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Garry Pogson

@garrypogson.bsky.social
173 followers 197 following 86 posts

Mainly butterflies, but also any other nature that happens to pop up. Based in Greenwich, SE London.

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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Still a decent numder of Clouded Yellow about at Clife Pools, Kent yesterday, but so badly behaved! As compensation, this Wall posed closed-wing for me (albeit into the sun). I can't get enough of that beautiful underwing design.
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Cliffe Pools, Kent Mon 21/9. Still a fair number of Clouded Yellow about, but mainly sailing past. Just this one male hung around for a while, going from flower to flower. Pleased with this ('burst' function) shot, but not telling you how many hundred duds needed discarding.
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Little flora around at Vanbrugh Pits, Greenwich today - so looked like 1 Speckled Wood would be it. Then saw 1 small stem of ragwort - with a Brown Argus and Small Copper. Then another 2xSC turned up - then one of them started turning purple! Memorable! @joebeale.bsky.social @dustygedge.bsky.social
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
At Cliffe Pools, Kent Fri 11/9. Quickly had around 6 Clouded Yellow fly-bys, so thought I was in for a bumper CY day. Then the sun went in, and never came out again. Not much else happened. Will check weather more carefully next time. Meanwhile here's a nice Common Blue I saw.
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Thanks very much for the info! Don't know if i'll get down there this year, but it's good to know they've been around. Don't seem to remember hearing of them there the previous couple of years.
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
May i ask if it was the usual location near Deal?
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Oh, thank you very much - very useful - I will have a look later..
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Whilst hunting butterflies near Monmouth yesterday (28/7), i came across these other very smart insects.
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
On a ramble near Monmouth yesterday (28/7) i came across this crazy mixed up Small Copper. Please feel free to supply official nomenclature!
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
With the current scarcity of Small Tortoiseshell in the south east, it's been a treat to see a fair number near Monmouth. 2 on this small buddleia accompanied by 6 Painted Lady.
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
This time last year we saw the first Gatekeeper ever in our Greenwich back garden - maybe we're going to get one a year from now on...
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
High Elms, Kent Sat 11/7 - nice to see my first (2) White Letter Hairstreak of the year (& first since 2020). A few Purple Hairstreak and plenty of Silver Washed Fritillary also around.
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
...and exactly where you told me, thanks again!
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Also at Bookham Common Surrey, Fri 4/7 - a small number of Purple Hairstreak were coming down, and the first one gave me my first fully open-wing shot in the 8 years since i started in the butterfly racket. Female at 8.27am. One male also opened up for a pic, but no actual purple visible.
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Single Purple Emperor seen at Bookham Common, Surrey Fri 4/7 - a bit battered, but a welcome sight all the same. It came down, danced round us before landing, and was quite settled - but inevitably a dog or bike hurried past within a minute, and off it went. Thanks for the tip @stevewg.bsky.social
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
White Admiral, High Elms Country Park, Kent - yesterday.
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
The Painted Lady invasion reaches the streets of Greenwich @joebeale.bsky.social @dustygedge.bsky.social
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Yikes! Had similar experience to an earlier poster - found my small potted Alder Buckthorn with zero leaves - thought I'd not watered enough in recent drought. But then noticed 2 very fat Brimstone caterpillars. Transferred them to large bush in garden - let's see them eat their way through that!
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
It was beginning to look like i would draw a total blank at Vanbrugh Pits, Greenwich this afternoon. but then 3 Marbled White and a Meadow Brown - all lovely and fresh - popped up. @joebeale.bsky.social @dustygedge.bsky.social
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Hi, I'm not local, and wasn't aware of the history - but it seems they've been present since at least 2019. If you go to Archive on the BC Dorset website, there's a relevant article in May 2021. The feeling seems to be that release activity was involved. Maybe @garyh-56.bsky.social knows more?
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Glanville Fritillary at Compton Down, Dorset 28/5. GB Life tick #53 (#54 if you count L Tort). Also Small Blue, Grizzled & Dingy Skippers. Dazzling Adonis Blue everywhere + 1 Clouded Yellow. Thanks to @garyh-56.bsky.social for his earlier post saving me the complication of an Isle of Wight trip.
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
A fair few Heath Fritillary seen in Thornden Wood, Kent 25/5/26
