

Sharpenhoe Clappers

A fine day and my first Painted Lady of the year !



There were a few Small Tortoiseshell around too.





Three Brimstone were seen - all in good condition



A grasshopper - not quite sure which one though ...

Wall Wonder

So, before the Wall Brown disappears completely from Bedfordshire, I managed to track down a known individual which took up territory just yards from a main-line railway track !





Common Blue



Small Heath

Maulden Woods

At last - a fine, sunny day, with 13 species of butterfly and 81 individuals.

There were plenty of Speckled Wood to be seen:



Meadow Brown abound:



Peacock



Only 2 Holly Blue were seen



... similarly, 2 Red Admiral:



Three Small Copper - including this tatty individual: