Cheers, Wurzel - it was a good day yesterday, despite the weather collapse mid-morning!
Another "blank" day followed on 25th, and though
26th May was better, I didn't get to see much on my usual local walk.
The Brown Argus were all fresh, and showed subtle differences. The first one sported a fine set of orange lunules...
...the next was more subtly marked, with a hint of the sheen new dark-coloured butterflies sometimes display...
...on this one, the lunules were even fainter, and were yellow rather than orange...
...and then on this last one they were almost non-existent, rather like those of the Northern BA I've seen up at Arnside.
They were all male butterflies.
There were a few fresh Common Blues as well, indulging their particular passion here for the grass vetchling flowers (which look like miniature sweet peas).
Not surprisingly, considering the numbers of adults there have been around this spring, I came upon a nest of Peacock larvae.
Nearby on the nettles was this fly - whether or not it was one of the butterfly's predators I couldn't say, but it was keeping very close...
A couple of Small Coppers were around - I hardly ever see the same selection on consecutive visits, so have no real idea how big the overall population here is. They are widely spread, with no particular concentrations: males set up territories, generally widely spaced, and wait for wandering females to pass by. There is little or no sheeps' sorrel, so ordinary sorrel and dock must suffice as food plants.
I had another go at Small-Heath-in-flight shots again...
...I shall keep trying!
Last of all, I spotted a white butterfly at a distance that I couldn't readily identify without an enlarged zoomed photo. I was surprised to find it was a female Orange Tip, having not seen any here for nearly a week. It may well be the last one for the 2024 season. Here is that very blurry ID shot for the record...
Better weather was promised for 27th, and another excursion westwards beckoned.
Dave