Ahoy Skipper !

Ten species, in total, in the Bedfordshire brickpits on another fine day. On the Callows by Stewartby Lake a Dingy Skipper, three Grizzled Skipper and four Green Hairstreak were on show.







A Large Red Damselfly was on the wing - my first 'dragon' of the season.

Bedfordshire - 22/04/09

Another warm, sunny day with a slight breeze and my first Duke of Burgundy of the year.



A male Brimstone chases a female in a whirling dance. This shot almost froze the action at 1/1250sec. f5.6 ISO400.

Local Patch - 20/04/09

Peacock (2), Brimstone, Comma, Small-T (3) and GV White at Dunstable STW. At Grovebury Sandpit, Orange Tip, Small-T and Speckled Wood.

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.