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Suspect Essex Skipper
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 4:06 pm
by Zonda
I think this is an ES, photographed at Alners Gorse Dorset today. Be grateful for confirmation.
![Image](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-h7W93v0BjqU/TiBkLMdYR7I/AAAAAAAAKLA/8qCxQSdFyuU/s640/Essex%252520Skipper%252520%252528fem%252529%252520001.jpg)
Re: Suspect Essex Skipper
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 4:09 pm
by David M
Females are difficult if you can't see beneath the antennae tips. I wouldn't like to commit personally.
Re: Suspect Essex Skipper
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 4:11 pm
by Zonda
No orange, i promise you David, i walked around it.
Re: Suspect Essex Skipper
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 4:31 pm
by MikeOxon
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
Re: Suspect Essex Skipper
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 4:38 pm
by David M
The Essex Skippers I've seen (and there haven't been many) have all had very distinctive inky black antennal tips.
Re: Suspect Essex Skipper
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 4:59 pm
by Zonda
Thanking you all for the input. My gut says Yes, and my brain says 'maybe'.
Re: Suspect Essex Skipper
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 5:01 pm
by dilettante
I'd definitely go for Small
Re: Suspect Essex Skipper
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 5:38 pm
by MikeOxon
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:
![EssexSkipper.jpg (66.13 KiB) Viewed 916 times Sydlings Copse, Oxon - July 2005](./files/thumb_11310_48f83e41416399f7d67e8cbc02bd7678)
- Sydlings Copse, Oxon - July 2005
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:
![SmallSkipper.jpg (69.94 KiB) Viewed 916 times Wick Hall, Abingdon, Oxon - July 2008](./files/thumb_11310_b35f2a3275c0a82b5e982da5e43d9969)
- Wick Hall, Abingdon, Oxon - July 2008
I took several photos of this second one and most look like this:
![Smessex.jpg (98.25 KiB) Viewed 916 times Wick Hall, Abingdon, Oxon - July 2008](./files/thumb_11310_1cdf07d5579d363f5de4086f670496d2)
- Wick Hall, Abingdon, Oxon - July 2008
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)
![SmallSkip2.jpg (61.09 KiB) Viewed 916 times Hartslock, Oxon - June 2009](./files/thumb_11310_2e34c6aee88a5c9cbf3f9831b1d8bb57)
- Hartslock, Oxon - June 2009
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