Thanks, Pete,

It's good to put this puzzle to rest,

James

I've been long puzzled by this photo taken on Ivythorn Hill near Collard Hill in Somerset, on 2nd August, 2015.
I eventually decided it must be a common blue, but I'd be grateful for any fresh ideas/confirmation …

James

Thanks, guys, for all the great tips,

James

Thanks, Mike and Kevin,

It's great to think I've (most probably) seen my first ever high brown fritillary. I was beginning to think they'd be my butterfly nemesis. If there's a next time, I'll try harder to see the underwings!

James

I only got this top shot of a fritillary flying in shady conditions near the lane in Trentishoe Combe, Heddon Valley on 24th July. The National Trust walks leaflet said the area was favoured by high brown, whereas the dark green preferred the open bracken slopes above. There seems to be a slight inw...

Thanks for that, Wurzel.

I was lucky with the definite Essex which perched quite high up on a flower stalk, so I could angle the camera better. I''ll keep an eye out for colour differences, and antennae shapes in future too …

Cheers,

James

I'm hoping that picture 1 is an Essex Skipper, a first for our garden. 01.JPG The second picture from the previous day I'm less sure about; the view of the antennae is not so clear. Can anyone help? 02.JPG Any opinions much appreciated, I'm contributing data to the Garden Butterfly Survey, so I want...

Thanks for your help. It was a long trip to try and see one, so that's made my day!

It's probably a long shot, but could this faded brown butterfly that I saw struggling through the grass at Arnside Knott on 1st July this year possibly be a Northern Brown Argus ... arnside knott j (24).JPG I realise that it doesn't look much like the pristine specimens on the identification page, w...