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Hooray! Brimstone caterpillar on Alder Buckthorn that i planted just for that purpose. It was planted several years ago, and we immediately had a couple of years with good numbers of them. Then i read that once the plant is over 3yrs old they won't use them - and we've had none since - until today!
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
I'm assuming the stripiness means we have the joy of young Dunnocks in our Greenwich back garden (please let me know if I'm wrong!)
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Well @thenorfolkcoast.bsky.social beat me to it a few days ago, but I'll post mine anyhow - had never seen Holly Blue ovipositing on Pyracantha before. Greenwich back garden phone shot.
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
We don't get much of this kind of thing in our small Greenwich back garden.
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Yay! Green Hairstreak at Vanbrugh Pits, Greenwich again this year. @joebeale.bsky.social @dustygedge.bsky.social (down in the main dip - on the main stand of brambles).
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Female Brimstone waiting for a bus in our Greenwich back garden today (phone shot).
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Came to Norfolk last summer for the butterflies (Swallowtail). This time I'm here for the football - but the Holly Blue is out in force in the residential streets bordering Norwich city centre (phone shot - best not to zoom in!).
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
Wonder if we will be treated to Green Hairstreak again this year at Vanbrugh Pits, Greenwich. Not yesterday anyhow. But 2 Comma, Small White, Peacock and a pretty Holly Blue that wouldn't keep still
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
Male Orange Tip in the Gravesend area 07.04.26. A few males and females seen.
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
Curlew, Topsham, Devon, just now
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
My daughter bought me a ceramic cow (don't ask) - containing sheeps wool - to hang out for the birds. A Great Tit got to grips with it and ended up as... a Bearded Tit!
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
Not seen a Wren in our Greenwich back garden for years Happy Days! @joebeale.bsky.social @dustygedge.bsky.social
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
A Comma and 3 Peacock at Vanbrugh Pits, Greenwich this afternoon. One Peacock frequently opened and closed its wings, making a change from the usual open wing shot @joebeale.bsky.social @dustygedge.bsky.social
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Faggs Wood, Orlestone Forest, Kent yesterday (thurs) - at least 4 Large Tortoiseshell seen (and at least 20 butterfly lovers seen).
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
You can't win them all, but i love that 4th photo!
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Reposted by Garry Pogson
Jess Morrissette @decafjedi.com · 01/01/2026
Grok's new "feature" that allows users to undress women in photos posted to X is a new low for the platform. If you're somehow still active over there, I urge you to let this be your final straw.
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
My first british butterflies of 2026... 2 Comma and 2 Peacock at Vanbrugh Pits, Greenwich today. Also 2 Brimstone fly-bys (1m,1f) through our Greenwich back garden this morning. @joebeale.bsky.social @dustygedge.bsky.social
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
Ok, i have to concede the 1st shot is rubbish - but i really like the 2nd one
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
For a minute i was wondering what you were on about - thought you said Nottingham!
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
RSPB B'watch today - 3rd place in our Greenwich back garden to Ring-necked Parakeet (4). Good news in 2nd place House Sparrow (9). More Feral Pigeon than Trafalgar Sq in 1st. Pleased to log Blue Tit, Great Tit & Robin despite the big birds. Last 20 mins a bit quiet after appearance of dirty big fox.
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
Shags unimpressed by noisy neighbour. The Black Backed Gull did settle down and share the ledge nicely for a while afterwards. Near Lizard Point, Cornwall today.
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
damp Mullion rooks hoping that the brighter band of sky is heading this way
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
Pied Wagtail, St. David's Church, Llanwrtyd, Powys. Sat 22/11.
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
Fyi Sky Arts is available free on Freeview (channel 36)
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
Buttercups flowering in Ockbrook, South Derbyshire today - is this normal? Also Knapweed and pink Clover in flower.
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
Catching the train from Maze Hill station (east Greenwich) I was surprised to see grey wagtail on the opposite platform waiting for the down train. Never seen one in this immediate area (cropped phone shot) @joebeale.bsky.social @dustygedge.bsky.social
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
Recount: i think there are nine!
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Garry Pogson @garrypogson.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
Just walked down our compact greenwich back garden in the fading light and was surprised to see a bird still out and about. Then surprised to see at least 7 mire birds out and about (I think there's 8 in the pic - count 'em). Got to love a long-tailed tit!
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