Reverdin

[David M]

Great images, Reverdin, especially the second WLH.

[Reverdin]

Thanks David.... this is my only Purple Hairstreak shot this year, apart from the French one that is, ....



I have these on the oak at the bottom of the garden, and so far the weather has picked up just right for them

[philm63]

That is a beautiful photo

Phil

[Pauline]

Don't know which I like best - your beautiful wild flower meadow or your gorgeous Hairstreak photos Keep the photos coming!

[Reverdin]

you're both very kind,

The wildflower bit looks an absolute mess just now! maybe I'll put in a photo tomorrow. The grass is too long, the kidney vetch much too brutish, along with self heal, and I belatedly let the rabbits in which have flattened (along with the weather) the whole lot! I evidently haven't yet got the balance right, but will work on it. On the plus side, I have trefoil and rockrose established in the grass, and some sanfoin and dianthus in amongst it.... the sheep sorrel is also rampant and scabious, wild strawberry and viper's bugloss surviving. The yellow rattle has done well but looks really ugly now.

trying to move trefoils into the rest of the paddock with plug plants, but like a drop in the ocean. White bedstraw and ragged robin and lady's smock see to have found their own way in, which is a bonus.

still a lot of work to do !!!

[Reverdin]

Very scanty butterfly year at home... but this rather worn 2nd generation Holly Blue spent ages nectaring in the garden this pm... seemed to really like the Globe Thistles...



it is really unusual to see them in our garden, the only time this year !

[Reverdin]

Well what do you know!! A second Holly Blue today, judging by the hindwing, a different one.... just as worn, and equally attracted to the Globe Thistles!... Only allowed one photo before floating up and away...



..... and, last evening, TWO Small Coppers on my very wild flower bit... Marjoram and Sheep's Bit Scabious the attractors.... hope the Sorrel nearby is used!!!

[Reverdin]

Winter boredom with little in the way of last year's photos left to play around with. I have always been captivated by the different shades of blue the Lycaenids capture, but don't usually look at them side by side. Hence with inspiration from an old posting from Pete depicting uk species, I put together 7 pages of European Blues for comparison... lots of gaps and missing species.. c'est la vie....















I was a bit puzzled about where to place orbitulus, as it seems to be a bit of a loner, with no closely resembling species. None of this is really taxonomic anyway

[Reverdin]

Whilst in Girona, after indulging in the Panoptes Blue, the only other worthy photo opportunity was for this little gem... Red Underwing Skipper... fresh as a daisy...

[Padfield]

I missed that European Blues post, Rev. Good job! I notice you have a female nicias in there - something I've yet to see...

Guy

[Reverdin]

She wasn't with the males!... probably 2-3 females, definite as undersides seen, lurking in longer wetter grass, not too far from the Geranium patches... the males were abundant not far away... but in shorter, warmer, dryer pasture... ? just co-incidence, or meaningful I'll see if I have other shots and post them if so.
Cheers !
- later edit.....

Not a great image, but at least the underside is evident.

[Reverdin]

At last some Orange Tips.... female posed here on Amelanchia flowers....

[Reverdin]

Another OT opportunity today, female again...

[Reverdin]

An opportunity to visit my local rubi site today, with sun, cloud and only a light breeze I was hoping to see my so far elusive quarry. It's funny I saw them first in 2012 on 31st March, in that unseasonally hot week, but 4 April visits this year saw nothing. So it seems we are anything from 3 to 6 weeks behind this year here in the Yorkshire steppes. Anyway, today there were at least a dozen on the wing.....

mating pair

Off to the Peloponesse on Sunday, hope to see some beauties there

[Padfield]

I'm glad to see things are moving up your way, Rev! And thanks for posting the underside of the female nicias. Lovely!

Good luck with your trip to the Peloponnese - I look forward to the pictures ...

Guy

[Reverdin]

Last weekend I took the opportunity to visit Warton Crag in Morcambe Bay, and was rewarded with a lovely euphrosyne.....

....and a rather nice blue female icarus....

....and yesterday near Berwick, was fortunate enough to see minimus in pleasantly good numbers, this one was a really tiny little fingernail size male.....

and a different individual....

......although the White spot artaxerxes don't seem to be out yet. A heavily marked napi was all I had feared I would see....

[IAC]

I dont get any pleasure at all in posting this mate. If you had hung around just 10 minutes more..... I even expended energy not normally available in a head long run uphill to try find you. Just the one adult flushed by a Wall Brown in a momentary splash of sunshine. Adult seems to show the four spots ab. quadripuncta quite a common ab.

Good to see you again. Better luck next time.

Iain.

[Reverdin]

Fantastic shot Ian, well done, just shows your patience was worthwhile.... I don't think I'll be able to make the trip again this year... oh well !

[Reverdin]

About this time each year lately, I have been compelled to post a piccy or two of my evolving wildflower patch..

I think it's looking well, the Bumblebees love it but as for butterflies... no real joy yet.... I live in hope of Common Blues!

[Reverdin]

Well Ian.... I guess you knew I would probably trek up to Scotland again, after your last picture....here are some of my efforts from today, wall to wall sun, light breeze, and the bluest sea you could ask for, I had the whole place to myself.... and at least a dozen artaxerxes, which teased me for ages.... boy, they're not as easy as their southern cousins!!

?quadripuncta

all in all a very satisfactory trip, and fish & chips and Old Speckled Hen in Eyemouth to boot