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Like most hairstreaks, more widespread than thought due to their elusive nature. Looking at an elm tree for hours isn't something I look forward to to much, but at places like Willington GP, Stanton and Foremark Reservoir it can be quite esy to see. This year I finally managed to get them feeding on brambles, allowing several nice shots |
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The rarest species of hairstreak in the country. Only on the wing for 2-3 weeks, though luckily given the right conditions a very showy haistreak for once, venturing down from the Blackthorn onto brambles to feed. Simliar to White-letter, though note the black spots in the orange on the hindwing |
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Incredibly hard to find for such a common species, likes to keep low in mainly heathland type habitat or edges of woods. An annoying species to try and photograph as they have a habit of always facing you, then moving at last moment |
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Here I could describe what this picture is about and why I have chosen this one |
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This great looking white is yet to colonise Derbyshire, surely they should start appearing soon?! Another speciality for Barnack, these being abundant here, along with many more normally southern butterflies. Apparently great for Orchids too! |
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A difficult species to find, largely confined to rocky coasts, as can be sen on this photograph, they can be hard to find. Taken during my time as a voluntary warden at Leighton Moss, this great little reserve houses many other scarce butterflies |
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One of only two 'wild' sites for this beautiful and confiding butterfly, a visit to a colony can be a great experience, with tens being present together, often landing on your camera, head and hands while busy photographing another one! |
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A rare and very local fritillary, with only about 40 sites left holding this large and powerful fritillary, rarely stops long enough for a decent photgraph to be taken. One of the dullest fritillaries though, but still worth seeing |
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A very worn and late insect, found whilst walking round the forset looking for Brown Hairstreak habitat, a fantastic woodland worth a visit in late Summer, and can be combined with the chalk downs further east along the M40, ie Ashton Rowant NR |
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My favourite skipper, in not looking so dull as all the others! Can be tricky to photograph though as seem always seem to land quite deep in the short vegetation, and are easily flushed. This site is excellent for chalkland butterflies |
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Never realised I had a photograph of this common species until I was looking through my collection, I remember it pushing a Northern Brown Argus off this plant, so I was left with this to photograph, I'm yet to photograph the latter! |
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Photographed whilst spending 8 hours looking for a Sandplover, so with little else to do, I photographed this rather ragged migrant. A regular visiter to my garden, with upto 30 present with several other commoner species |
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A coomon heathland butterfly, can be seen in great numbers at this site, with is fantastic for odonata too during July, especially if it is combined with Esher Common for Brilliant Emerald |
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This small and obstrusive butterfly has winged its way north thanks to Glaabal warming and adapting to new habitats to Derbyshire, Foremark Res/Carvers Rocks area being productive for them. The upland 'race' occurs in the county too, surely warranting specific status? |
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Similar in ways to Black hairstreak as regards habitat and sites in Britain, but occuring late in the season, but a dazzling butterfly, who could have thought orange and brown could produce such colours! One of 20 species of Butterfly seen at this site that day |
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A dazzling blue can the upperwing is replaced by a rather dull underwing, especialy at this time in the season, it always seems to be the end of the flight period when I see these, not easy to photograph well either, found this one tucked away in the grass as it rained allowing us to move it into position! |
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This fantastic little reserve is well worth a visit, being stuck in a little town in the middle of nowhere is this chalkland reserve, housing incredible numbers of scarce butterflies for so far north, the prize being this scarce, large, bzarrely shaded, blue |
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Ths is always a welcome sight on my local pathches during the Summer and Autumn. Though getting common on the south coast now. I have been fortunate to have seen Pale Clouded Yellow in Cornwall too, along with several 'helice' types |
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A relatively common species, with upto 10 favouring our buddlehia in the garden, along with upto 30 Painted Ladies at times. Males are a brilliant yellow, though not as spectacular as its Medittereanen cousin, the Cleopatra |
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Taken at only mainland site for this fantastic species, can be tricky to find, but a great one just to watch flaoting by at its small isolated site on the undercliffs. Underwing is incredible on this small fritillary |
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Another powerful, forever flying, fritillary. The commonest fritillary to be found in Derbyshire, at several sites within the peak district. A bugger to photograph, rarely settles and lingers |
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This like Dingy Skippers can be tricky to find, and I always seem to forget about them when in suitable habitat, concentrating on other species instead, can look like moths at times! A species I don't seem to have seen many of |
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Can be a bugger to idenify, but a little known id feature for a quick check is the underwing, with the orange extending all the way to the tip, being obviously grey at the tip in Small Skipper. Black antenna can be seen here. Often found with Brown Argus and extending into Derbyshire too |
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Surprisingly one of only 2 Swallowtails I've seen in this country, confined to the broads, I thought I was going to miss this one as it was out of season, hence its rather drab appearance. Though they seem to be common over the rest of Europe |
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A coomon but great to look at species in my garden and elsewherets not to often you get to see the comma on the underwing this well |
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Here I could describe what this picture is about and why I have chosen this one |
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