Ed Horncastle

Black redstart around the hotel on Rhodes. Beautiful.

Im gonna miss the blue skies the most

Last morning in Rhodes and the shots of the long tailed blue I wanted. A pretty fresh specimen too. @europebutterfly.bsky.social

Plenty of swallowtails around on Rhodes at the minute. A beautiful golden treat in late October. Good views from a tiny hill top monastery too.

Away in Rhodes weather is beautiful, a little brighter and warmer than Dartmoor in late October. Lots of flowers and butterflies still about. And I was very happy to see three red backed shrike this afternoon.

A male adder returned close to its hibernaculum. Dartmoor.
@argroupsuk.bsky.social

Extraordinary. Congratulations.

More than Ive seen before on my local patch on Dartmoor. Very welcome.

Maybe the counting using a UV torch would be better for these large bushes/hedges.

Thanks Martin. This bush is very rarely cut so has new growth all over. As it grows I wonder about the consistency of mainly looking below 2m (due to the proportion of the new growth being below 2m reducing with time as it grows). Anecdotally I have seen more high egg laying over the last few years

Brown Hairstreak looking for egg laying sites about 3m up in a large blackthorn hedge.

When searching for Brown Hairstreak eggs in the winter advice is to look between shin and chest height. Is this because that's often where the newer growth is? @savebutterflies.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social On my local hedge I see egg laying above this up to the top of the hedge at 4m.

About 10 clouded yellows in a couple of fields on North East Dartmoor. My 2nd highest number up here. In the heat it felt very Mediterranean. @bcdevon.bsky.social

My first Brown Hairstreak of the year a mile from my house. This female was searching for the perfect spot on the blackthorn to lay her eggs @bcdevon.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Cant you bend one of them back?

The whole family has been around today. A real treat. Hope they stay a while longer. #Birds

Spotted flycatchers in the garden on the power cable this morning. A beautiful sight #Birds

Beautiful Brimstones around today. Lots of peacocks too. Silver-washed fritillaries in the greatest numbers Ive ever seen but the white admiral season is almost over.

White admirals are my favourite. An absolute pleasure to see so many today in numerous woodland clearings @savebutterflies.bsky.social

So many butterflies today. 18 species including 50+ silver-washed, 20+ White admirals, 10+ purple hairstreaks, 10+ Red Admirals and 10+ newly emerged peacocks. Feel very lucky. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcdevon.bsky.social

Purple hairstreak numbers increasing. About 30 this evening. 15 in my favourite tree. Far away for my camera. I love watching them fight for sunny spots. A thrill to see them spiral and a treat to see which way around they land and the different shades they appear. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

I was a little giddy! Just about managed it!

That's incredible. Must have been attracted by the vivos!

So chilled. Awesome Rob

Amazing

What a shot!

White admiral females looking for egg laying sites this afternoon at Bovey valley woods. Weaving their way in and out of branches in the shade where honey suckle is growing. Very different to the way I usually see them gliding down from the tops of the trees. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Thanks. I was very lucky! Beautiful purple

Thamks. The upper was very orange so I think it probably was.

Autocorrect got the spelling wrong

Is this a f. Hutchinson Marcus?