I haven't been butterflying for ages due to family commitments and have had to all but give up on my butterfly challenge but yesterday I went to Iping to join the BC walk. I arrived early as I hoped to photograph a male silver studded blue being attended by ants. I found two, but both times I only had a brief look before they took to the wing. I should have got there even earlier than I did but a heavy cold and lack of sleep left me feeling not too energetic.
I managed a quick snap of one
The SSB were plentiful and it was a lovely day. I got rather carried away with the camera and missed the start of the walk, considering how grotty my cold is though it was probably just as well as I would have infected them all with my coughs and sneezels. As is always the way with these popular sites I did run into people I knew on the way round including a UKB member. I did eventually find Colin Knight leading the walk over the other side at Stedham by which time they were heading in the other direction but it seems that they had a fabulous morning too and the blues showed well for them.
All in all a great and memorable day despite the lurgies!
Also seen, speckled wood, red admiral and my first meadow brown of the year. When I got home there were four small tortoiseshell in the garden. That's the most I've ever had at one time.
1. Red Admiral
2. Brimstone
3. Peacock
4. Small Tortoiseshell
5. Small White
6. Orange Tip
7. Comma
8. Holly blue
9. Large white
10. Green veined white
11. Green hairstreak
12. Speckled wood
13. Pearl Bordered Fritillary
14. Duke of Burgundy
15. Dingy Skipper
16. Small Heath
17. Small Blue
18. Common Blue
19. Small Copper
20. Grizzled Skipper
21. Adonis Blue
22. Silver Studded Blue
23. Meadow Brown