www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

The back lit shot of the Brown Argus is superb Katrina I'm glad no-one has contradicted the ID's, phew

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thank you and thanks again for for being brave enough to help with the ID - they had been up for a time before you jumped in to help!

I went back to Strumpshaw this afternoon accompanied by my sister. We saw 3 Swallowtails in the Doctor's Garden with the highlight being 3 chasing each other at once. There were plenty of other enthusiasts too. We also looked in some other areas where there had been sightings but didn't see any outside of the garden.

I so wish I lived nearer this part of the UK because this butterfly is an absolute showstopper!

I never get tired of seeing it even when I'm abroad.

I love those last two Katrina, the flowers and the Swallowtails together make a magnificent combination

Simply fantastic images I knew you'd end up falling over them after your initial find

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Cracking photos Katrina, you must be so pleased

Thank you David, they were lovely to see. I was thinking of you and your epic overnight drive to see the Chequered Skippers as I was stuck in a traffic jam on the M25 on the way back.
Thank you William. The garden there is stunning - no wonder the Swallowtails like it.
Wurzel - you were definitely right!
Thanks Susie very pleased with results as they were quite active so it was more a case of rapidly clicking away and hoping for the best than skill. It was a vey happy but slightly surreal experience with a lot of happy photographers clicking away together.

They are stunning Swallowtail shots Katrina - you must be over the moon with them. If I ever get to Norfolk (and it is beginning to seem quite unlikely) I would be delighted to get shots like that.

Thank you Pauline. I am so pleased with them I will break protocol and bombard you with some bonus shots including a Norfolk Hawker my sister found.

Great Swallowtail photos Katrina, we went to Strumpshaw last year and know just how difficult it is to get brilliant images like yours We saw and photographed them in the field just along to the right of the Doctor's garden.

Mike

Thanks Mike, we had heard the field was a good place but looked there multiple times and didn't see any - we did however find the Norfolk Hawker there.

Wonderful trip report Katrina, as well as those lovely Swallowtail shots I'm also very envious of that Norfolk Hawker

Bill

"When in doubt...venture out"

I too am envious, even more so when you produce photos like the second one - I love it, brill

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I went to Pulborough Brooks today and saw only one butterfly flying high which I think was a Small Tortoiseshell. I went on to Kithurst Hill and found 4 Common Blues.

On Thursday the 5th Neil kindly alerted me to a Swallowtail he found at Steyning. I had only time for a lightning quick visit without my camera but was extremely pleased to see the Swallowtail - thank you Neil.
Yesterday I went for a quick wander back there in case any more would appear - none did but I saw my first Large Skippers and Meadow Browns of the year.
This morning I went to Downs very early and saw Common Blues, one Brown Argus, 2 Small Blues and a Large skipper. Also a lot of pupas. Can anyone identify the caterpillar? I then went for a quick march round Pulborough Brooks and saw 7 Small Tortoiseshells, one Red Admiral and a Nightingale. I stopped at Steyning on the way back for one hour seeing Meadow Browns, Large Skippers, Common Blues, Speckled Woods , Small Tortoiseshells a Green Woodpecker but no Swallowtails.

Lovely Small Blue - the caterpillar is one of the Burnet Moths, though it's beyond me to say which

BWs

William

I, too, like that Small Blue shot Katrina. I think the composition is spot on and I love the way the background is slightly blurred yet the butterfly is pin sharp. I'd like to be able to take one like that

Thank you William and thanks for the ID.
Thank you Pauline, I think this photo was a triumph of persistence rather than skill - it was the last of about 50 photos I took of the same butterfly. I have enjoyed seeing your Clouded Yellow and SSB shots.

That is indeed a cracking Small Blue shot

Have a goodun

Wurzel