So upon returning from Welney on the Thursday, I made Mrs PB do chores for the day, before sending her back out to work for the weekend, whilst I completed the far more important task of going out photographing stuff! (please don't tell her I used words like "made do chores" and "sending her out" ) The forecast was continuing dry and still, so it was butterfly time again, I hoped.
When I arrived I was greeted by a Gatekeeper, and he said "Hi PB, come on in, I'll close the entryway behind you." Imagine my surprise when I then saw a Gatekeeper butterfly too... coincidental or what!?
And just to rub in my previous error... next up a Meadow Brown
Next up, a little further down the track, Large Skipper I think. Skipper's markings this year seem to be a bit interchangable... it's so not fair!!
Meadow Brown (see, only one white spot still )
A curiosity... plant? parasite? Google Lens says Juncus summatorother ... compact rush?
A Ringlet, the only one I saw
Direct Meadow Brown/Gatekeeper comparison.... near identical, see
In the same tree as the White Letter Hairstreaks the other week, Purple Hairstreaks being equally obstinate about popping down for a feed and a photo! And equally over exposed and unflattering angles!
After about 15/20 minutes my neck started aching from looking up so I wandered on to the tree where I'd seen the Hairstreaks last year, and on the way, Small Skipper
Then Google Lens suggests Essex, but I'm not convinced
Beautiful Demoiselle
Surprise of the day.... Male Bully
Red Soldier Beetle?
Google Lens again comes up with Essex Skipper
Don't know... juvenile something? Light was quite harsh so I have darkened it down slightly... Looks too grey for Chiffchaff to me?
One of the ichneumenoniumenoneniunmonmin (or something like that) wasps?
There's been a couple of Hornets buzzing about, one landed briefly
Small Copper (think my first of the year)
Chiffchaff?
Marbled White, there were several, but none were keen on landing
And a really hot Wren!
And the wren had the right idea, so I tootled off home, before I melted. And I was glad to find, when I arrived, Mrs PB had finished ironing, and was in the kitchen preparing a cake
Hope you enjoyed (I certainly enjoyed the cake!!)
Any ID corrections welcome
Stay Safe All
Well that's a good selection of Butterflies PB . I do like that wren, great photo's of it.
Good session, sighting and background info, especially the marital tips
Google is wrong and you are right
Cin J
Cracking selection PB, as for myself when it comes to butterflies it’s been a poor show for me this year, I have seen the odd white butterfly that were not social and were just passing through and never landed so In defence I am putting it down to the weather. Well done PB
Thanks all.... It quickly turned properly hot, so that was a bit of a shame, but I was definitely pleased with what I saw
PimperneBloke said: (please don't tell her I used words like "made do chores" and "sending her out" )
Hmmmmmm.....
Seriously, a brilliant collection of photos and worth risking life and limb.
The gatekeeper and meadow brown butterflies is a superb side by side comparison, and I still manage to get them the wrong way round.... Many thanks for sharing.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler
Thanks Mike