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In my absence on holiday there have been a few notable birds at Minsmere. Typically, some have been more obliging than others, and few people will have been able catch up with all the goodies. For many, the stars of the show have been a pair of stone-curlews that have set up home in the field behind...

RSPB nature reserves aren’t just great for birds. Amongst the mammals, insects, reptiles and arachnids, over the years we’ve recorded a grand total of 57 species of butterflies – that’s most of those recorded in the UK. Save Our Butterflies Week Butterflies are amazing creatures...

The cold wet weather hasn't made the best of starts to the season, but I think all the species have now been ticked off on the reserve lists, with one nightjar so far recorded at Russell's Inclosure. An unexpected bonus for Lewis when out looking for these over the weekend was a barn owl hunting...

Especially for those who like to see more than birds. This Orange-tip was one of a number seen at Burton Mere

Water levels are at last returning to normal, and while some parts of the visitor trails still have a few puddles, they are almost all completely accessible now. I say almost all, because a short section between South Belt crossroads and the Wildlife Lookout (West Hide) remains flooded and is accessible...

Hi, April turned out to be a cold and wet month. Migrant birds were slow in arriving but by the months end most of the summer species had returned all be it in small numbers. The cold and wet weather also had a negative impact on the number of butterflies flying around. It’s wasn’t all...

Garden warblers singing from a few places around the trail now - a very reliable spot is just at the top of the zigzag path about 100m from the visitor centre. Lesser whitethroat has been singing regularly from a bit further down the path. Nightingales and blackcaps still singing well from various places...

The weather may not back up such a claim, but if you venture out in the sunny spells or simply ignore the sky you will find that Highnam Woods is in the midst of spring. The bluebells are out, so it must be true! The cuckoo flower (lady's smock) has been out for a while now too, and is providing...

The short answer to that is, “Yes” - so don’t expect any more bardic utterances from me! Evening view across the wetlands from the raised bower. Although it is still Spring, here on the Campfield wetlands, today it felt like the middle of June: the wind had dropped and the...

After reading Stuart's blog about selecting flowers to attract bees to the garden, we thought we'd ask our Twitter followers for their suggestions. Here's what they came up with: Lavender, buddleia, sedum, scabious, coneflower (Echinacea), globe thistle, verbena, rosemary, thyme, knapweed...

Photographed on the Isle Of May in glorious sunshine and blue sky Second attempt at uploading !!!!

I have just read that a rare Silurian Moth has been spotted and recorded in Brecon National Park. It seems that the moth hasn't been seen for 35 years and was thought to extinct. The report can be read here at BBC Mid Wales. http://tinyurl.com/3d3jxx7 Regards Mark

Having seen the Hummingbird Hawk moth on my Budlier for the first time for two years will it return again or does it travel from garden to garden and how long does it live for

Just a couple of shows, the first - Born to be wild 7.30 pm, looking at the study of moths and butterflies, after that at 8pm is a repeat of Twitchers:a very British obsession.

I saw my first Mountain Ringlet butterfly of the year at Ben Lawers on Tuesday 28 June 2011 so they will soon be out in numbers on the Scottish mountains where this butterfly occurs. This butterfly is significantly under-recorded in Scotland so it would be great if members of the RSPB community who...

A couple of easy ways to get moths and butterflies to choose your garden to lay eggs are leaving areas of lawn to grow long , creating habitat for meadow species, and to set aside an area of garden to go wild , the wildflowers that colonise may include nettles and bramble that both attract a number of...

May is a hectic month for wildlife, there is just so much going on. As nature lovers we are spoilt for choice but there are a few things that stand out. Firstly, nightingales! I shouldn't need to say much more but they are back, they are singing and they're great. As a declining species it has...

Hola! In early March a friend and I had a short break in Catalonia, in the north of Spain. We stayed with my friend's daughter and one day she kindly took us to Aigüamolls de L'Empordà at Cortalet, a super reserve with reed beds, lakes and meadows near the coast. It has a visitor...

Comma, at van farm

Red Admiral, at van farm

Red Admiral, at van farm

Peacock, at van farm

Ringlet, at van farm.

Ringlet, at van farm

Common Blue? at preston island culross

One of six caterpillars found on our apple tree, last September. Local identification advised that these caterpillar's will burrow into the soil and emerge around about May/June. I have now covered the base of tree in fine mesh in the hope of getting a glimpse of these enormous creatures!

Eight butterflies, all on one clump of daisies! It must be my lucky day...