Posted on Thu,24 September, 2026

Hoverfly perched on a cluster of ivy flowers surrounded by green leaves.

Lots of the ivy was alive with hoverflies wasps & bees on Tuesday. Lots of buzzing!

Posted on Sun,20 September, 2026

Speckled Wood butterfly with brown, cream-spotted wings resting on a textured green leaf.

Blustery afternoon on path to Greenside, mostly blue sky. Despite the wind a some butterflies: peacocks, painted lady, red admiral & a few speckled woods. Goldfinch in the meadowsweet. A raven circled high in the blue. The news reported less speckled woods this year, but I’ve seem more than ever.

Half the Finlas Water Loop

Posted on Tue,15 September, 2026

john

3x3 grid of images, photos round a map where they were taken. From Top Left: Road to Finlas water, singlet rack, grass on each side; Dor Better on Bracken, shiney black bettle; Buff tailed bumble bee on Devils Bit Scabious; Fence post with a loop of fence wire, grey background due to low clouds/mist; Map trac round Finlas water in red. A small tree in a misty landscape; An eagle, wings outstretched in silhouette; Grass-of-Parnassus flow; small whilre mushroom with slender stalk and veil. growing in moss

Finlas Water Hills started bright, low (400m or so) clouds. Quite a few birds, ravens, crows, hoodies, buzzards, a kestrel, pipits. Between Creaghan & Ruisg put up a snipe. By then clouds thick, visibility 30-100 metres. Flora turning, lots of scabious, some grass of Parnassus. Finally an eagle. Turned round at Creag an Leinibh as I didn’t fancy the walk down to the Finlas Water from the South in the mirk.

Map and more photos: 14-09-2026 Finlas Water Hills.

Posted on Sun,13 September, 2026

john

Speckled Wood Butterfly Perched on a bramble, sunbathing

Rather battered Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly, sunning.

Greenside morning, brighter than expected. Sunshine brought out the butterflies. Mostly Painted Ladies with a lot of Speckled Woods. One very battered Small Tortoiseshell.

Near the reservoir a flock of about 50 or so mixed goldfinch & linnets, seemed to be feeding among the seeded rose-bay willow herb and meadowsweet. Most headed for the power lines when we passed. Quite a few common darters.

3 powerlines with small bird perched on them.

Posted on Thu,3 September, 2026

john

Heron sitting in willow tree winds folded open

Heron sitting on a curved branch, grooming

Victoria Park, drizzle them brightened, a couple of white butterflies over the flower beds. Went to investigate. Among the bright flowers were a few thistles. A couple of bees working over the thistles ignoring the other flowers. One butterfly came off a thistle too. Not sure which type of white.

Posted on Sun,2 August, 2026

john

A lot of white butterflies (mostly green-veined, large & small) out & about on Friday. Some flightily red admirals too.

Later, beside the track an excited green-veined white butterfly fluttering amount the leaves. Underneath a leaf a small white hanging upside down. Misplaced affection?

Posted on Fri,31 July, 2026

john

Talking a short walk along the Kelvin between Kelvin Bridge & The Botanics while my wife was in the dentist. These sunlit leaves above the path pulled in this speckled wood. Another flew over some sparkling water through light & shade. A happy moment.

A speckled wood butterfly resting on some sunlit leaves.

Butterfly Morning at Greenside

Posted on Thu,9 July, 2026

john

3x3 grid of 8 images round a central map of where they were taken. From Top left: Painted Lady; peacock butterfly caterpillars; small skipper; Small tortoiseshell; map;2 Meadow Browns mating; small blue; ringlet; red admiral

Short walk to Greenside reservoir this morning. Warm, mostly sunny. Lots of butterflies around.

I’d guess I saw over 200 ringlets; a lot of painted ladies & meadow browns. A few common blues & red admirals ,one small tortoiseshell & a white of some sort. A few fritillaries bright orange and zooming around, never posing. I saw one I’d never seen before. It look to me, after consulting my book & the web, like a small skipper. According to the same research this doesn’t seem to be where they are expected? Unfortunately my camera threw an error while I was trying to get a different angle.