www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

I think this is an ES, photographed at Alners Gorse Dorset today. Be grateful for confirmation.

Females are difficult if you can't see beneath the antennae tips. I wouldn't like to commit personally.

No orange, i promise you David, i walked around it.

I'll stick my neck out and go for Small. Antennae seem chisel-ended and there is a hint of pale colour at the tip, especially on the right-hand side, though it may be a trick of the light. Splendid photo, as usual for your posts, and definitely a Smessex!!!

Mike

The Essex Skippers I've seen (and there haven't been many) have all had very distinctive inky black antennal tips.

Thanking you all for the input. My gut says Yes, and my brain says 'maybe'.

I'd definitely go for Small

Here's a few pics from my collection, which show how difficult it can be. I have no doubt that this first one is an Essex:
The next one has been in my files as an Essex but, I now believe that this close-up shows it to be a Small:
I took several photos of this second one and most look like this:
I had filed all photos of this second example as Essex and, only when I looked very carefully at just one of the pics, did I see the orange under the tip of the antenna.
On the other hand, some Smalls are bleedin' obvious, like this one (none too sharp - but I've zoomed in a lot)
It's really not as easy as some claim!!! With males, the sex brand helps, but with Essex girls, I think it can be very difficult!

Mike