Category Archives: Featured photo

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A yellow butterfly with some black and brown markings on a pinkish flower

Clouded Yellow f.helice. Photo: Gary Holderness

Gary sent in this photo of a Clouded Yellow telling us:

I was down at Southbourne undercliff yesterday, 20/09/2024 where the highlights among the many butterflies flying were at least 2 f.helice Clouded Yellows and the Long-tailed Blues.

An orange butterfly with black, white, yellow and blue markings on a pink flower

Small Tortoiseshell. Photo: Sue East

A brown coloured moth with some paler markings on a yellow flower

Silver Y Moth. Photo: Sue East

Two photos from Sue sent in telling us:

Amazing the difference 24 hours and a bit of warm sunshine can make. Today, 09/09/2024 in our Hinton St Mary garden after all the wind and rain of recent days we have seen 3 Small Tortoiseshells, numerous Small, Large and Green-vein Whites, a Comma, 3 Red Admirals and this Silver Y moth.

An orange butterfly with black and white markings on a green leaf

Painted Lady. Photo: Mike Kirby

 

An orange and brown butterfly with black markings on a green leaf

Small Copper. Photo: Mike Kirby

Two photos from Mike sent in telling us:

I visited Stanpit Marsh this morning, 29/08/2024 just to see what might be about and was very pleased to see 4 Small Coppers – a species I’ve not seen many of this year.  Walking back to the car park I spotted this lovely Painted Lady and when I got home to Muscliff there was another waiting for me in the garden.  Fingers crossed there has been a bit of an influx.  As a bonus also saw a migrating Redstart.

Elephant Hawkmoth Caterpillar. Photo: Caroline Stringer

While checking her fuschias in her Oakford Fiztpaine garden on 27/07/24, Caroline  thought one looked rather moth eaten (see what she did there😅) and just as she was  going to prune it she noticed this wonderful Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillar.

Usually associated with Rosebay and other Willowherbs, but can be found on a small variety of other plants like Fuschias, Bedstraws, and Enchanters Nightshade between late June and September.