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Katrina - That ab is now famous isn't it? I like the four purple wing shot despite the chunk missing and I don't think your side shot could be bettered either.

Great shots Katrina, It doesn't seem to matter if the Emperor is in one piece or not as long as we get a shot of that Purple wing
Goldie

Another selection of great shots, Katrina. That battered one must have got far too close to a bird, but clearly held its own and is happily refuelling for battles to come.

Dave

Thanks Wurzel, Andrew, Ernie, Goldie and Millerd. It was a great day out

This morning my sister and I went to Botany Bay. We shortly afterward were fortunate to bump into and join forces with Andrew 555 and later
Mark Colvin. Highlights were Purple Hairstreaks my sister found in the grass, Purple Emperors (mainly flying) and mating Silver Washed Fritillaries.
We went to Knepp for a short time on the way back where we saw flying Purple Emperors and a nice still Comma

Purple Hairstreaks seem to be having a phenomenal year, I've been seeing dozens low down at Bookham this past few days, both sexes as well. That's a great shot of the male, its really difficult to get the purple to show on them, even more so than on an Emperor I think!

Great shots of the Purp Katrina They do seem to be coming 'down' this year, has the heat evaporated the honeydew?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Very impressive Purple Hairstreaks, by co-incidence I found four low down yesterday.
A mating pair of Silver Washed Fritillaries earns you a mrgreen ! .

Trevor.

Thanks Bugboy, I was pleased with the shot but shame about the damaged wing. I seem to be specialising in full purple on damaged butterflies! It wasn’t ha d to get the shot as when we first saw it it was full purple.
Thanks Wurzel, it was odd the way they were liking to be on and often in the grass, I even saw one crawl into a clump of clover and not come back out again. We were looking on bracken, trees and bramble when we should have been looking on the grass!
Thanks Trevor, I liked your photos too , on bracken is a bit more photogenic. I have Mark to thank for the first pair but they were too far away for my camera and my sister for either the second pair or refinding the second.

Great Purple Hairstreak pics, Katrina, especially the close-up with wings open. I, too keep seeing them close to the ground (I presumed newly emerged) but for me they would not stay still long enough for pics so far this year.

All lovely shots Katrina especially your mating SWF's Goldie

Thanks Ernie , maybe they are emerging form the ground but mine already had a bite out of him
Thanks Goldie , I was lucky to be with others who spotted them.

This evening I went to Friston Gallops. It was alive with butterflies. i saw Peacocks, Commas, Marbled Whites, Chalkhill Blues, Small Coppers, Gatekeepers, Small Skippers, Meadow Browns, Whites and a Brown Argus.

Luscious shots of the Brown Argus Katrina A species that has a dull name that does it nowhere near justice Beautiful Chalkhills too, though I always view those with a little touch of sadness as their emergence seems to portend the end of the season

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Wurzel, I know what you mean about the Chalkhills, the season seems to be whizzing by.

I see you have gone for the ' dreamy ' look, with great success.

Wonderful stuff,
Trevor.

Lovely shots Katrina, especially your 3rd Brown Argus.

Sooo jealous of your Purple Hairstreaks, Katrina. What I would give for views like that, a species I have never got remotely near to.

Some enviable images there, Katrina. Well done with the Purple Hairstreaks which are notably difficult to photograph.

Katrina - Your lovely fresh, shiny Chalkhills almost seem to glow with an inner light. Also was your Copper walking down the grass stem?