It is an odd one, Pauline, even taking account of the camera angle. The sex brand looks like a deep scar almost right through the wing.
Cheers, Trevor - that White Admiral was far more intent on a bit of nectaring than bothering with me standing over it. Considering how flighty and nervy they can be most of the time, I considered myself quite lucky.
Yes, Goldie, they've been around near enough a month now, and most are torn and tired. However, there seems to have been a prolonged emergence (possibly caused by that spell of cool weather in June) of several species - including SWF, White Admirals and Purple Emperors as well. This means there are some fresh-looking ones still around as well.
Thankfully,
Sunday 30th June was not so hot, and more conducive to going out. I started off as I so often do with a morning walk around my local patch. Nearly half the 70-odd butterflies I saw were Meadow Browns, but I managed a pretty reasonable 15 different species today though with Small Skippers being the only other one in appreciable numbers.
![SS3 300619.JPG (1.88 MiB) Viewed 1889 times female](./files/thumb_9839_1cfe57fbe649e2f6f801da174bfc0a0f)
- female
![SS4 300619.JPG (2.07 MiB) Viewed 1889 times male](./files/thumb_9839_bb75f56970c8fd79e5f69b6c2813528a)
- male
There were however some notable finds, including my first Ringlet here this year. For such a common butterfly they are never numerous on this site and it's always reassuring to discover them every year.
The run of Marbled Whites continued, with just one seen again, though not in the same spot as the others I'd seen earlier.
There were also one or two brand new individuals of a few common species, showing how stunningly attractive these can sometimes be - this amazingly yellow female Green-veined White for instance...
...or this Red Admiral.
The new male GVW was not so spectacular...
...and a Small White even less so.
The trip wouldn't have been complete without a Comma...
...or a Holly Blue, though this one must be the last of the spring brood, surely.
It's never dull round here...
Dave