Header 1

Header 1
All images below are clickable

Friday 26 July 2013

Chalkhill Blue Butterfly

The Chalkhill Blue is I think, one of the most striking in colour and pattern of the small Blues. 
Its main population is restricted to Southern England, it can only be found in one or two places higher up the country. Fortunately one of those places is quite close to my location in the Northern part of East Anglia and its one of my 'Target' images each year. I am pleased to report that when I shot these images, I observed a considerable number of Chalkhills at that location.

Although both relatively small as butterflies go, the males are larger than the females with a wingspan of 38mm. They can be found on the wing between mid July to mid September.

Male







The female Chalkhill Blue as shown below can at times be confused with the female Adonis Blue and close comparison is necessary.

Female

Female





Male

27 comments:

  1. O wat een heerlijke vlinderserie laat je hier zien ,dit is puur genieten.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks nic. Een van mijn doelsoorten per jaar.

      Delete
  2. You've captured some excellent images of this beautiful little butterfly Roy, I'm glad they're doing well in your area. I did manage to see some when I was out a few days ago but they were very busy defending their patch against allcommers so were not pitching for very long and never really with their wings fully open. I managed a few shots but nothing as good as these! I'll have to go back for another go!...[;o)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Roy These are amazing shots. Thoss butterflies are soooooooooo beautiful. Margaret

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Margaret. I rescued you from the spam filter again.???

      Delete
  4. Wonderful again Roy, lovely blue butterflies but indeed, hard to identify.

    Kind regards and have a nice weekend,
    Marianne

    ReplyDelete
  5. Amazing photos,such a beautiful Butterfly.Out on a walk this morning there was so many Butterflies.. never seen as many,sadly no Blue ones.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Amanda. This weather is certainly helping many of the species to recover.

      Delete
  6. Hey Roy...I think we need to start calling your the "Butterfly Whisperer" you sure have a way with finding them!!
    I wish we had a blue butterfly where I am, well we do, but it is only the size of my little finger nail, and always on the move!!
    Sure like the second, and the last one!
    Lovely purple flower to add to the photo's,and flowers add to the romance in the air!! ; )
    Grace

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks GG, this species is quite small, but it shows up pretty well in the sun with the colouring.

      Delete
  7. The second photo is a real cracker Roy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks John, yes the sun was off of that one which helped bring out the detail better.

      Delete
  8. I agree, this silvery-blue is exquisite!
    Beautiful photos, Roy!
    I haven't see this species yet this season...
    Enjoy your WE!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Noushka.
      I'm fortunate to live not far from a rare patch where they can be found.

      Delete
  9. Lovely images Roy. I am hoping to find this butterfly also, either at Martin Down or Badbury Rings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Lyn, you should be OK for those sites.

      Delete
  10. Wonderful array of blues Roy, I only know that blue butterfly in your first picture at all. The Icarusblauwtje I do not know. Well but some

    ReplyDelete
  11. The minute I saw the baby geese in the header I smiled, and the butterflies just made my smile bigger :-) a great bunch of butterfly shots!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Beautiful photo series of this beautiful and comminuted swift blue vlindertejs Roy. Magze I also love to see :-) Really beautifully captured.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for visiting
and commenting on my blog