This Magpie Moth (Abraxas grossulariata) was in my garden on 8 July 2001

I saw it at 6.30pm, the end of a cloudy, but warm, day.

I used a Fuji FinePix 4700 Zoom digital camera

Beautiful as any Butterfly, isn't it?

It was quite active, and settled eventually on my fence, where I had to use flash; hence the sheen.

I also managed to grab this snapshot, which shows the markings on its body. It's sitting on the unopened flower of Clematis tangutica

Thanks to the good people of the UK-leps mailing list for rthe ID.