William Brame

Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) butterfly resting on a broken branch. Arrows pointing to various part of the butterfly with the following identifying features: "Wingspan: 68-75mm. Blue border is much thinner or absent. Four black spots on the forewing." Photo credit Graham Hubbard

Have you seen a Small Tortoiseshell or a Large Tortoiseshell? 🔍

As the name suggests, the Large Tortoiseshell is slightly larger with a wingspan of 68-75mm. It is also a duller orange colour with a thin (sometimes absent) blue border on the wings. Look out for the extra spot on the forewings.

Reaching net zero by 2050 ‘cheaper for UK than one fossil fuel crisis’ Climate change committee finds move to renewable energy would also bring health, economic and security benefits

www.theguardian.com/environment/... Making all the investments needed for the UK to meet net zero by 2050 will cost less than the one-off gas crisis caused by Russia invading Ukraine. And it will protect us forever from fossil fuel shocks, like - say - a surge in oil price caused by bombing Iran.

Quite right Steph seems crazy that the government has called the war illegal and supports it by allowing our bases to be used as a springboard for the American Terrorist planes

A pair of Goosanders in the river at Landguard were obviously caught out by the foggy conditions also "wanders with Wolf" was giving exercise to his pet

Heathland restoration in full swing at Ipswich Golf Club now rain has eased. Seed collected on site used on areas prepared at 3rd, 5th, 9th on 18 hole course. A successful technique we have used for many years here @golfgreenkeepers.bsky.social @bc-suffolk.bsky.social

Not too much at Landguard today but a Woodcock was noted coming in from the sea also the first Stonechat of the spring possibly of a continental origin also a new Goldcrest was ringed and the overwintering Firecrest was present

Field margin with wildflowers that can support butterflies in arable farmland

Livestock grazing is essential to maintaining grasslands in the mountains of Europe. Extensive cattle grazing has been shown to be the most beneficial but any extensive system is good

Grassland butterflies are declining across Europe, but how do we reverse that trend? We have just produced a report with some simple guidance to land managers and policy makers on how to 'Bend the curve' and help increase butterflies and other pollinators. www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?...

2025 was another bad year for the Chequered Skipper in NL. The distribution of this butterfly is getting more and more sparse. The species cannot cope very well with the dry years since 2018.

The density of the Common Blue (P icarus) per 50km square in 2024 on eBMS Butterfly monitoring transects (www.butterfly-monitoring.net) shows a W-E cline, with lowest densities in Ireland, UK, Portugal and NL and highest in Sweden, Austria, Italy and Balkans.

Peacock butterfly warming itself on the ground in early spring.

Last call. If anyone has any butterfly records for Suffolk (2025) please submit them online this weekend. I plan a final download early next week for processing into the 2025 Suffolk Butterfly Report. Early signs are of a record breaking year for observations. Thank you.
@bc-suffolk.bsky.social

The U.S. Senate must be clear: no war with Iran.

In 2025 the number of transects where expert volunteers count butterflies in NL rose to almost 1600. On most of them (1257) all butterflies are counted, but some transects are for one species only or plots for egg-counts.

Our Democracy is not for sale! Stop billionaires buying our democracy. Kick Big money out of our politics.

Our democracy is being sold off to big‑money donors — and the new Elections Bill won’t fix it unless we demand better.

Let's kick big money out of our politics, use this super easy tool from @taxjusticeuk.bsky.social to email your MP like I just did.
actionnetwork.org/letters/our-...

As I see the weather back home is nearly as good as it is here in Portugal but it seems that spring has started with the first 6 Pallid Swifts over the hotel in Monte Gordo this morning and 2 Alpine Swifts flew in off the sea

We drove up into the Alentejo region today to look for some Bustards and Eagles and succeeded with 16 Great Bustards 2 Iberian Imperial Eagles 2 Lesser Kestrels the best

Here they come the leading bunch at today's Tour de Algarve

A Spanish Festoon in Portugal today and a pic of its caterpillar food plant Iberian Birthwort a noxious plant hence the warning colours of the adult butterflies

A Sawfly Orchid from sunny Monte Gordo Portugal also Horse Egrets

Just one more pic of the Snow Bunting at Landguard with its herculean heaving of a beach pebble to get to seeds

Caught this Snow Bunting completely by accident eyeing up, picking up and removing a stone to get at seeds on the back beach, river side, at Landguard yesterday something i have never seen before

The time for change is now: end fox hunting Hunting was supposed to be banned over 20 years ago, but the hunts have carried on chasing and killing wild animals with dogs like the law never changed. This government was elected on a promise to fi...

This cause is close to my heart - please sign: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/th...

Along the River Orwell off Loompit Lake a Great northern Diver was still present also a fine drake Goldeneye was on the Lake with a dozen or so Red breasted Mergansers on the river also a Common Seal

Hi Cheryl yep it was on a lead and it was very friendly even taking a treat from me, it scared the hell out of the dog we are looking after at the moment, the owner got him from a zoo and said he was mostly well behaved, I've nicknamed the owner Wanders with Wolves

Whilst birding at Landguard bird Observatory we cannot help but notice regular dog walkers and their canine pets and over the past few months one such owner has been walking what seemed to be a Wolf, so on speaking to him today it is a Wolf,an American Timber Wolf very large but also very friendly

Anyone looking for the 3 Snow Buntings at Landguard would do well to check out the rails of the small jetty as they regularly perch to preen on it. Nearby on my garden feeders 2 Coal Tits have starting to appear hoovering up the Sunflower hearts

Looking at these images of the Cheddar Red-necked Grebe captured by Bristol birder Bri Thompson and the bill is broad-based and appears to be roughly the same length as the head. Possibly a candidate Holboells? Appeared on the large side overall when seen next to Great-crested Grebe #ukbirding

Zia Yusuf must be thrilled with these recent defections then. Cue another 24 hour sulk off and return?

Another nest box made by our wonderful volunteer John and now up in place 🙌 Fingers crossed it’s just in time for owls to approve and move in this year 🦉🤞 @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social