Small Blue Butterflies

[QDanT]

As I mentioned in Whetstone prospecting in Out and About all the way around there were, joined, pairs of Butterflies flying from stalk to stalk usually spending several seconds on each

but 9 times out of 10 they were disturbed by others flying in

There was such a frenzy going on that they took no notice of QDanT

just thought I'd share cheers all Danny

 

[JonathanD]

They are great. Chalkhill Blues they are, just very slightly darker underwing than the Common Blue.

 

[QDanT]

What a difference 7 days can make where as last week there were literally hundreds of Chalk hill blues (thanks Jonathan) this trip I didn't see a single one, the weather was about the same, little bit cooler, slight breeze. This time these were everywhere

they seemed to be feeding on the Thyme and feeding and mating on the Thistles

I should have checked the under wing fringe for a sub-id but are they Dark Green Fritillary ? (Jonathan) :notworthy

Last week and this time there were just a few of these flying about

Small Heath ?
I didn't see any Butterflies on the Yarrow but the flies seemed to like it

and a Green eyed one ?

and these small odd shaped ones ? were a pest at dinner time here's one on my hat. I don't use anything unless there's stuff about, but I put some Autan on which seemed to keep them away

just thought I'd share cheers all Danny

 

[JonathanD]

I should have checked the under wing fringe for a sub-id but are they Dark Green Fritillary ? (Jonathan) :notworthy

Difficult to say without seeing the underside of the wing. It certainly looks to be the case, or Silver-washed Fritillary. I think you are right with Dark Greens though.

 

[QDanT]

I've been corresponding with John Lee, a member on here from Washington state USA, who's mother came from Wyke Nr. Bradford West Yorkshire and married his father, a US airman during the second world war at Wyke parish church. So I had a trip over to take some photo's of the old house and the church, I couldn't manage to find any family burial plots owing to the overgrown state of the church yard

but this had made it a wildlife haven with lots of Butterflies.
Small Copper ?

and these that kept their wings shut on landing, good camouflage on a dried leaf

as well as Peacock butterflies and large Whites. Just thought I include here to keep a Butterfly thread going
cheers Danny

 

[Harvestman]

Nice butterflies Dan. The small odd-shaped flies are probably Acrocera globulis, whose larvae parasitise spiders. They are distinguished by the very small head and rounded thorax according to my book.

 

[British Red]

Small copper for sure Danny


Your small heath is a......small heath

Lovely shots