Mark Tutton
@marktutton.bsky.social
Nature lover especially butterflies and orchids - fishing a passion since childhood
In the autumn I spend some time looking for Purple Emperor larvae. Before hibernation they spin silk threads to ensure their seat leaf stays attached. Eventually some leaves remain hanging by a silken thread and spinning in the wind. This gives away the caterpillars location - here alongside a bud.
November 11, 2025 at 2:55 PM
In the autumn I spend some time looking for Purple Emperor larvae. Before hibernation they spin silk threads to ensure their seat leaf stays attached. Eventually some leaves remain hanging by a silken thread and spinning in the wind. This gives away the caterpillars location - here alongside a bud.
Always thinking of William at this time he would have been my great uncle - killed in France aged just 25. Sits proudly on my window cill 🥲
November 9, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Always thinking of William at this time he would have been my great uncle - killed in France aged just 25. Sits proudly on my window cill 🥲
As in other parts of the country Brown Hairstreak is spreading far and wide in Hampshire. Until a few years ago the nearest to me was twenty miles away. A cursory check of a few blackthorn suckers on this mornings dog walk quickly turned up a couple of eggs in another new area 👍
October 26, 2025 at 1:11 PM
As in other parts of the country Brown Hairstreak is spreading far and wide in Hampshire. Until a few years ago the nearest to me was twenty miles away. A cursory check of a few blackthorn suckers on this mornings dog walk quickly turned up a couple of eggs in another new area 👍
From this time a couple of years ago. On Portsdown Hill in Hampshire, a mating pair of Long-tailed Blues being accosted by a disgruntled lone male
October 6, 2025 at 10:55 AM
From this time a couple of years ago. On Portsdown Hill in Hampshire, a mating pair of Long-tailed Blues being accosted by a disgruntled lone male
One of the beneficiaries of climate change? Willow Emerald damsel fly, once a rare migrant, now resident southern UK.
September 30, 2025 at 12:42 PM
One of the beneficiaries of climate change? Willow Emerald damsel fly, once a rare migrant, now resident southern UK.
A long walk along Portsdown Hill to see if I could find any Long-tailed Blues drew a blank but did throw up a pristine Wall, a species that is arguably rarer in this location than LTB? Two Brown Hairstreak eggs, some distance away from previous locations indicating they are spreading far and wide.
September 26, 2025 at 1:26 PM
A long walk along Portsdown Hill to see if I could find any Long-tailed Blues drew a blank but did throw up a pristine Wall, a species that is arguably rarer in this location than LTB? Two Brown Hairstreak eggs, some distance away from previous locations indicating they are spreading far and wide.
This Small Heath is very pleasing - probably the first I have seen on Portsdown Hill (my local patch) for 15yrs or so 👍
September 11, 2025 at 11:13 AM
This Small Heath is very pleasing - probably the first I have seen on Portsdown Hill (my local patch) for 15yrs or so 👍
My local fox has decided to trust me after many years
August 24, 2025 at 8:52 PM
My local fox has decided to trust me after many years
Following the discovery of Southern Small White laying eggs in Sussex I checked the Candytuft growing in my garden. Sure enough I found a couple of creamy white bottle shaped eggs - time will tell if it is the newest species to arrive in the UK
August 24, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Following the discovery of Southern Small White laying eggs in Sussex I checked the Candytuft growing in my garden. Sure enough I found a couple of creamy white bottle shaped eggs - time will tell if it is the newest species to arrive in the UK
Lovely surprise in the garden today - very fresh Small Copper
August 22, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Lovely surprise in the garden today - very fresh Small Copper
Nice Bee Wolf (Philanthus triangulum) rescued from my kitchen
August 15, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Nice Bee Wolf (Philanthus triangulum) rescued from my kitchen
A trip to the woods to check on the Purple Emperor caterpillars turned up a very late Purple Hairstreak. One caterpillar was missing in action but another was found on a leaf with absolutely no feeding damage. The others exhibited classic feeding patterns.
August 8, 2025 at 9:40 AM
A trip to the woods to check on the Purple Emperor caterpillars turned up a very late Purple Hairstreak. One caterpillar was missing in action but another was found on a leaf with absolutely no feeding damage. The others exhibited classic feeding patterns.
There were hundreds drifting in on the tide about this time last year and they appeared to have followed Mackerel shoals in, which in turn were herding baitfish to the surface and the gulls were taking full advantage. Spectacular.
July 27, 2025 at 11:13 AM
There were hundreds drifting in on the tide about this time last year and they appeared to have followed Mackerel shoals in, which in turn were herding baitfish to the surface and the gulls were taking full advantage. Spectacular.
Dark Bush-cricket took a liking to my camera.
July 17, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Dark Bush-cricket took a liking to my camera.
After spending fruitless hours looking for Purple Emperor eggs I decided to try another wood. After two hours i came across an egg but in trying to locate my hand lens I lost it! Whilst trying to relocate it I found a L1 larva and then relocated the egg! After all that effort two at once!
July 16, 2025 at 9:22 PM
After spending fruitless hours looking for Purple Emperor eggs I decided to try another wood. After two hours i came across an egg but in trying to locate my hand lens I lost it! Whilst trying to relocate it I found a L1 larva and then relocated the egg! After all that effort two at once!
Battle of the Emperors from a couple of years ago - Emperor dragonfly taking down a Purple Emperor butterfly
July 3, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Battle of the Emperors from a couple of years ago - Emperor dragonfly taking down a Purple Emperor butterfly
Valezina form Silver-washed Fritillary seeing off the unwanted attention of a male.
July 1, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Valezina form Silver-washed Fritillary seeing off the unwanted attention of a male.
Valzina form of Silver-washed Fritillary and Purple Emperor in the woods this morning
June 25, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Valzina form of Silver-washed Fritillary and Purple Emperor in the woods this morning
First Purple Emperor of the year for me Alice Holt - Hants
June 17, 2025 at 12:56 PM
First Purple Emperor of the year for me Alice Holt - Hants
They are brilliant - it’s right in the middle!
June 15, 2025 at 1:10 PM
They are brilliant - it’s right in the middle!
They are brilliant- it’s right in the middle!
June 15, 2025 at 1:06 PM
They are brilliant- it’s right in the middle!
The pupa is pretty cryptic too 👍
June 15, 2025 at 4:17 AM
The pupa is pretty cryptic too 👍
A late stage Purple Emperor caterpillar perfectly mimicking half a Sallow leaf - the veins even line up. Fully fattened and about to perform the miracle of pupation, converting to a liquid soup in the pupa and then reassembling into a magnificent butterfly - amazing.
June 14, 2025 at 8:03 PM
A late stage Purple Emperor caterpillar perfectly mimicking half a Sallow leaf - the veins even line up. Fully fattened and about to perform the miracle of pupation, converting to a liquid soup in the pupa and then reassembling into a magnificent butterfly - amazing.
The art of camouflage- Purple Emperor larva and pupa doing their best to evade predators
June 5, 2025 at 1:53 PM
The art of camouflage- Purple Emperor larva and pupa doing their best to evade predators
Another night time ramble in the woods yielded a pleasing number of Purple Emperor pupa and an L5 caterpillar preparing to pupate. One of the pupa was low enough to photograph by torchlight. A Brown Hairstreak larva also shone nicely in UV.
June 5, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Another night time ramble in the woods yielded a pleasing number of Purple Emperor pupa and an L5 caterpillar preparing to pupate. One of the pupa was low enough to photograph by torchlight. A Brown Hairstreak larva also shone nicely in UV.