Small worlds

Small copper on clover, Skippers on thistle and a Small Heath. Next week should be good for butterfly hunters, the sun is finally going to shine. 

Lime tree flowers

The wonderful smell of lime tree flowers floats over the parkland. If you have never smelt these flowers I urge you to go out now and find them. For me it is the smell of summer.

Coppers, Skippers and a Marbled White surprise

Yesterday there was an unusual dry spell. I snatched the opportunity to go and find butterflies. I saw my first Small Copper of the year, a little iridescent orange 

and black jewel. How uplifting.

A sea of different types of Skippers all jostling for space to feed on light 

purple thistle flowers.

And a wonderful Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) flew up from the grass in front of me. I felt a jolt of excitement, it was only the second one I'd seen. Instantly I felt compelled to follow. It shone out against background greens of parkland. It settled only briefly, I had little time to catch one photo through the grass stems before it danced off again.