Breaking news

Tired of the rolling news coverage of the royal bairn already? Then check out these for alternative royalty. In reverse order of succession:

Monarch: non-specific, but still royalty. This one was on the Isles of Scilly in 2006.

 Glanville Fritillary: named after Lady Glanville, whose will was challenged by disgruntled relatives under the Acts of Lunacy on the grounds that 'none but those who were deprived of their senses, would go in pursuit of butterflies'. Oops. I spent the best part of a decade looking for all the British ones. Hordle Cliff, Dorset, 2005.

White Admiral: OK, not strictly royalty, but top of the Naval foodchain at least. Fermyn Woods, Northants, 2007.

Duke of Burgundy: a Duke is second in line to the throne, so that must be pretty high up. Cerne Abbas, Dorset, 2013.

 Purple Emperor: never mind the third in line to the throne, it doesn't get any higher than Emperor. Fermyn Woods, Northants, 2007.

On the subject of succession to the throne, apparently, Zara Phillips if 15th in line. So really we're just an unfortunate mini-bus incident away from having Mike Tindall as King. Fancy that, Gloucester fans.

We're all Monarchists now

Dowitcher-twitchers who left it until this weekend to come to Dorset had the added bonus of a chance to see a Monarch butterfly on nearby Portland. I was in Cornwall unfortunately, visiting old friends who emigrated to Australia 5 years ago on their first visit back to Britain since, making them an even rarer sight than the Monarch. Fortunately we left Cornwall early enough today to detour via Easton on the way back to find the exotic visitor roosting in a pine tree. I would never have found it but for the single observer who was about to leave as I arrived and kindly got me onto it. I was able to return the favour for another half a dozen Monarchists who turned up over the next half hour or so. A bit of late afternoon sun was not enough to tempt the Monarch down to is favoured buddleia, though it did flit briefly around the fringes of the pine at one point, allowing some flight shots, unfortunately in pretty poor light.