Butterfly And Caterpillar Corner

The Estate where I photographed about 24 species of butterfly last year cut down all the wild flowers in the sheltered corner and lots of other field margins that I would visit a few times a week, rather than leave them as a refuge for all the local butterflies after the hayfields were harvested.

So I've not seen much other than Meadow Browns and Cabbage Whites this year, apart from this rather tatty male ringlet (only had a phone in my pocket for a pic)

 

Painted Lady.

 

Clouded Yellow, usually closed up while feeding or mating as are these Small Heaths.

 

Small Tortoiseshell.


Small Copper.


Common Darter Dragonflies mating.

 

Love the first picture on the post above Strongy. The background really brings out the colouring of the butterfly.

 

Hummingbird Hawkmoth, first in the garden this year and feediing on Salvia Icing Sugar, same as last year!
Settled on the garage wall and then started feeding but I couldn't get a decent shot.

 

Back again.

 

Speckled Wood.


Wall.

 

Warming up in the morning sun and feeding on Ivy flowers along with dozens of Bees.

 

First Brimstone (for me)constantly moving so not a very clear shot. It was feeding on Ivy berries, presumably open ones, in a Pine forest.

 

There was a female too in the distance which is not so well camouflaged as she is white!

 

My wife also saw her first Brimstone of the year yesterday.

 

No idea what it is, but it was on my chaenomeles on Monday (think it spied that juicy shoot further up the branch! )