www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

These two shots are my favourite Peacock photos of 2021, both taken in my butterfly garden with one showing the almost ghoulish fore-wing only eyes as compared to the absolute brilliance of all four eyes on a freshly emerged specimen. We should not take our more commoner species for granted.

Phil Bowler wrote: ↑Mon Jan 17, 2022 9:42 pm...We should not take our more commoner species for granted.

Certainly not this one, Phil. We're lucky that such a spectacular insect is relatively common in the UK. I see precious few in France & Spain.

While, fortunately, the upperside view of a Peacock basking in sunshine is still a frequent sight in UK, I have chosen an underside view. It is an extraordinary result of evolution, to create such a cryptic underside that hides this butterfly so well during its hibernation.
Mike

April 18th 2021 Nature's Calendar
This was some of the last Blackthorn seasonally flowering, much of it, had already "gone over" by mid-April in Lincolnshire. I went out walking with my Spouse, specifically, to take pictures of butterflies, where we had not been before.
Having parked the car, I was "harassed" by someone asking security questions.
I insisted that I wasn't going fishing!
Unfortunately, I spoiled my social memory of the day, when leaving, by accidentally shutting my car boot, on some of my camera equipment.
Don't laugh.
Having thought about something, I have since added an electric shock warning sticker, to the short pole that I used, with bluetooth camera shutter control.

Peacock numbers were low last year on my patch, however this beauty came to my garden to brighten up my day.
https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com/