what it is all about

meadow brown (above) and ringlets (below) mating today

things are warming up

Above, the first tortoiseshell of the year that we have seen , and below Spot's favourite fungus, the well named and well endowed stinkhorn.

guest appearance

It seems that everyone is keen to appear on Spot's blog, including this visiting prince looking for his princess. This was a large and vigorous common frog (identified by the black mark around the eye extending to the ear behind) enjoying the warmth.

the admiral's return

The first red admiral I have seen this summer. It was flying very briskly, so much so that the vibrations from the wing were audible.

gilding the lily

the heart of the flower head of a guelder rose, and the oddly extravagant and unnecessary (it would seem) false flowers on the periphery.

like a needle in a hay field

the effectiveness of the camouflage that butterflies use is not always obvious when they are on the wing and showing their brighter sides. It is almost impossible to see the meadow brown in the top picture even if you know where it is, and it is only just visible at much closer range.