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That was the quote from a keen local birdwatcher yesterday following what can only be described as exceptional conditions for seawatching. As i mentioned in a recent blog, seawatching is one of the more extreme types of birdwatching. It takes considerable patience, and many years of practice to be...

Just spent the day at the above site, really hot and breazy - so not much going on.Started with a good siteing ... After this , it was pretty quiet on the bird front. From Marshland viewpoint, we could see several waders and a Heron. There was House Martins flying around in the fields and a real abundance...

So, a good day had featuring our local butterflies and moths. local expert Doug Goddard took a party around the woods to see what butterflies could be found. They found 19 different species, including a mating pair of silver-washed fritillaries. The full species list was: Large White White Letter...

The 16th-31st July is the Butterfly Conservation societies "Big Butterfly Count". We've kicked off the survey on the reserve today as the sunshine has returned! We are providing laminated guides to give visitors a helping hand when it comes to identification. It's a fifteen minute species...

Today was our annual bird ringing demonstration, and like all days that we plan to do bird ringing, it was raining. We did get a few birds including 6 chaffinches, 2 great tits, 1 blue tit and 1 dunnock, but for the most part it was too wet making the mist nets very visible to birds. However, we'd...

The butterfly count starts tomorrow and runs to the end of the month. It only takes 15 mins to do. Butterfly

No sooner have I mentioned silver washed fritillaries, than one turns up in the courtyard of the centre. Wonderfully close views as it sucked up water spilt from a dog's drinking bowl. Did i have my camera? Of course not!

Hi everyone, First it was spots , now it's spines. Earlier in the week we had Archie's nine-spined stickleback , now we've got some spiny caterpillars. Next time you're at Saltholme, keep your eyes peeled for peacock butterfly caterpillars. They seem to be all over the place. ...

We've just had some visitors coming in reporting silver-washed fritillary butterflies are out in the woods. We know we have them, last year was especially good. So worth coming up to look for. Don't forget the butterfly and moth day is on 24 July, with a guided walk by local expert Doug Goddard...

I must admit I'm completely helpless at butterflies and moths, I can only name about a dozen species but when I saw this I knew it was something special... After some research I wasn't able to come up with anything, my little knowledge brings me to think that it's some kind of a skipper...

Despite the rather cold recent weather this spring has been a very good one for our butterflies. The cold winter, which kills the parasites on over-wintering caterpillars, helped as did a very warm April and most of May. Early sightings included peacock, red admiral and comma with brimstone very close...

Thanks everyone - Peacock seems the most likely. BB

Thanks for the replies. I wondered about a peacock, but when it was flying the top of its wings looked black too, definitely not as colourful as the pictures of peacocks that I've seen. Could I have missed the colouring? I did have a pretty good view. BB

Last Sunday half way through Mass, a butterfly flew into Church through a hole in the window and fluttered about the Sanctuary for a while before settling on the windowsill (with wings closed). It was quite large, about the size of a red admiral, and completely black (or at least very dark), with...

With slightly warmer weather, though still a rather chilly easterly wind, a few migrants have started to appear. The first sand martins were seen last Saturday and a few chiffchaffs have started to sing around the reserve. A pipistrelle bat was seen this lunch-time near the new boardwalk and butterflies...

This picture was taken in my garden in September 2010. This Red Admiral was one of many butterflies that came to enjoy the fallen apples.

Hi, saw a butterfly yesterday - not sure what as had its wings closed - any ideas what might be about in January - think the warm sunny afternoon brought it out from hibernation? the wings were dark on the undersides,

As promised heres the pic of the brimstobe at the lodge 27/10/10

Yes, it took me a little while to realise what she was doing. I hadn't seen this before.

Marbled white butterfly 2

My first sight of a Marbled White butterfly. It was in the South of France and they were in abundance.

Walking home from the supermarket, I rounded a corner in full sun. A passing butterfly saw its chance, settling on my white top. Like some extravagant jewel it clung to the rib, while I delighted in its velvety closeness and peacock finery.

I watched my young daughter following a butterly with her forefinger held out. I laughed and told her it wouldn't land on her. "Mum" she gasped, big-eyed and tearful "I've been blessed!" The butterfly, open-winged, had settled. Blessed indeed.

I watched my young daughter following a butterly with her forefinger held out. I laughed and told her it wouldn't land on her. "Mum" she gasped, big-eyed and tearful "I've been blessed!" The butterfly, open-winged, had settled. Blessed indeed.

I watched my young daughter following a butterly with her forefinger held out. I laughed and told her it wouldn't land on her. "Mum" she gasped, big-eyed and tearful "I've been blessed!" The butterfly, open-winged, had settled. Blessed indeed.

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