I've seen a few more Small Tortoiseshells in the past couple of years but still nothing like the amount I used to see.
Here are my two favourites from 2011, one upperside and one underside.
Steyning Rifle Range, 21/08/2011 High And Over, 23/04/2011

I also saw my first ever Small Blues at Kithurst Hill this year. I like this one because of the gorgeous blue dusting. Kithurst Hill, May 8th 2011

I went out there in early March a couple of years ago and the only butterfly I saw was a Speckled Wood:

As Vince said, there are indeed some lovely images in this thread, of one of my favourite butterflies.

I like the way the light gleams off this pristine male, resting on a fence post at the Botany Bay car park (on July 2nd 2011).

Susie wrote:How about common and adonis blue? Similar size and around at the same time. Or Dingy and grizzled skippers.

So would they be called Gringy or Dizzled Skippers?

This one seen at Malling Down on the 7th August 2011 has spotting too... (click to enlarge to get a better view)

David M wrote:Sure is a once in a lifetime shot.

Knowing Neil he'll get an even better one next year!

This was the first Purple Hairstreak I've ever seen close up - unfortunately not quite in focus but I like the yellow proboscis! Taken on Susie's walk in Southwater Woods, on 3rd July. My favourite of the year is almost certainly the very same insect! The lovely grey underside is almost lilac. Hi D...

This was the first Purple Hairstreak I've ever seen close up - unfortunately not quite in focus but I like the yellow proboscis! Taken on Susie's walk in Southwater Woods, on 3rd July.

I wonder about the possibility of former resident species returning, like the Large Tortoiseshell, Mazarine Blue, or Black-veined White?
Actually I've always wondered why the latter two became extinct, given that their food plants are common enough.

Cheers
John

I have two favourite images of 2011 - the first a freshly emerged almost silky male taken at Southwater Woods on 13th June, and the second was my last butterfly photo of the year - a pristine female taken at Cissbury Ring on October 23rd.

MikeOxon wrote:I think the key feature is the double fringe on the wing edges - slightly chequered greyish inner fringe, with pure white outer. It's shown very well here.

Nice observation about the double fringe, I hadn't noticed that before.

Cheers
John

There are some stunning images on this thread, nearly every one is a corker! I'm going to go for an action shot
Southwater Woods, 26th June

Here's my favourite, also taken at Hod Hill, on 30th April 2011. It was taken on the first (and only) day that I have seen these lovely creatures.

Wurzel wrote:Surely Marbled Brown would be more technically correct?

I believe this species was sometimes called the Marmoress, which seems more romantic than the prosaic Marbled White (or Brown).

I'm surprised that the common name doesn't involve Chess boards or Chequer boards.

Cheers
John

This photo was taken at Meathop Moss on an overcast July 11th. Stupidly I visited the site wearing ordinary shoes so I couldn't stray far from the board walk without getting wet feet!

Like millerd I find it difficult to get photographic opportunities for Large and Small Whites. Maybe part of the reason is that one doesn't put quite the same amount of effort into stalking and waiting for a photo opportunity as one would for a Large Blue or High Brown Frit! This was my best of the ...

I remember Neil (Sussex Kipper) saying that all the Duke habitats in the country would fit into one square kilometre so you may be right!

Interesting that no-one has mentioned either the Lulworth Skipper or Chequered Skipper.

Ok I have a question to help while away those winter hours... What do people think is the rarest British butterfly, i.e. the one with the fewest adult butterflies per emergence? Also, this may have the same answer, which species occupies the smallest total area of habitat? And a third question, whic...

This shot is my favourite as it's the first Grayling I'd seen in 40 years! The last ones I saw were at Walney Island in Cumbria in the early 70's. Arnside Knott, 13th July 2011