Campions - Red and White

Odonata Arrivals

A couple of recent sightings.

First the female Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa).

Secondly a male and female Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens).

A Butterfly Day

The sun was shining when I left for a visit to a local nature reserve, but it turned cloudy on arrival. However I was fortunate to photograph four different species, two of which I had not seen this season.

The Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus).

This is only the second time this season that I have seen and I was able to get some images of both the male and the female. Hopefully, this will be a better year for the Common Blue and I am encouraged by the fact that I have already seen these which is more than last year.

Firstly the Male.

Secondly the Female.

Note that the female has darker brown colouring underwing with more prominent orange spots. Although you can't see much of them in these images the upper wings are more faint purple than bright blue as is on the male.

The Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)

Never easy to see and certainly not easy to photograph. The Small Heath although very small appears to sense movement more than most butterflies when one is trying to approach it. I think this is a female below that I was able to shoot.

The Brown Argus (Aricia agestis)

I was surprised to find this female as although they should have been flying from the beginning of May, I have not seen any until now.

Sony A6000.  Sony FE.70-200mm F4 lens.  200mm. 1/320 at f7.1.  ISO200.

The Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)

This female Green Hairstreak below was keeping low to the ground out of the wind when I found her, probably looking for suitable egg laying locations.

Small Tortoiseshell

The Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)

One of our common species found throughout the UK.

This one below found on stinging nettles beside a river is a male. 

The male has a wingspan of 50mm whereas the female is 56mm.

This species doesn't colonise and moves freely across country.

Little Acrobat

The Blue Tit, an accomplished acrobat, always a pleasure to observe as it searches for food amongst the branches.

More Recent Flutters

Peacock (Inachis io) - Female (left), Male (right)

After some considerable time with the male following the female about on the ground, the female flew off closely followed by the male.

Female Large White (Pieris brassicae)

Female Green-veined White (Pieris napi).

Female Small White (Pieris rapae)

To easily identify the difference from a Small White compared to a Large White (the size notwithstanding, which is not so obvious in the field sometimes). With the Large White, the dark tip on the forewing extends down the side of the wing, whereas it doesn't on a Small White.