Mike Gibbons
@cloudedyellows.bsky.social
Butterflies, Birds, Moths, Dragonflies, Photography with OM System gear. Enjoying travel, comedy, theatre, Co-author of Butterflies of Hampshire. Steam trains and old buses when not out in the field
Well it's 21st November and I saw 2 male Clouded Yellows today at Southbourne, Bournemouth. There were probably more looking at other photos. Beautiful sunny day on the coast.
November 21, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Well it's 21st November and I saw 2 male Clouded Yellows today at Southbourne, Bournemouth. There were probably more looking at other photos. Beautiful sunny day on the coast.
Good sunny morning for butterflies at Southbourne, Dorset. 4 Clouded Yellows including this big male, 1 Small White seen by others, 1 Red Admiral and a Peacock in my Christchurch garden. Good numbers of Clouded Yellow eggs and larvae too so they may overwinter.
November 13, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Good sunny morning for butterflies at Southbourne, Dorset. 4 Clouded Yellows including this big male, 1 Small White seen by others, 1 Red Admiral and a Peacock in my Christchurch garden. Good numbers of Clouded Yellow eggs and larvae too so they may overwinter.
Visited Calshot, Hampshire to see the Boat-tailed Grackle which showed well for everyone. An added bonus was this white Starling which showed on and off nearby.
November 6, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Visited Calshot, Hampshire to see the Boat-tailed Grackle which showed well for everyone. An added bonus was this white Starling which showed on and off nearby.
One of 27 Clouded Yellows heading west this afternoon, including 2 helice and 2 in off the sea and landing on the slopes.
September 25, 2025 at 9:53 PM
One of 27 Clouded Yellows heading west this afternoon, including 2 helice and 2 in off the sea and landing on the slopes.
A beautiful male Eros Blue from the Austrian Alps. A favourite of mine.
September 3, 2025 at 3:48 PM
A beautiful male Eros Blue from the Austrian Alps. A favourite of mine.
Another new Fritillary butterfly for me this year on my Scandinavian trip was this Frejya's Fritillary (Boloria freija). These fritillaries were few and far between especially on cloudy days. A stunning underside as well.
August 11, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Another new Fritillary butterfly for me this year on my Scandinavian trip was this Frejya's Fritillary (Boloria freija). These fritillaries were few and far between especially on cloudy days. A stunning underside as well.
Small Red-eyed Damselfly at Silverlake in Dorset.
August 8, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Small Red-eyed Damselfly at Silverlake in Dorset.
Frigga's Fritillary in northern Sweden. Seen in a boggy area of Abisko National Park.
August 6, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Frigga's Fritillary in northern Sweden. Seen in a boggy area of Abisko National Park.
A Pale Arctic Clouded Yellow from my recent trip to Northern Sweden. Resting on a cloudy day, they normally rarely stop flying when it is sunny.
August 1, 2025 at 11:24 AM
A Pale Arctic Clouded Yellow from my recent trip to Northern Sweden. Resting on a cloudy day, they normally rarely stop flying when it is sunny.
Male Silver-washed Fritillary on bramble blossom. This was earlier in the season and it cannot have been out long.
July 31, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Male Silver-washed Fritillary on bramble blossom. This was earlier in the season and it cannot have been out long.
A male Brown Hairstreak nectaring on Wild Parsnip at Shipton Bellinger, Hants.
July 30, 2025 at 3:52 PM
A male Brown Hairstreak nectaring on Wild Parsnip at Shipton Bellinger, Hants.
An interesting female Gatekeeper aberration. Possibly caused by temperature variation as a chrysalis. A striking butterfly.
July 29, 2025 at 4:31 PM
An interesting female Gatekeeper aberration. Possibly caused by temperature variation as a chrysalis. A striking butterfly.
Great to see Wall Brown butterflies in number at Shipton Bellinger. This area is a stronghold for a butterfly that has become local in many areas. Seems to be doing well in parts of the south coast but there is a welcome improvement at inland areas as well.
July 28, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Great to see Wall Brown butterflies in number at Shipton Bellinger. This area is a stronghold for a butterfly that has become local in many areas. Seems to be doing well in parts of the south coast but there is a welcome improvement at inland areas as well.
Female Brown Hairstreak with open wings and male nectaring at Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire. Always a big climax to the summer butterfly season
July 27, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Female Brown Hairstreak with open wings and male nectaring at Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire. Always a big climax to the summer butterfly season
A female White-faced Darter dragonfly seen in Northern Sweden in a boggy area. The only dragonfly I saw on the trip.
