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Small Blue - Favourite Photo of 2018

Week 16

Even though it's cold outside and even though it's dark stupidly early it still feels like spring is starting - Daff, Snowdrops, Aconites are all blooming Not long to go now!

Please could I ask that everyone waits until a topic has been opened by me for a particular species before posting photos as then it will be easier to keep track of things? Of course our overseas members are very welcome to fill in the obvious gaps relating to rare UK migrants. As in previous years details of locations, dates, times and circumstances would be welcome as would any accompanying stories and anecdotes or other observations of behaviour and interesting other points.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Here's one on a buttercup - showing just how small they really are!
Hutchinsons Bank, May 26 2018, 2.59pm

Cheers
John W

I usually see this species round my way in early May, but it took them a while to get going in 2018.

Here are two from Crymlyn Burrows on 18 May:

One of each sex from the swarms that fly at Hutchinsons bank in the spring from me

It was my first visit to the old quarry at Pitstone in 2018, and the reward was very good numbers of Small Blues. This one stood out. Dave

Small Blue

This fave shot came from Martin Down. I’d encountered fresh males before which were generously bedecked in the electric blue scales but not to the same extent as this male. The scales here were so heavy particularly along the leading edge of the wing margin that they actually looked white! Is this because of the positioning and how the light is being refracted?
Have a goodun

Wurzel

All of my previous encounters with our tiniest butterfly have been on southern chalkland, but spending a week in early June in the north Lakes gave me a chance to seek them out in their coastal dune habitat on the edge of Maryport, Cumbria. It took a while to get my eye in but then quickly became apparent that the population here is actually fairly healthy. Long may that remain the case!

My usual trip down to Bishops Hill in Warwickshire to see Small Blues produced plenty of fresh examples...
...and a visit to Prestbury Hill by Cheltenham later in May also produced good numbers,
including a pair in cop,
Cheers,

Neil.