D H Fowles

A simple exercise in self-awareness that could change how you understand yourself Close your eyes for a moment and think of a memory from childhood that fills you with a deep, almost magical sense of meaning. Perhaps it’s your grandmother’s kitchen on a Sunday mornin…

A simple exercise in self-awareness that could change how you understand yourself
hagioptasia.wordpress.com/2025/07/27/a...

Good morning from northern Greece!

A Lattice brown (Kirinia roxelana) sheltering shyly on a village wall.

A male muntjac deer rests in green grass, showing small antlers and dark facial stripes, photographed by Marc Baldwin

Earlier this year, a second drone survey of deer populations in the Broads was completed - providing the clearest picture yet of how they are impacting our wetland landscapes.

If you're interested in learning more, find the full article on our website: www.broads-authority.gov.uk/news/largest...

An image showing a male Bearded reedling perched on a reed, bathed in golden light against a backdrop of out-of-focus reeds

A superb capture of a Bearded reedling perched up at Hickling Broad ✨

Males sport a bold black ‘moustache’ against soft tawny plumage. These fascinating birds build intricate, globe-shaped nests among reeds near water and often chatter in small flocks outside breeding season.

📷 Adam Spruce

High temperatures over North Africa from midweek and a southerly airflow, should provide better conditions for long distance insect dispersal. Wednesday and especially Thursday look to be the warmest days of the week, with Thursday and Friday the pick of the nights. #teammoth

Good morning! Our unique butterfly tour in Northeast India starts in a couple of days. Our guests can look forward to many beautiful butterflies. This was popular last year, the Green Awlet (Burara vasutana).

View our range of butterfly & moth focused tours here...

greenwings.co/our-holidays...

Following the recent good weather now is a good time to take stock of butterfly sightings in Norfolk. Brimstone and Commas being the most numerous, Peacocks Red Admirals and Small Tortoiseshell have also been seen. 2 species to add to the 2025 list were see on March 8th, Small White & Specked Wood.

A photo of a white moth on a green leaf in Borneo who mimics bird poo. Including the flies feeding on the bird poo!

This is Macrocillix maia & he's a moth who mimics bird poo. But he's taken it to the next level, he's also mimicking flies feeding on the bird poo, right down to the shimmer of their wings!

I have wanted to see one for so long, but never thought I would! In Trus Madi entomology camp in Borneo.
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What a start to the year for those finding Large Tortoiseshells in Kent! Its eggs are brown, since they're laid on bark, rather than the green of Nettle-feeders. I was also lucky enough to be in the company of @wlangdon12.bsky.social and Matthew Oates when Will found larvae on Portland (below)!

After a brief probable and more than three hours of wandering and searching it all came good. Very good. One of the, eventually showy, Large T’s.

The best by far today: two or three LARGE TORTOISESHELL butterflies in Birchett Wood between Shadoxhurst and Hamstreet today.

My 3rd species of butterfly this year is this Comma that visited my garden. @bc-suffolk.bsky.social

The annual get together of Butterfly recorders in the UK is fast approaching and the programme is out. See below for info on all the talks, we can't wait to hear them! Reserve your free space here - buff.ly/945ZpKT
#UKBRM

From Landguard- The second site record of Early Moth with the previous one being in February last year.

Comma seen today at Gunton Meadow, Lowestoft.
@bc-suffolk.bsky.social

3pm on 6/3

1am on 7/3

9pm on 6/3

A mild night to come for most of Britain & Ireland. With a warm southerly flow from North Africa (via the nr Continent) & tropical maritime air to the west converging over the UK, it could be an interesting night on south/west coasts. Cornwall to Dorset best placed to see any activity #teammoth

How about a nice butterfly talk to get you in the spring mood…

#Butterflies #DukeOfBurgundy #Lepidoptera #Stroud #Gloucestershire @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Where to see butterflies in Cambridgeshire Edward Pollard, the Cambridgeshire recorder, has put together a handy guide to the best places to see butterflies in Cambridgeshire. Please click the link below to download it.

These sunny days are whetting the appetite for the butterfly year to come
A reminder that if you want to learn more about the best sites for butterflies in Cambridgeshire take a look at this little guide
butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area...

A Comma butterfly basking in sunshine. This species is notable for ragged wing edges which help with camouflage. The ground colour is a deep orange, and there are black and lighter-orange markings on all the wings.

Three Commas seen this afternoon, all successfully survived the rigours of winter pretending to be dead leaves.

Butterfly Conservation's butterflies and moths to see in March: Red Admiral, Orange Underwing, Peacock, Oak Beauty, Brimstone, Dotted Border, Comma, Early Thorn, Small Tortoiseshell

Spring is on its way! Look out for these butterflies and moths in your gardens and local green spaces 🦋🌷🌱

What have you seen recently? Don't forget to tag us in your butterfly and moth sightings. 📷

#SaveButterflies #MothsMatter

Paphos Blue in Cyprus

Green-underside Blue in Greece.

A little gem from Cyprus, Glaucopsyche paphos - the endemic Paphos Blue.

Similar to G. alexis - the Green-underside Blue, but lacks the basal flush associated with that species.

Shot of each for comparison. The alexis is from Rhodes, Greece.

Both feature on our spring tours to Cyprus & Rhodes.

Four Peacocks still hibernating in my shed on this weeks transect. One had its wings open and seemed annoyed I was there. Listen to it hiss @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Guidance & recording forms | UKBMS UKBMS Online Guidance - illustrated guidance for new UKBMS users getting started with data entry

Get ready for survey season!
Its only a month to go until the start of UKBMS Transect surveys. Brush up on the survey method with our resources here -

I take it that they say it starts with seeing something as special, sparking an immediate feeling that’s hard to separate from the sight, though the murkiness of assumptions leaves room for debate.

I guess 'perceptual' because hagioptasia is about seeing specialness before emotions kick in - like how beauty feels immediate.
Yes, similar to OCD contamination in that it feels real despite knowing it’s not, but hagioptasia is usually a positive experience

Still looking for an accurate take - unlike certain others

But the critique doesn't deny the role of culture in shaping emotions, but challenges Barrett's dismissal of innate emotional responses, suggesting a balance where both construction and biology play roles.

I thought the rollercoaster example worked well at addressing the matter of predictive brain/active inference creating universal concepts.

Yes, it's odd. Thanks, Toni