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Fantastic set of shots Andrew The final Adonis is emblazoned on my retina, the most blue thing I've seen in a long time Cracking ab Small Pearl and that Copper in the hand - gorgeous and looks reminiscent of a foreign species almost

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Trevor, yes I got lucky with the ab. Neil and Gary were already on it when I turned up, easy money!
Looking foward to the season and seeing you out there.

Hi Wurzel, thanks a lot buddy!
All the best.

Great to see you back, Andrew. Your images are such a joy (especially on a miserable, cloudy, windy March day!)

That SPBF is a beauty although it is the Wood White shot that caught my eye - there's always something magical when butterflies are photographed on dandelion seedheads.

Hi David, thank you very much. Very kind of you.

In the latter part of June I paid special attention to the Dark Green Fritillary. They were wonderful to watch, in and around the Lullington Heath/Friston Forest area. They definitely favoured Thistle and Knapweed but would occasionally nectar from this plentiful yellow flower (a variety of Hawksbeard?). This plant is called Viper's-bugloss and there were patches of it, some large, in Friston Forest. The Butterflies seemed to like it, I saw visits by Small Skipper, Marbled White, Painted Lady and DGF. As well as a Hummingbird hawk-moth.
All males so far, here are the ladies.
A couple of others from the forest. Fresh Marbled White male and a Red Admiral taking minerals.
Cheers.

More fantastic images Andrew That shot with the three DGFs in a row - cracking and some really lush, sultry looking females Bring on the next one soon please

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Wonderful sequence, Andrew. Dark Green Fritillaries aren't the easiest of subjects but you've done exceptionally well there. I love the fourth image in particular, showing the species at its best.

Some great images in your recent posts Andrew, I especially love the DGF sequence

Cheers,

Nei.

Cheers Wurzel, here we go.

Thanks David. Them being so engrossed in feeding definitely helped!

Hi Neil, thanks a lot.


June was also Black Hairstreak time, and Ditchling Common was better for me than last year. This one was giving it's wings a good old rub together. A female Silver-studded Blue from Chapel Common. Female and male Crab Spider at Fackenden Down. First time I saw a male. The hillside Down and surrounding area is great for Marbled Whites.It's fairly local to me and I made a couple of early evening visits to see them settling down for the night. The same butterfly shot from either side. Cheers.

Thanks for the prompt delivery Andrew More cracking shots - those Blackstreaks and luscious Marbled Whites, I didn't do to well with them last year, I blinked and they were almost over

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Love the wing rolling Black Hairstreak, and that glimpse of the upper side.
Aren't Marbled Whites nice and easy when they go to roost, great shot of three of them.

Keep well,
Trevor.

Very much enjoying your digest of 2019, Andrew, especially the shots of those lovely fresh female Dark Green Fritillaries. I love their subtle colouring, duskier than the males.

Dave

First class, Andrew. You timed that Black Hairstreak image to perfection when it was rolling its hindwings. Not often you get as good a glimpse of the hindwing submarginal orange markings as in your image.

As for the Marbled White shots, that 'threesome' is the type of photo one sees on the cover of magazines. Beautiful.

Your welcome Wurzel! Thanks m8, hope you do better with the Marbled Whites this year!

Cheers Trevor. They absolutely are!

Thanks Dave. I'm with you, love 'em!

Thanks David. I usually see much subtler wing rolling, but this one was quite 'vigorous'!

Some fabulous shots in your 2019 catchup posts. That trio of Marbled White is particularly eye catching!