I took my favourite photograph on Therfield Heath, Hertfordshire in early July. There were several about and they made a nice but very active side show to the Chalkhill Blues.

I saw plenty of Dingy Skippers in May, whilst looking for Dukes at a quarry in Bedfordshire. However, my favorite photograph was taken in Dorset on 2 August, whilst walking up the cliff path back from the beach. Unfortunately, the butterfly was some distance above the path and it was not possible to...

Plenty to choose from this year and I had narrowed it down to two photographs I took on 17 July in Hertfordshire. They show a freshly emerged male, with attendant ant, he appeared to be cleaning both his eyes simultaneously using both sections of his proboscis. I have also added a third photograph s...

Thank you, I have supported a species. Very much looking forward to the book. It is a serious undertaking.

Yesterday, about 12:30, I disturbed a pair of coupled Meadow Brown. They were in a thick clump of marram grass and fluttered away still joined. I was preoccupied and didn’t give it a second thought, but this post has made me realise that I don’t recall seeing Meadow Brown mating before.

2018 continues to deliver. Within a few hours on the North Norfolk coast today I saw well over 100 Walk Brown. Of the 18 species seen this was only exceeded by the numbers of Common Blue and Brown Argus. A nice late season treat.

Alan
I think we need an ant expert to ID the species.
Regards W

I like MrSp0ck's theory of the high temperatures, summer 2018 is certainly hot.
The handsome chap was about again today and being a bit overcast, obliged and sat still allowing a clearer photograph.

I came across this unusual Gatekeeper yesterday morning in my meadow. Unfortunately it was extremely active and never settled long enough for a decent photograph. It looks to be same as the aberrant photographed by MrSp0ck and posted on this website.

I have just seen a reasonably fresh but remarkably undersized female Marbled White in my meadow. She was the size of a Gatekeeper. They have been flying here since mid-June and are now towards the end of their season. Although early Spring was wet, it has been very dry here since May. I assume she w...

I saw White-letter Hairstreak in my local wood for the first time in 2017. This individual was sat on Hazel and was very patient of my close approach. Shortly after, another was sat in long grass.

My first encounter in 2017 was on the Lizard in late May whilst looking for Marsh Fritillary. The butterfly was a bit tatty, understandable given the windswept location, but the photograph shows what the cliffs in Cornwall are like in Spring.

I visited Hickling on 4 June and by 9:30 there were plenty about, feeding mostly on campion and marsh thistle. The weight of a swallowtail landing on a campion flower was enough to make the plant bend and this was exacerbated by the wind and resulted in the swallowtail having to beat its wings for b...

Like Neil, I also had two bites of the cherry in 2017 and also from the Lizard and Upton Towans. In May they were fresh and in good condition but the second brood in late August were rather worn. Both my photographs were taken at Upton Towans. I have included the August photograph as it was my first...

Had an early season encounter with Silver-studded Blue in Cornwall on 31 May and again in Norfolk on 20 June.

My only encounter with Silver-spotted Skipper in 2017 was at Aston Rowant on 1 August, very windy and quite hot so very active.

Silver-washed Fritillary were very numerous in my local wood, where I took these photographs. 2017 was the first year that I encountered valesina in this wood and I saw several but they were always close to the shadows and on the wrong side of brambles so close approach was impossible. The courting ...

A quick trip to the Lakes (!) on 15 June was my first UK encounter with the Mountain Ringlet. The weather was marginal and not many about, but some serious searching was rewarded.

This photograph was taken on 20 June in Norfolk. The first time I have watched a meadow brown expand its wings. Unfortunately, I was distracted and missed the fully expanded of pristine wings.

Some great photographs have been posted. For me, the "blue" females are about as attractive as UK butterflies get. Some crazy Abs. as well. My favorite is mundane by comparison; it is my favorite as it was taken at home on a trefoil that I planted a few years ago primarily to encourage Com...