July 8, 2025 at 4:54 PM
A female White-faced Darter dragonfly seen in Northern Sweden in a boggy area. The only dragonfly I saw on the trip.
On 19th and 20th June I was at Alice Holt Forest in Hampshire searching in the heat for Purple Emperor. One male was seen down on the track on 19th, then 4 males were seen down on 20th, including 2 together later in the day. It did mean however getting close to dog mess for some photos!
June 22, 2025 at 9:12 PM
On 19th and 20th June I was at Alice Holt Forest in Hampshire searching in the heat for Purple Emperor. One male was seen down on the track on 19th, then 4 males were seen down on 20th, including 2 together later in the day. It did mean however getting close to dog mess for some photos!
A White-letter Hairstreak came down on bramble from elms at our local Christchurch recreation ground. Do not always get to see this secretive species this close, usually up high.
June 21, 2025 at 7:25 PM
A White-letter Hairstreak came down on bramble from elms at our local Christchurch recreation ground. Do not always get to see this secretive species this close, usually up high.
I saw up to 50 Black Hairstreak were seen in Ditchling Common, Sussex on Monday. They were very active until I left at 18.00. Some had recently emerged but there were a fair few that were faded or bits of wing missing. A stunning butterfly.
June 4, 2025 at 6:23 PM
I saw up to 50 Black Hairstreak were seen in Ditchling Common, Sussex on Monday. They were very active until I left at 18.00. Some had recently emerged but there were a fair few that were faded or bits of wing missing. A stunning butterfly.
A Common Tern showing beautifully at Titchfield Haven. Wonderful view from the hide.
May 19, 2025 at 4:56 PM
A Common Tern showing beautifully at Titchfield Haven. Wonderful view from the hide.
Visited Titchfield Haven this afternoon to see the Hudsonian Godwit. It spent a lot of time feeding and some time asleep. It then returned to feed closer to the hide before I left at 17.00. Managed to get this photo showing some key features in the plumage, especially the underwing.
May 16, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Visited Titchfield Haven this afternoon to see the Hudsonian Godwit. It spent a lot of time feeding and some time asleep. It then returned to feed closer to the hide before I left at 17.00. Managed to get this photo showing some key features in the plumage, especially the underwing.
Incredibly found a Glanville Fritillary at Southbourne Undercliff, Bournemouth,Dorset. Could well have flown in from the Isle of Wight in these warm, still conditions.Sunning itself on path to beach.My first coastal mainland record since the Hampshire coast colonies at Hordle Cliff and Hurst Spit.
May 14, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Incredibly found a Glanville Fritillary at Southbourne Undercliff, Bournemouth,Dorset. Could well have flown in from the Isle of Wight in these warm, still conditions.Sunning itself on path to beach.My first coastal mainland record since the Hampshire coast colonies at Hordle Cliff and Hurst Spit.
Male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the New Forest today showing exceptionally well. Likely to have a nest nearby. Feeding low down in a small tree close to the track.
May 6, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the New Forest today showing exceptionally well. Likely to have a nest nearby. Feeding low down in a small tree close to the track.
A very difficult butterfly to photograph because it never seems to stop flying, the Greenish Black-tip is ever active in the warm sunshine of Fuerteventura, on the Canaries. I managed this shot in the late part of the day when it was cooler. A beautiful delicate yellow. A first for me. #butterflies
April 9, 2025 at 6:32 PM
A very difficult butterfly to photograph because it never seems to stop flying, the Greenish Black-tip is ever active in the warm sunshine of Fuerteventura, on the Canaries. I managed this shot in the late part of the day when it was cooler. A beautiful delicate yellow. A first for me. #butterflies
Pairing of Small Whites at the local Christchurch Recreation Ground today. My earliest ever pairing I think. Seem to be having a good early season from local observations today.
March 26, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Pairing of Small Whites at the local Christchurch Recreation Ground today. My earliest ever pairing I think. Seem to be having a good early season from local observations today.
Male Firecrest singing and displaying in the garden today. Very aggressive towards a Goldcrest which strayed in. Hoping a pair will nest again like last year.
March 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Male Firecrest singing and displaying in the garden today. Very aggressive towards a Goldcrest which strayed in. Hoping a pair will nest again like last year.