Simon Patient

30 years ago this week, that was Mark 😳

Nice shots Jon 👍

Digi Binned photo of the smart and very showy Juv Wood Sand at Abberton this morning. NE corner of LDLH c’way. Typically i left my camera at home on this morning’s visit there with the kids. #essexbirding

And now a Jersey Tiger in our Colchester garden just now. My 2nd garden record.

Yes will be interesting to see what happens.

My first Jersey Tiger of the year unexpectedly alighted on my daughters head on a visit to Colchester zoo just now.

White Admiral larva number 1

White Admiral larva number 1

White Admiral larva number 2’s latrine? Leaf mostly eaten

White Admiral larva number 2 photo from Thursday, still present on Saturday

Today one of our White Admiral larva in our Colchester garden was still present whilst the second one has gone AWOL. Its leaf mostly eaten with what maybe its latrine left behind in silk? Maybe wandered off to find a new leaf, I did have a look but still can’t find it. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Really enjoying these updates. Incredible stuff 👍

White Admiral larvae

White Admiral larvae

White Admiral larvae

Some better shots of our garden White Admiral larvae here in Colchester. 2 caterpillars found so far. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social

Just found larvae number 2. Both only 1 ft above the ground in partial shade

About 3 weeks ago we had a White Admiral lay eggs on our garden Honeysuckle here in Colchester.This morning I’ve had a look again and we have this larvae sitting on the end of its ‘pier’ which has made my day. I’ve never seen their larvae before and had always wanted to. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

A walk into Fridaywoods Colchester, Cherry tree lane area produced a male Purple Emperor in the usual territory NE side of gravel crater. ( This territory has now been used for the last 8 years that I know of ). Plus 3 Silver-washed Fritillaries and a White Admiral in that same area.

Silver-washed Fritillary

Silver-washed Fritillary

Female White-letter Hairstreak

White-letter Hairstreak

15 species of butterfly in our Colchester garden today including this Silver-washed Fritillary some WLH including this female on bramble flowers. The Lavender was alive with Large Whites and Bees, now the sky is filling with flying Ants

We found this Purple Hairstreak on our trampoline which had seen better days also

They’re one of my favourites.

Not a bad day in our Colchester garden, started with 5 Crossbills flying east calling early morning. Then WLH and this Silver-washed fritillary on our Buddliea. A pristine Painted Lady and our first Migrant Hawker of the year

Hummingbird hawk-moth again in our Colchester garden today, almost daily visits from it or others. Brown Hawker and this White Admiral checking out our Buddliea this evening.

This pale phase Common Buzzard briefly quickened my pulse this morning over our Colchester garden. @essexbirding

Purple Hairstreak

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Lesser Stag Beetle

Purple Hairstreaks are now coming down and visiting our Colchester garden, plus WLH and this Hummingbird Hawk-moth. Ruddy Darter and Southern Migrant Hawker still and the other day a Lesser Stag Beetle ( a lifer for me ) and fly over Stag Beetle. Plus Hobby almost daily.

White Admiral plus egg.

White Admiral egg laying

White Admiral egg on Honeysuckle

View of the Honeysuckle growing in our garden, quite sparse and shady low down. Arrow shows where eggs were layed.

A dream come true. I planted this Honeysuckle in our Colchester garden in the tiny hope it may attract White Admirals to lay eggs and today that happened. Several eggs watched being layed low down in the shady areas. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Well done Jon, that’s the way to do it. I however enjoyed a double dip today ☹️

Teneral Southern Migrant Hawker

Barred Grass Snake

My first teneral Southern Migrant Hawker for the year was in our Colchester garden this morning, my earliest here. Plus Grass Snake in our pond also FFY. Green-eyed flower Bees and 2 clashing WLH on our Elder, and daily visits from White Admirals still. #Ukwildlife

White-letter Hairstreak

White-letter Hairstreak

White-letter Hairstreak

White-letter Hairstreak is now out in our garden here in Colchester. Our FFY here this morning in the same Elder/Ivy bush that was used last year by combating males. Giving some nice low down views. Also White Admiral and Painted Lady through.

White Admiral

White Admiral through our Colchester garden this a’noon, then presumably the same one on Brambles nearby (photo). Plus 2 Meadow Browns, 2 Comma and several Holly Blues

Red-footed Falcon, distant record shot by my old school mate Oli. Bird was flying around feeding and perching up tho distant.

My highlight today was Red-footed Falcon 2nd cal fem (presumed one of the long staying birds from last month) at Abberton res, at the end of Lodge Lane viewpoint hunting with c4 Hobbies at 17:15. #essexbirding

Funny enough we don’t get those indoors although we do have false widow spiders so it’s lucky not to have been eaten.

Thanks Malcolm, yes I have submitted the report. The record breaking spring weather wise we have had seems to have made an impact on emergence.

White Admiral

White admiral

White Admiral

Wow, I was not expecting to see this White Admiral inside our conservatory this evening here in Colchester. Just got in from work and there it was. Cool and wet outside, must of come in earlier through the open door, my earliest ever White Admiral. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social #butterfly

Blackcap

Female Emperor Dragonfly

Common Blue Damselfly

Our garden Blackcaps are very busy feeding chicks just over the garden fence. The male here looking impeccable ( I know how it feels ). Also this female Emperor Dragonfly FFY having a probe around.

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Painted Lady

Small Tortoiseshell

Common Blue Damselfly

Had a Hummingbird Hawk Moth FFY in our Colchester garden today, plus Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell and a Meadow Brown FFY. Also a few Common Blue Damselflies around the pond.