Return to moorhen home page
Return to section index
Image-of-the-Day by Subject
Butterflies Page 5
Image Taken on 14 Aug 2014
at 14:18 Image of day on 24 Oct 2014
Another view of the same Brown Argus butterfly, this time with
his wings more open and you can see his blacked curved proboscis
searching out the sweetness.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20141024_df2_20140814_1418_073 brown argus butterfly male feeding on clover (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 02 Aug 2020
at 11:18 Image of day on 06 Sep 2020
This is a male Brown Argus butterfly.
The Brown Argus is classified as 'Blue' butterfly, and its underwing (not shown here)
is quite similar to Common Blue. We initially mis-identified this individual
as a female Common Blue but a friend corrected our ID.
We are starting to see more blues here than in past years.
.jpg)
Ref: 20200906_d73_20200802_1118_110 brown argus butterfly male feeding on thistle(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 25 Jun 2006
at 12:50 Image of day on 04 Jul 2006
A brown Butterfly sits in a dazzling sea of Oxeye daisies.
.jpg)
Ref: 20060704_p32_20060625_1250_050 brown butterfly on oxeye daisies(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 03 Jul 2006
at 10:32 Image of day on 12 Jul 2006
Parts of the hedges are full of blackberry heads. Hundreds of
various brown butterflies flutter over and land to take
nectar from the flowers as this one is.
.jpg)
Ref: 20060712_p32_20060703_1032_303 brown butterfly sipping nectar from blackberry flower(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 05 Aug 2016
at 15:38 Image of day on 26 Sep 2016
We seem to have a larger variety and number of 'white' butterflies this year
than normal. Watching little groups spiralling around looking for a mate has
been a delight this year. The biggest insect at the lower left is a female
Brimstone Butterfly.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20160926_df3_20160805_1538_094 butterflies courting in varying sized groups (adjusted crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 05 Sep 2021
at 10:49 Image of day on 17 Oct 2021
A wide view of the yellow Buddleia bush shows about 20 Small and Large White
butterflies feeding on the flowers and fluttering above the bush.
This pic really doesn't capture the delightful feeling seeing this
provides.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20211017_df3_20210905_1049_072 20 butterflies feeding on yellow buddleia flowers (crop 3)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image of day on 21 Sep 2005
This Red Admiral butterfly is on a Yellow Buddleia
that goes on flowering until the first frosts and provides
a lovely show of autumn butterflies.
.jpg)
Ref: 20050921_mvc1737x butterfly red admiral(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 22 Aug 2006
at 12:16 Image of day on 02 Sep 2006
Have only seen a few Speckled Wood Butterflies over the years,
this one allowing this one shot before it flew off into
invisibility.
.jpg)
Ref: 20060902_d10_20060822_1216_011 butterfly speckled wood on beech leaf(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 02 Aug 2020
at 10:21 Image of day on 11 Sep 2020
Our first ever sighting of a Clouded Yellow butterfly, along the sun facing
side of the south hedge. This is the male.
This insect has a vivid orange appearance in flight, but closes the wings
immediately on landing so you don't get to see the upper surface.
The insert is a slightly blurred moment in flight where we can momentarily
see the top of the wings with the even richer yellow.
 5+4 of 5 (montage + wing top insert)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20200911_d73_20200802_1021_056+049 clouded yellow butterfly male at south hedge (1st sighting) 5+4 of 5 (montage + wing top insert)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 14 Sep 2023
at 10:38 Image of day on 05 Nov 2023
These two Comma Butterflies almost seem to be having a little battle.
The insect on the right clearly shows his proboscis only partly furled or unfurled.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20231105_df3_20230914_1038_078 2 comma butterflies facing each other on black fruit clump with proboscises partly unfurled (crop 1)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 26 Sep 2015
at 13:52 Image of day on 25 Nov 2015
On a cold mid-day these two Comma butterflies were almost torpid
on this blackberry clump. The insect on the left is facing us,
and the one on the right is showing the wings lit from the underside.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20151125_df3_20150926_1352_205 2 comma butterflies largely torpid on blackberry cluster (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 26 Sep 2015
at 13:53 Image of day on 25 Nov 2015
On a cold mid-day these two Comma butterflies were almost torpid
on this blackberry clump. This is the insect with it's wings
closed, and even though apparently torpid, the proboscis was
in the fruit looking for juice.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20151125_df3_20150926_1353_214 2 comma butterflies largely torpid on blackberry cluster (crop 1)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 22 Jun 2020
at 17:38 Image of day on 26 Jul 2020
A Comma butterfly warming itself in the evening sun, before it became
so hot they would seek shade instead.
.jpg)
Ref: 20200726_d73_20200622_1738_022 comma butterfly(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 17 Jun 2020
at 17:40 Image of day on 22 Jul 2020
Comma Butterflies (named for the white 'comma' underneath the wing you can't see
here) overwinter as adults and then have 2 broods each year - the second brood
overwintering to start the sequence again next year. This is a pristine insect
from the first of this years new broods.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20200722_d73_20200617_1740_061 comma butterfly (1st new adult of 2020)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 22 Jul 2024
at 15:53 Image of day on 31 Aug 2024
This Comma Butterfly is obviously a new arrival, but has already had a brush
with something sharp all along the edge of the left forewing. Too many and
too small to be bird pecks, we guess a brush against a blackberry or rose stem.
 on stinging nettle leaf(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20240831_r70_20240722_1553_019 comma butterfly (abraded left forewing edges) on stinging nettle leaf(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 26 Jul 2024
at 11:12 Image of day on 09 Sep 2024
A Comma Butterfly shows us his orange top of wing, and the dark bottom of
wing with the white 'comma' that gives the species it's common name.
 feeding on ragwort flower(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20240909_df3_20240726_1112_003 comma butterfly (both sides of wing visible) feeding on ragwort flower(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 06 Jul 2016
at 15:57 Image of day on 20 Aug 2016
The Comma Butterfly overwinters as an adult and emerges to mate in the
Spring. After a period with no sightings, this is the first of the newly emerged
batch glowing in the afternoon sun.
 on hop sedge at duck pond(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20160820_df3_20160706_1557_127 comma butterfly (first new adult of 2016) on hop sedge at duck pond(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 03 Sep 2019
at 10:00 Image of day on 26 Oct 2019
The next generation of Comma Butterflies has emerged, and will be making
the most of nectar, juice from rotting fruit, and the like, ready to survive
the coming winter.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20191026_df3_20190903_1000_552 comma butterfly (new emergence)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 03 Sep 2019
at 10:01 Image of day on 26 Oct 2019
Here you see the white 'comma' that appears only on the bottom of the rear wings
of the Comma Butterfly.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20191026_df3_20190903_1001_562 comma butterfly (new emergence)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 13 Jul 2021
at 17:39 Image of day on 18 Aug 2021
Following an initial flurry of Comma Butterflies in Spring, they do their
thing, lay eggs and die. The new brood appear as adults in July, and here
is a pristine sample. This generation again lay eggs, and the next 'batch'
appear in September. It is this generation that overwinter as adults to
venture out the following year to start the cycle going again.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20210818_d73_20210713_1739_290 comma butterfly (new generation)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Comments and requests for image use
To make a comment, ask for information or to request a full
resolution image, send us an email including the reference or
the date for the image you are interested in.
All initial contacts should be made using the icon below:-
