We love to moan about the weather. " Oooo...nothing but rain for weeks on end.... cannot get out to cut the grass.... everywhere flooded.... no butterflies anywhere!" and now it's... " Oooo.... butterflies on the wing!... but it's too hot to go outside... risk of getting burnt.... grass all crispy....wish it was cooler!"

I have a solution!  Wear a wide brimmed hat and get out there and enjoy the sudden flush of insect life and the associated frenetic feasting of the small bird population desperate to feed their young or summon up the energy to produced eggs!

Whitethroats do not seem as numerous this spring... listen out for their scratchy song.... which by the way, lasts as long as it will take you to say scratchy, scratchy, scratchy!!! (Image by Chris Lowe)

Despite coming out earlier than normal, in late March, this year; there are still some delightful Orange Tips on the wing (Basil Thornton)

Green Hairstreaks have colonised in recent years. This one is on Green Alcanet  (Dave McGough) 

24-5-12