Well the wind eased a little, the rain stopped, the sun came out… and soon after a lovely Holly Blue butterfly appeared in the garden. She was good enough to sit still for a short while and let me take photos. (Bristol, 15.04.26) #ukbutterlies #ukwildlife

Completed a second #BigButterflyCount today in my #wildlifegarden 3 Gatekeeper, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Meadow Brown, 1 Small White, 1 Large White. Numbers of #butterflies are definitely an improvement on last year.
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@savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Gatekeeper and Common Blue

Male Commn Blue

Male Common Blue

Female Common Blue

Round 3 of yesterday’s butterflies at @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social South Walney.
Common Blue (Male & Female)
Gatekeeper or Meadow Brown (see wing spot)

#insects
#ukbutterlies

Brown argus Aricia agestis wingspan 25mm Brown as its name suggests but in the right light there is a distinct blue sheen on the body and wings. Has adapted to feed on Dovesfoot cranesbill as well as Common rock rose. I saw 8 of these tiny butterflies on Millennium Fields in August 2019, the first time ever at this site. Every year since then 5 or 6. This image is of the first sighting in 2024, 16 April.

Every day, at least once, I visited their tiny area and was encouraged to see courtship displays. I didn't see any mating last year but had in 2023. The raised abdomen usually means the female is not interested in the male or perhaps she has already mated - that was my hope as I saw this display several times.

A very fresh butterfly. The blue sheen is not visible but the distinctive orange heart shapes along the wing edge are, as it the thin white border and the marks at the top of the upper wing

12 June 2024, the last Brown Argus I saw showing the beautifully patterned under wing

310325 Brown Argus @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social #inverts #butterflies #nature #aurelians #entomology #ukbutterlies #bugsky #uknaturalists #bugmacrophotography #bugfriends #york Millennium Fields, York.