The Chalkhill Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus (Lysandra) coridon)
I have not seen many of the Common Blue species this year, so I was somewhat concerned about finding the Chalkhill at the location where I normally find it. They can only be found in a few locations in the Southern part of England and only one place in East Anglia.
I went to the location yesterday to search. Just after starting the search I found one male which is featured in all of the images below.
I was able to take quite a few shots of this male as it was preoccupied trying to remove some flower stamen from its proboscis. It had been eating from a Field Scabious flower.
However, a further search for any more of the species proved fruitless.
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| Sony Alpha 6000. E55-210 lens. 1/400 at f8. 210mm. ISO100 |
Wonderful that you found this beautiful butterfly and got these fantastic shots. We did not see 1 blue butterfly the other day we were out and we were in a meadow made for butterflies. I don't think this year is aa good as last year for butterflies.
ReplyDeleteThanks Margaret, we have had some good numbers with some species, it just appears to be the Blues.
DeleteMust be the most photographed individual in butterfly history - and not a dud among them. I must say I rather like being referred to as John Star in your "Sites I Visit Regularly"!
ReplyDeleteIt must be your 'Star' qualities John.{:))
DeleteWell found Roy and a cracking set of images. I also saw my first Chalkhills of the year yesterday; numerous males but no females, and 16 days earlier than last year!. I hope you find some more soon...[;o)
ReplyDeleteThanks Trevor. Hopefully there should be some more now soon.
DeleteExcellent series of your encounter with this fresh male Roy. I'll have to head up onto the Downs this week and hopefully meet up with this delightful Blue again.
ReplyDeleteWe should be able to catch up with the Common Blues again towards the end of July into August.
Thanks Frank, yes hopefully, if there was sufficient breeding activity earlier.
DeleteFantastic sighting and photos! I'm not going to see one of them unless I travel because I don't live in a chalky area. In fact the only blue I've seen this year has been the Holly Blue, which seems to like my garden (lots of ivy!). I also looked at and admired your White Admiral as I haven't seen one of them in years (not since I moved to Brittany) so am ever hopeful. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Mandy.
DeleteHey Roy .... He is a handsome butterfly, the color is just fabulous!! You got nice shot's of many position,and the face on one is comical ...those buggy eyes!! : )
ReplyDeleteGrace
Incredibly beautiful. Well captured.
ReplyDeleteGeweldig hij is al zo mooi maar omdat je er z,on prachtige serie van hebt gemaakt lijkt hij nog mooier.
ReplyDeletePhoto number 2 is exquisite.
ReplyDeleteThanks Wilma.
DeleteI have been catching up on your blog. Lovely pictures of the Sedge Warblers. Well done getting some good pictures of the White Admiral. We went to Martin Down NR to look for the White Admiral but did not see one, they are not easy to catch because they tend to be up in the trees only coming down to feed on the bramble. This summer compared to last summer is very poor for butterflies. All my buddleias are out in flower and also the jasmine, my garden at the moment is highly perfumed, but not a single butterfly or moths. We usually see the Silver Y moths in the evening feeding on the buddleias and then the bats appear, flying around to catch the moths. This year NOTHING. I think the wet winter has done some damage to the butterfly population. The moth, Silver Y, is a migrant so why we are not seeing them this summer I do not know.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lyn.
DeleteI am seeing it differently up here Lyn, most species apart from the Blues, are quite numerous.
Excellent shots of these beautiful butterflies.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gunilla.
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