Butterflies & Moths 2020

Only managed to photograph a speckled wood yesterday but it was good to get out and see some wildlife as this year is proving to be the most unadventurous and restricting year ever !     As long as everyone stays safe and well, that's the main thing as wildlife will be waiting for us when we are able to explore fully and get back on those beautiful reserves.    

I always try to get out and do my sites on Midsummers day - this year it was too flipping windy - brilliant sunshine and warm but a NW at a strong 6 with gusts and on an exposed sea cliff site no point so I went yesterday - we are still in a that weird June lull but things are starting emerge - I had early Grayling, which refused to be photographed but I did ask our 2 resident Skippers to play and they obliged and I also had a chat with a rather special Small Copper 

Large Skipper 

Essex Skipper - I was after a good antenna photo for a teaching aid but wasn't playing - I'll have to go through my old photos

Small Copper - form caeruleopunctata  - Given how clear the blue cells are I think quite fresh.  Small Coppers are a great one for variations 

CinJ

A few from the last couple of days

Marbled White

Peacock

Small Skipper?

Red Admiral

Meadow Brown

Ringlet?

Large White?

Comma

Green Veined White

Still no Hawk-moths in my garden but I had a cracking selection of others last night .  The pick of which are the following 

Scarce Merveille du Jour

Orache

Bird's Wing  - never heard of it before and took several goes through the book before I found her 

A delicate Mother of Pearl 

Buff Arches - what an intricately marked moth this is 

and last but not least a 

Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing who refused to reveal her underwing until she flew this evening and I failed to get a photo - I had the devils job getting the id as well

CinJ