www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Is the Guy Padfield skipper ID service still running? Or anyone else?



Assuming there's enough info in the photo for a positive ID, a commentary on how you reach any conclusion would much appreciated, for future application.

Thanks.

Simon

Don't be conned by the dogmatic tone of some of my posts!! Like you (I think), Simon, I'm a teacher, so spend a long time pretending I know what I'm talking about.

The crucial underside tips are not visible in this picture, but I would plump for small skipper. I will not be at all put out if someone flatly contradicts me. Classic Essex skipper has a slightly burnt look to the edges of the wings, with often quite marked black lines running in along the veins. Check out this female from UK Butterflies:

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/image.ph ... Aug-05.jpg

Whilst that is not an absolute distinguishing feature it is very often reliable.

Here is a typical female small skipper, also on this site:

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/image.ph ... Jul-04.jpg

This looks very much more like yours. I find that small skippers have a 'clean' look about them, but I don't know if that word works for everyone.

Cautiously,

Guy

Thanks Guy. Very helpful as always.

I'm gradually figuring out (from reading the posts here) what I need to look for. I've been hoping to find Essex skipper locally, but I think I need to go somewhere where they are definitely to be found, to get my eye in first.

Like you (I think), Simon, I'm a teacher, so spend a long time pretending I know what I'm talking about.

- sort of. I'm in the Theory group in the Physics Department at the University of Bath. When I'm not lecturing I research the quantum theory of solids, at which point I freely admit to not knowing what I talk about.

Cheers,

Simon

Simon C wrote:When I'm not lecturing I research the quantum theory of solids...

...so you should have heard of Schrödinger's skipper then. It's neither small nor Essex until you open the box, then it flies away.

Guy

Hi Simon,

I read somewhere or other that the Essex Skipper was quite common around Bathampton - not on the down, but around the fields/road verges near the village itself. It is supposed to occur at Manor Road community woodland on the edge of Keynsham, too.

I saw about half-a-dozen last year, always singly, scattered quite randomly across the area south of Bath and Bristol. I think they are widespread in the area but at very low density.

Well that's a coincidence.

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/phpBB2/v ... php?t=1353

...so you should have heard of Schrödinger's skipper then. It's neither small nor Essex until you open the box, then it flies away.

Nice one!

And don't forget the impact of Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle, which states that if you have a butterfly postioned infront of your camera lens, it must be moving.

Nice to hear that there are indeed a few Essex Skippers in the vicinity. There are so many small skippers around I was hoping there would be, but you never know. I shall continue in my quest to get a snap a la eccles. I'm not jealous. No. Not a bit. Honest.

Simon