Hi Mike - thank you both for your kind words as I know they are sincerely meant. As you know I have little confidence in my photography skills but I am not one for false modesty and I have to say that I am pleased with these images (even if they are not technically perfect), especially as it is a butterfly that I am very fond of. It was a really great day out - at this rate I'll be wanting a day off every week!
I really appreciate your comments Bill. I never, ever thought I would hear the term 'inspirational' applied to any of my photos and you just don't know how your short comment really made my day. Thank you.
It is tempting to carry on posting BH images as I have loads but it is time to move on to the rest of that very enjoyable day. After a couple of hours I made my way back to the car passing some very blue, if worn, females as I left:
Some very nice Brown Argus caught my attention too but I failed to capture that lovely metallic sheen. It was still early so I decided to break the journey home with a stop at Stockbridge Down. As Pete has already mentioned there were some lovely fresh Chalkhills and it was a pleasure just to stand and watch and not to have to rush:
To be honest, I was so elated after the morning with the BH that I just snapped away, recording these lovely creatures, with little regard for composition or camera settings, so many have been heavily cropped:
However, just as I was leaving the unmistakable Clouded Yellow flew past - a beautiful orange shade in flight. I didn't manage to capture it in a picturesque pose on a pretty flower but nevertheless it was a real bonus and a perfect end to the day.