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Great to see that my potted cabbages and stinging nettles in the garden have been "found". Both have Red Admiral and Large & Small White caterpillars on them. It's something anybody can do very easily to increase butterfly numbers in their area in the hot and dry weather Alderholt Dorset.

Sand Martins nesting on the Undercliff of the Southbourne Butterfly Transect. Southbourne Dorset.

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Week 17 and out on the Southbourne Butterfly Transect today. Numbers low due to dry ground and lack of nectar, most butterflies seen on upper cliff. Highlights 7 Painted Ladies. A few SW and Gatekeeper. Also good to see some Sand Martins still nesting on the undercliff. Southbourne Dorset

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I was up in Oxfordshire last weekend. There was plenty of insect activity, the highlights, a beautiful Brown Argus and this Jersey Tiger Moth. Then yesterday evening at home a "thirsty" Purple Hairstreak was in the garden drinking moisture of my pot plants after I'd given them a water. Marvelous.

I've seen them in the garden this hot summer quite a few times and I was finally quick enough with the camera to get a bit of video of it. The beautiful Hummingbird hawk-moth. The resemblance to hummingbirds a wonderful example of convergent evolution. Alderholt Dorset

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Slightly cooler conditions yesterday (not by much!) so a planned trip to Brownsea Island went ahead. The highlight of a great day out of course, was the Red Squirrels. Fantastic 🐿️

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Week 13 and it was a scorching 🥵 morning out on the Southbourne Butterfly Transect. Plenty of Whites about (including this Large White). A couple of fast moving Painted Lady and a equally quick Clouded Yellow and that was about it. Southbourne Dorset

A lot of Green-veined White Butterflies have emerged on my local patch in the last 48 hours. There was hardly any last Friday now there all over the place. Plus a few White Admiral in the wooded areas. Alderholt Dorset

Lots of different species of butterfly on the wing on my local patch now including plenty of Ringlet and Large Skipper. Alderholt Dorset.

I spent a day at the Knepp estate yesterday primarily to see the White Storks. I wasn't disappointed, plenty about and breeding successfully. What a great job they have done rewilding the area, a fantastic place to visit. Knepp Sussex

Success and now into the "big bad world" The Blackbirds have fledged.

Not much on the Southbourne Butterfly Transect this lunchtime, due to a brisk cooling wind coming in from the sea. Only butterflies seen were a few Small Heath low down, other highlights, two unidentified larva burrowing into Birds foot trefoil and deceased Privet Hawk Moth ! Southbourne Dorset

"I think we're going to need a bigger nest . . ."

Another rainy and cold day for June. But the Blackbird chicks continue to do well and perhaps are only a few days away from fledging ? What a difference from a week ago.

Two days later and eyes are opening on some of the Blackbird chicks. 🐦👍🤞

After three days of wind, rain and below temperatures for June, the "Garden Blackbird" chicks are still going strong, nice and dry due the the conservatory roof! Growing at a fast rate. Fingers crossed it continues.

A week later and the Blackbird eggs have hatched. Being fed and brooded well by the male and female. So far so good .🐦🤞

I've got to "take my hat off" to the local Blackbird in my garden. How she's managed in this hot weather to still brood her eggs which she laid on my Virginia Creeper under my conservatory roof entrance I'll never know . 🌞🥵🐦

A beautiful day on the Southbourne transect this morning. Common Blue on the wing with caterpillars found on the top cliff. Holly Blue, Small Heath and Small White also seen although overall numbers are on the low side. The Beach Daisy and Thrift today was simply stunning. Southbourne Dorset

Compton Down Dorset

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