ABtrees

Morning all Yeah I would defn agree with Broad-bodied Chaser - looks like the 2 in the pics are females. They are great to watch when they're watching other things, deciding if it's food or a threat. Got a few that I am struggling with (so any help appreciated). Here's one or two from yesterday and a couple of other pics. And then some butterflies to follow (obviously!).

Here's a few more - spring has definitely sprung - but we have had a few colder nights so not many butterflies atm !

That is absolutely brilliant. Made my day.

Hi Timbernut Yeah we have those too but I don't think this was one of them - fortunately/unfortunately. More like some other beetle larva as was walking along an old Oak trunk. Here's a couple (that maybe of interest) from the last few days ……. but I missed one of my super-rarities yesterday - no camera - prat !

Hi Oz I believe these are Alder Leaf beetles. I posted some on David's Iggly thread in Feb 19. We have loads of them in France and something is killing the Alders locally (but I don't think it's these - more the green boring larvae (same thread) that I have yet to identify - help?). Clearly however if the beetle eat lots of the leaves, the tree is less able to defend itself (we also had a very dry summer last year - so what is the primary issue I wonder). Anyhow, here is the RHS link Alder leaf beetle / RHS Gardening WWW.RHS.ORG.UK The metallic blue alder leaf beetle (<em>Agelastica alni</em>) feeds on the leaves of alder trees. It has recently become... which suggests control on big trees is impossible. I note on the web there have been some older (haha) studies into bacterial control (Pseudomonas) but I'm not sure if there is a commercial aspect to this (they apparently also eat Hazel).

Now that is a spectacular find. Have you just seen the one or do you see them often ? I would suggest this one is female - the male is like the Great Crested with (you guessed it) a splendid dorsal crest. We have lots of the little Palmate ones with their webbed feet but nothing like this.

How cool is that fella - great pic too. This is one I've yet to find, which is odd because as you say they are (supposed to be) quite common. Some friends of ours (live about 5kms away) have loads. We have all the right habitat / food etc - maybe I just need to search harder but they're not exactly something you're going to miss ! Has he/she puffed up and showing defensive posture or is it just 'well fed' ?

OK my version is : Small Heath, Scarce Swallowtail (its not round here), Bee winged HM (Bang on SR10), Willowherb HM, Jersey Tiger Moth caterpillar, and yes lovely Black-veined White. Then it gets a bit trickier : Lesser Stag (Hooray Mick!), Spider ! (SR10 - not convinced that it is a true crab spider - but then I know nothing about spiders!), Spider ! (Possibly Raft - it was big and found on water!), Pretty sure this is the male Broad-bodied Chaser - defn. lacking the 'Four spots' - they are mid wing. No.4 - no idea - need help !, Tell it like it is : Black and Red Striped Shield bug and finally yes a Yellow-bellied toad. (Photo below for you SR10) Mick - do you have these ? They do a really cool thing when threatened - they put their feet upside down (over their body) to show the colour to warn off predators ! Maybe a few more tomorrow or Friday

Here's the 'others' then. No.4 is the male version of the Chaser I posted on page 15 of this thread. Anyone help me out on No.5 pls.? And No. 7 is (yet) another first for me (Mick- it may be one of the ones you posted the other day ???).

Evening. Here's a few more then (butterflies etc first) - feel free to guess (optional !) - just for fun ! Other bugs and beasties to follow.

Here's a couple of pics. Interested to hear what the 2nd/ 3rd ones are (same thing) on a fallen Pop

…… and people will be relighting their stoves every night this week !

Thank you both (all) - your enjoyment is icing on the cake - and I hope you'd be sharing these too. I have a couple of real rarities (to quote my wife: 'for the UK, not here' ) - not butterflies as it happens. But I have decided to only post stuff as I come across it this year (a tiny lockdown silver lining - I'm seeing way more stuff by being 'at home'), so you'll have to wait till they turn up - fingers crossed !

Won't be posting any pictures of my veggies (or greenhouse) after seeing this !!!!

Hi Gary Apparently it is also called the White Petticoat and (the one I like best) for many years was known as The Grand Surprise !

Good that you got the Clouded Yellows I sent over - I'll point some others northwards ! Glad you're enjoying the pics. (I'll keep posting till someone tells me to stop (Steve?) - I do feel a bit like I have hijacked this thread though - sorry). I am into my wildlife (in case you haven't guessed) and a passion for butterflies - we are very, very fortunate in our 'little corner' of France to be inundated with so many and so many different species. I had a little competition last year to see how many species I could photograph in 2 hours - I got to 26. Then occasionally you get one like this - only 2 other butterflies had this effect on me : The Large Copper and the Lesser Purple Emperor.

Brilliant - spot on - how did you get that so easily ? Have you ever actually seen one ? For my part this was only the 2nd time in my entire life that I've had the privilege - stunningly beautiful. Here's a few more pics - including it sat on (taking salts off) my eldest's hand.

Hi Stuart. Can't open the picture for some reason but (courtesy of google images) the are a lovely tree/flower.

Evening. For me today was a bit special : it wasn't the second tree frog (defn. Arborea this time), it wasn't the cat (elephant) faced spider, it wasn't even the better picture of the ground beetle, but instead picture 4 - anyone want to guess ?

And a few other things as well …...

Butterflies coming thick and fast now !

Update : Pleased to report that we have leaves (terrible picture - sorry). On my walk early this am and took the photo(s) below. I reckon JSN nailed it - Poplar (possibly Black? - its pretty boggy there atm). Hopefully you guys will confirm this pls. Other 2 pics for completeness are the Robinia up the road and a walnut taken a few days ago.

Here's a few different ones (last 2 pics are the same thing - though I'm not even sure it's even a fungus ?!!!).

Mick, do you have these guys ? They are seriously noisy as well. Unfortunately they are very good at catching damsel/dragonflies.

That's what I thought Mick but it isn't or if it is it has happened very, very quickly. Here's a close up of the end of the branches - this years catkins and this year's buds - maybe ???