Thank you Pauline. I'm really pleased you like the more natural backgrounds in these pictures (which to be honest feature in most of my photos!). Wood Whites don't seem to discriminate as much as some species over what they settle on, so you get a wide variety of wildflowers in the photos too. They are very photogenic little things as well.
Yes, Buggy - my local patch has been okay for variety this year, though as with most places numbers of some are well down.
I had another ramble locally this evening, and despite a strong breeze, a bit of sunshine brought some butterflies out. In particular, those stalwarts of early summer evenings, the Red Admirals, were around in numbers - I lost count at 15 after only a part of the walk, and was persistently dive-bombed throughout. In amongst them and joining in the various melées, were several Commas: perhaps seven or eight in all. there were also two or three Peacocks. I spotted four Speckled Woods and five or six Holly Blues.
The latter have begun to seek out the pink bramble flowers for nectaring (they don't seem to take much interest in the white ones). One was kind enough to perch briefly and open up a bit.
A few Whites were still flying, though I think most had gone to roost in the vegetation. I did catch one GVW still up and about.
In the meadow area between the River Colne and the M25, there were still dozens of Meadow Browns, mostly females, and I did find a single Small Heath as well.
Of Gatekeepers and Common Blues, there was no sign at all.
The Commas were largely fading now.
However, I did encounter one that seemed really fresh, and it appeared to be a
hutchinsoni individual, not an overwintering one.
Quite late in the day for these to still be emerging.
However, the main attraction was the Red Admirals. As can be seen, several were of the
bialbata variety, with white spots in the red forewing band.
Dave