So after the Frits and Skippers in Part 1 Here more of the same abounded... Glorious Glanvilles
Ma... he's making eyes at meeee
And even ground level underwing Cin
There were some big birds about (well being opposite a local airfield on a sunny day, it wasn't unexpected!)
I thought the shiny hard looking green bit on their backs was,well.... their backs! Looks like wing casings in this picture!
I think Dingy is a bit of a harsh description
As is Grizzled, to be honest!
Nom, Nom, Nommm
Go-Go Gadget Tongue!!
The first Small Heath of the year for me
Swiftly followed by the first Small Blue. I was on my way back up the track to the car, when a chap I'd spoken to earlier and mentioned blues pointed it out to me,
And said there were some Adonis over the gate on the actual Compton Down itself. I'd never been over there, so decided why not... clambering up foot high steps and over a style with similar height steps probably wasn't a pleasant sight from behind! First sighting wasn't a blue, but another Brimstone
Another was cavorting up in the branches... first time I've seen the upper wings
I've decided to show the Brimstones some love...
Some more top wing stuff!
Go onnnn.... fill ya face
A patrolling Speckled Wood landed conveniently close!
And a Small Heath started playing the "flutter along the path 2 feet at a time" game
Big Bird 3
There were Frits this side too!
Suddenly the bluest of blues lit up my eyes... probably Common
A slightly tatty Marsh Frit joined the fun (the chap I'd spoken to had said they were "lively".... he wasn't kidding lol)
And a bit of 2 for one action
Big Bird 4
Much better than flitting along a path!
I was struck by how red the bum was!
I was determined to get plenty of underwings!!!
Before heading off after a blue again... Hopefully Adonis
Unusual for the back end of a shiny green bug to smile at you!!
This one had very thick black lines, almost drawn on in felt tip!
Another first for the year, Red Admiral
With the scalloping of the wing, I thought Comma, but no, Speckled Wood
And a final Brimstone
I also saw, but couldn't snap, one Green Hairstreak, one Orange Tip, and a Peacock, so the species count is on the way up
Thanks for looking, hope you enjoyed.
Stay Safe All
Well that's an impressive selection of butterflies PB, most of them I haven't seen yet this year and some I have never seen...
I doubt anyone is in competition with you this year PB...bravo
(Pardon the Scottish Accent)
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Another stunning set PB and what a great selection you saw; gotta say I love the Marsh Fritiliary,Glanville, Adonis and Grizzled Skipper ........well all of them actually ! as never seen most of those and the colours and markings are superb. Thanks for all your efforts which are really appreciated. Gotta go back full screen now LOL
Absolutely yummy - I'm going to say that your first Blue is an Adonis as well.
Cin J
Thanks Linda, I may have seen these "fancy" ones, but I've not seen many of the "usual subjects" yet, so species wise I'm sure I'm lagging behind lol
Thanks Snappy, I know the Glanvilles are only in a couple of locations, my butterfly book only mentions the Isle of Wight for them, but a chap did a reintroduction over a few years ending a couple of years ago (if I remember correctly), and it appears they are establishing themselves Chalk downlands is what you need to find
Thanks Hazel, like I said, it's great to get out and amongst it, because as well as concentrating on looking for spectacular colours, the background noise was skylarks, whitethroats and blackcaps... not that I can tell most of them apart lol
Thanks Cin, I wasn't sure about the first blue as I couldn't tell if it was black across the border, or just there being gaps in the fringing where it's slightly scalloped. But I'll take another Adonis lol
They all look unusual and fancy tae me !