Essex Skipper?

[David M]

Thanks for providing a second opinion, Jon. I nearly met you as I was thinking of going there myself today, but instead I went Grayling-spotting at Aberbargoed grasslands.

I'm off this week and intend to pay Springdale another visit, although it very much depends on the weather (seems like the demarcation line between good and poor conditions is yet again going to be the Severn Estuary.

I've a couple of places in Wiltshire earmarked if this proves to be the case.

Interesting that you also saw the Essex Skippers at the top of the slope. Small Skippers are absent from here, but abound lower down in the sheltered dip.

Is anyone more experienced with these two species able to offer an explanation for this? Do Essex Skippers prefer more exposed spots than Small Skippers?