Spring Butterflies

With some warm Spring days, butterflies have emerged and can be seen flying around.  A few photographs from these days.

 

24th March near Tidenfoot Pit Leighton Buzzard, Small Tortoiseshell, a photo for the record...

 ...and a Comma.

 

30th March, again near Tidenfoot Pit, a Peacock....

 ....and another Comma.

 

 

9th April, at Incombe Hole. Steps Hill, near Ivinghoe Beacon, a Grizzly Skipper feeding on a Dandelion.... 

....A worn Red Admiral.....

.....and finally, a Green Hairstreak that was so accommodating that I managed to take this photo with a macro.

 

Apart from these butterflies, I have seen Brimstone at all 3 days, never settling long enough to get a photo, as well as Small White, male Orange Tip never settling at Incombe Hole, and a Holly Blue passing through my garden in April.  10 species so far this year.

September Butterflies

A morning's  walk along the Grand Union Canal at Slapton, Buckinghamshire

 

Early morning whilst the water was still



 

A bit later a deadly Comma on its own warning sign...

 

....followed by a Red Admiral sitting on the tip of the rod of the no fishing sign five minutes later.  Why these two different species found these signs good resting places I don't know.  Perhaps they reflected heat as it was still quite early?

 

The Comma moved to the hedge...

 

....to feed on ivy flowers.

 

The delicate colours of a Green-veined White.  Its eyes are exquisite.

 

I only saw one individual of each of the above butterfly species, plus one Speckled Wood of which I failed to properly photograph



Red Admiral

A pristine Red Admiral butterfly on Buddleiah photographed at the end of August