Cheers Wurzel & Buggy - lots of character those Skippers, and they were still going strong up at Aston Rowant this afternoon.
Tuesday 27th July wasn't too bad a day by the standards of this rather mixed summer, but I stayed local and it turned out to be the most butterfly-filled day of the year here so far. I counted around 350 butterflies of 14 species, though the estimates I made of Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper were probably on the conservative side: both were very numerous and made up the majority of the total between them.
However, various new broods were starting to appear: Peacocks, Red Admirals, Green-veined Whites and Common Blues all offered examples of fresh butterflies.
A slightly older GVW female was spotted egg-laying.
![GVW2 270721.JPG (2.06 MiB) Viewed 385 times resting after laying](./files/thumb_9839_73621da1dee1f22437fabe912f0ee8fe)
- resting after laying
I'm not sure what the chosen plant is.
With such a throng of Meadow Browns it is easy to tune them out and concentrate on the more interesting species, but bright new females can be eye-catching.
They vary quite a bit - this one has particularly striking double-pupilled eyespots...
...and this one is probably close to being an example of ab.
alba.
There were a few more Commas around today, showing various degrees of wear but still colourful.
However, one species just emerging in its summer brood excelled in offering some fine examples, and some classic behaviour too. A real favourite of mine, and deserving of a separate post.
Dave