Roger Butterfield
@rogerbutterfield.bsky.social
Retired ecologist and tutor, now focusing on biological recording. Sheffield, UK.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/roger/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/roger/
Had a look around this exhibition yesterday. Particularly enjoyed the drawings and woodcuts by Hilda Quick.
September 11, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Had a look around this exhibition yesterday. Particularly enjoyed the drawings and woodcuts by Hilda Quick.
Yesterday I came across these galls caused by the cynipid wasp Diplolepis mayri on brownfield land next to the Sheffield & Tinsley Canal. The galls were first found along the canal by Joan Egan (et al) back in September 2014. #galls #entomology
August 29, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Yesterday I came across these galls caused by the cynipid wasp Diplolepis mayri on brownfield land next to the Sheffield & Tinsley Canal. The galls were first found along the canal by Joan Egan (et al) back in September 2014. #galls #entomology
Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) in Chatsworth Deer Park yesterday afternoon. One of several butterfly species feeding on the flowers of Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense), a valuable source of nectar at this time of year.
July 17, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) in Chatsworth Deer Park yesterday afternoon. One of several butterfly species feeding on the flowers of Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense), a valuable source of nectar at this time of year.
Bilberry Bumblebee (Bombus monticola) visiting the flowers of Buddleja and Hebe in a Sheffield garden, about 2 km from open moorland.
July 14, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Bilberry Bumblebee (Bombus monticola) visiting the flowers of Buddleja and Hebe in a Sheffield garden, about 2 km from open moorland.
Yellow Bird's-nest (Hypopitys monotropa) recorded near Hope Cement Works on yesterday's field-meeting with @sorbynathissoc.bsky.social
July 10, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Yellow Bird's-nest (Hypopitys monotropa) recorded near Hope Cement Works on yesterday's field-meeting with @sorbynathissoc.bsky.social
Interesting. I noticed a Common Hogweed with an unusual pink/purple hue at Cley last week.
June 19, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Interesting. I noticed a Common Hogweed with an unusual pink/purple hue at Cley last week.
Today I finally caught up with Marsh Helleborine, a species that has eluded me for many years. It's a beautiful plant, which thrives in a fragile and vulnerable habitat (dune slacks). Thanks to my zoom lens I was able to get some close-ups of the flowers without straying off the footpath.
June 19, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Today I finally caught up with Marsh Helleborine, a species that has eluded me for many years. It's a beautiful plant, which thrives in a fragile and vulnerable habitat (dune slacks). Thanks to my zoom lens I was able to get some close-ups of the flowers without straying off the footpath.
Yesterday I managed to get a couple of pics of a Norfolk Hawker (Aeshna isoceles) at Cley Marshes. It's a new species for me.
June 18, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Yesterday I managed to get a couple of pics of a Norfolk Hawker (Aeshna isoceles) at Cley Marshes. It's a new species for me.
Male and female Muntjac in the garden this morning. The female appears to be pregnant.
June 15, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Male and female Muntjac in the garden this morning. The female appears to be pregnant.
Volucella bombylans, a fly disguised as a bumblebee. One of my favourite insects!
June 14, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Volucella bombylans, a fly disguised as a bumblebee. One of my favourite insects!
Syrian Thistle (Notobasis syriaca) flowering in a field off the A149, near Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk. I recognised it from the photos posted by @vc57botanist.bsky.social a few days ago. It's a spectacular and distinctive species. This specimen was about 6 feet tall.
June 9, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Syrian Thistle (Notobasis syriaca) flowering in a field off the A149, near Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk. I recognised it from the photos posted by @vc57botanist.bsky.social a few days ago. It's a spectacular and distinctive species. This specimen was about 6 feet tall.
Spotted it this morning in a field near Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk.
June 9, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Spotted it this morning in a field near Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk.
I have just passed the 50,000 records milestone on iRecord. Record number 50,000 was this Black-spotted Longhorn Beetle (Rhagium mordax) in Beeley & Great Hollins Wood, Sheffield.
![Rhagium mordax grows from 13 to 26 millimetres (0.51 to 1.02 in) long. In colour, they are mixed ochre and black, with one black splotch on each elytron accompanied by two pale lines on either side. The beetles' bodies are covered with small yellow hairs, although one distinguishing feature of the species is two bald spots on its elytra. [Source: Wikipedia]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rxevwaivun7fj3fh53lkrjz7/bafkreif2rjwv6tnnia26pyayz65egtk6gytv4dem6gvkuqjoeaot67d4dm@jpeg)
May 28, 2025 at 5:28 PM
I have just passed the 50,000 records milestone on iRecord. Record number 50,000 was this Black-spotted Longhorn Beetle (Rhagium mordax) in Beeley & Great Hollins Wood, Sheffield.
Nice clump of Sainfoin flowering next to Sheffield Transport Interchange. It's a beautiful plant but we don't see it very often in South Yorkshire.
May 23, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Nice clump of Sainfoin flowering next to Sheffield Transport Interchange. It's a beautiful plant but we don't see it very often in South Yorkshire.
Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) poised for action at Rocher Bog, near High Bradfield.
May 18, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) poised for action at Rocher Bog, near High Bradfield.
Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) basking near the pond in Sheffield General Cemetery.
May 18, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) basking near the pond in Sheffield General Cemetery.
The Broad-bodied Chaser dragonflies were very active at Rocher Bog yesterday. At least four males were competing for the attention of one female. Thankfully, this male kept returning to the same perch between skirmishes.
May 14, 2025 at 7:43 AM
The Broad-bodied Chaser dragonflies were very active at Rocher Bog yesterday. At least four males were competing for the attention of one female. Thankfully, this male kept returning to the same perch between skirmishes.
Some insects from the past few days. Species info in the alt text. Detailed locations on iRecord.
May 12, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Some insects from the past few days. Species info in the alt text. Detailed locations on iRecord.
Yesterday afternoon I spotted this Sedge Warbler singing in a small Hawthorn right in front of the Wath Ings Hide at RSPB Old Moor. I could have watched it all day!
May 10, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Yesterday afternoon I spotted this Sedge Warbler singing in a small Hawthorn right in front of the Wath Ings Hide at RSPB Old Moor. I could have watched it all day!
Liz and I were treated to close views of a Water Vole at Redmires Reservoirs a few days ago. We visited at a time when the footpath wasn't too busy with dog-walkers, so the vole was happily foraging out in the open. Water Voles can be quite tolerant of people, provided you are quiet and keep still.
![Water voles occur mainly along well vegetated banks of slow flowing rivers, ditches, dykes and lakes. They are sometimes confused with brown rats which often also live near water courses. Water voles excavate extensive burrow systems into the banks of waterways. These have sleeping/nest chambers at various levels in the steepest parts of the bank and usually have underwater entrances to give the animals a secure route for escape if danger threatens. “Lawns” of closely cropped grass, occasionally with piles of chopped food, may surround burrow entrances. Water voles tend to be active more during the day than at night. Male voles live along about 130 metres of water bank, while females have ranges about 70 metres long. They deposit distinctive black, shiny faeces in latrines. Latrines occur throughout and at the edges of their range during the breeding season. [Source: Mammal Society]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rxevwaivun7fj3fh53lkrjz7/bafkreiagsy6wziuixpwk5lj7wxrdnqq6asvxujfqj2aghajjggejpjkwdi@jpeg)
![Water voles are legally protected in Britain. Recent evidence indicates that water voles have undergone a long term decline in Britain, disappearing from 94% of their former sites. Predation by the introduced American mink has had a severe impact on water vole populations, even causing local extinctions. Habitat degradation and pollution are also thought to have contributed to the decline of the water vole. Predator exclusion, bank side management and pollution control provide viable tools for sustaining local populations. Water voles are also probably affected by poor water quality, both directly through contamination of water bodies with pollutants and indirectly through eutrophication, the build up of nitrogen levels in water which causes algal blooms and loss of their food plants. [Source: Mammal Society]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rxevwaivun7fj3fh53lkrjz7/bafkreicrzgollxedokzji5ggyidkb4vya3mldpsfmbuitooym6kfn75k2i@jpeg)
March 30, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Liz and I were treated to close views of a Water Vole at Redmires Reservoirs a few days ago. We visited at a time when the footpath wasn't too busy with dog-walkers, so the vole was happily foraging out in the open. Water Voles can be quite tolerant of people, provided you are quiet and keep still.
Here's a slightly better picture of the Bee-fly.
March 27, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Here's a slightly better picture of the Bee-fly.
Just seen my first Dark-edged Bee-fly of the season - on a windswept gritstone edge in the Peak District.
March 27, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Just seen my first Dark-edged Bee-fly of the season - on a windswept gritstone edge in the Peak District.
Comma (Polygonia c-album) on the flowers of Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). Photographed yesterday at Turner's Field, Anston.
![Looking like a tatty Small Tortoiseshell, the Comma is now a familiar sight throughout most of England and Wales and is one of the few species that is bucking the trend by considerably expanding its range. The butterfly gets its name from the only white marking on its underside, which resembles a comma. When resting with wings closed this butterfly has excellent camouflage, the jagged outline of the wings giving the appearance of a withered leaf, making the butterfly inconspicuous when resting on a tree trunk or when hibernating. [Source: www.ukbutterflies.co.uk]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rxevwaivun7fj3fh53lkrjz7/bafkreihty7hykdvdnjgeqeiwt5ig3dk4ap2syuf2fo4y7cb6p25ohptkni@jpeg)
![Looking like a tatty Small Tortoiseshell, the Comma is now a familiar sight throughout most of England and Wales and is one of the few species that is bucking the trend by considerably expanding its range. The butterfly gets its name from the only white marking on its underside, which resembles a comma. When resting with wings closed this butterfly has excellent camouflage, the jagged outline of the wings giving the appearance of a withered leaf, making the butterfly inconspicuous when resting on a tree trunk or when hibernating. [Source: www.ukbutterflies.co.uk]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rxevwaivun7fj3fh53lkrjz7/bafkreievra23fujkzuokt5ewxhrpt2irvcvtjcznf4x2sbglyz7vbhifya@jpeg)
March 25, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Comma (Polygonia c-album) on the flowers of Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). Photographed yesterday at Turner's Field, Anston.
Toothwort (Lathraea squamaria), photographed yesterday at Anston Stones Wood, South Yorkshire.
![Lathraea squamaria, the Common Toothwort, is a species of flowering plant in the family Orobanchaceae. It is parasitic on the roots of hazel and alder, and occasionally other trees. [Source: Wikipedia]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rxevwaivun7fj3fh53lkrjz7/bafkreigiivjutqpjwsqooifcbkcjmz7a7a62b5lvyrq766gtvj47ttgzpy@jpeg)
March 25, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Toothwort (Lathraea squamaria), photographed yesterday at Anston Stones Wood, South Yorkshire.
Ewden Valley from Wharncliffe Crags.
February 28, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Ewden Valley from Wharncliffe Crags.