A quick walk across the local common this afternoon was primarily to check some of the immature stages. However, I was somewhat distracted at seeing the first few female SSB, including a female whom I suspect had just emerged, as her balance was terrible and she was landing on some strange plants, including Orchid:
I stumbled across a mating pair of Common Blues. I am not sure what colour she was inside (would have been interesting to know) as in intense heat she kept her wings closed but I did notice that they had both sustained a great deal of wear and I wondered how she had hidden herself away from the males for so long - or can they mate more than once?
A Small Copper flew along in front of me posing on a variety of plants. The only way I could get shot was to, well, take a shot
Time was running out so I only had time to ckeck the closest Painted Lady egg that I knew had hatched. This was the empty egg that I posted earlier. Sure enough, he seemed safe and well-fed, protected by his little tent covered in frass: