Butterflies are so easy

On Saturday I had another visit to Duncan Farrington’s excellent farm. I was on the look-out for Turtle Doves as they used to be here but I haven’t seen, or heard, one for years in this spot.  Duncan’s farm looks good for Turtle Doves to me – plenty of thick nesting cover on the old…

A peculiarly Scottish butterfly

The Chequered Skipper is perhaps the British butterfly with the least expected UK range. Given that this butterfly is found over much of Europe where would you expect its UK range to be centred? Just over the Channel in southeast England? Maybe the New Forest or Dorset heaths? Think again! The Chequered Skipper is found…

But me no buts

I haven’t seen many butterflies yet this year –  a few Peacocks, lots of lovely Brimstones and some very welcome Small Tortoiseshells.  But I am keeping my fingers crossed for a sunny, warm summer with lots of butterflies on the wing. Last year, do you remember?, consisted of a grotty spring and then a fine…

Butterfly Conservation – flying high!

  The autumn issue of Butterfly came through the door yesterday, and with it Butterfly Conservation’s Annual Review for 2012/13.  Both are so well-produced and interesting that I have read them already. I highlighted the last issue of the magazine as being superb, and I’m not going to do it three times a year (though…

Gardening leave

I don’t get out much these days – I spend much of the day sitting at a computer and writing.  I’m not complaining – it’s what I want to do, but I am a bit deskbound. The other day I heard a bird call come through the window that was closed to keep the heat…