www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Is this a Speckled wood? It looks quite pale compared with the one in my book.

Yes, it's a speckled wood. It might be pale originally, but the lighting and exposure have made it look even paler.

Guy

Thanks.

Can someone confirm ID of these butterflies that I photographed on one of my business trips into Baku.

Your final six are all Long Tailed Blues.

I'd be tempted to say your others are Silver Studded Blue & Clouded Yellow but you are much further east than I have ever been so these may be different species.

I agree with David. I can't be 100% on the first, except to say that it is definitely Plebejus. There are several species of Plebejus in that region, and this is a famously variable and complex genus (that is, variable within each species). However, the upperside strongly suggests argus (silver-studded) and the underside rules out any of the pylaon group. So that's my best bet: Plebejus argus, the silver-studded blue.

Guy

Thanks to you both for all your help