Essex or Small Skipper?

[Lawts]

Is this Essex Skipper. I'd always assumed so based on the completely black tip to the antenna.
However, the sex brand is definitely not parallel to the wing.
Again it's a photo of a photo, so apologies for that.
Thanks for any help.

[millerd]

Hi Lawts,

It's difficult to say for sure about the antennae, but I think what you have taken to be the male sex brand is actually a marking on a female butterfly, which is why it is at such a big angle to the wing edge. Not helpful I know in identifying species... Let's see what others think.

Cheers,

Dave

[Lawts]

Thanks Dave. Appreciated.

[bugboy]

Where was the photo taken, location is sometimes enough to rule out Essex Skippers.

[David M]

I can't see how this could be Small Skipper based on the antennal club colour.

Essex for me.

[Lawts]

It was taken along the coast road at Cley-next-the-sea which is a location that gets Essex. I'm happy it was an Essex, but it was the angle of the sex brand that was throwing me. However, if it's not the sex brand, it makes sense.

[Toby Ludlow]

Hi,
This is an Essex Skipper. The straw coloured antennae indicate it is a female Essex Skipper, so it will not have the male sex brand.
With best wishes
Toby

[Lawts]

Thanks all for your replies. Appreciated.