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Butterflies Page 11
Image Taken on 25 Aug 2013
at 15:15 Image of day on 16 Oct 2013
This Common Blue butterfly was perched on a grass stem amongst an
impressive 'crop' of thistles. The colour shone out among the
whites & Browns.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20131016_a77_20130825_1515_497 common blue butterfly on grass stem in front of thistle seed head (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 06 Aug 2009
at 10:48 Image of day on 17 Sep 2009
A closer and more sedate view of the beautiful patterned wing.
.jpg)
Ref: 20090917_da1_20090806_1048_026_ft1 common blue butterfly on thistle flower(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 28 Jul 2011
at 11:07 Image of day on 04 Sep 2011
When its warm enough with some sunshine, we get to see several species
of butterfly mating, often first spotted in awkward flight while
coupled. Here a pair of Common Blue butterflies on some thistle
seed heads.
 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20110904_db1_20110728_1107_046 common blue butterfly pair mating in thistle seed head (female at top) (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 06 Aug 2010
at 08:46 Image of day on 06 Sep 2010
The view of the grass stems through the wing is real - the wings are
semi-transparent.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20100906_df1_20100806_0846_082 common blue butterfly top view on grass stem (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 15 Jul 2014
at 15:19 Image of day on 23 Sep 2014
This Gatekeeper butterfly pair are mating.
They are also known as the Hedge Brown, but we prefer Gatekeeper -
a name given them by a tendency to gather around gate posts.
They landed here in coupled position after several false landings
on other foliage.
.jpg)
Ref: 20140923_df2_20140715_1519_011 gatekeeper butterflies mating(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 10 Jul 2022
at 15:59 Image of day on 26 Aug 2022
Our first sighting of a Gatekeeper butterfly this year is of this pair mating.
The double white dots in the black oval is a characteristic of the species.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20220826_d72_20220710_1559_083 gatekeeper butterflies mating (1st sighting of 2022)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 27 Jul 2011
at 13:40 Image of day on 05 Sep 2011
Here are a pair of Gatekeeper butterflies mating on un-dispersed
thistle down - looks lovely and comfy!
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20110905_df1_20110727_1340_097 gatekeeper butterflies mating on thistle down (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 27 Jul 2011
at 13:40 Image of day on 05 Sep 2011
This pair didn't have it all their own way - another individual
(probably a male) fluttered around them but they ignored him.
.jpg)
Ref: 20110905_df1_20110727_1340_106 gatekeeper butterflies mating on thistle down with another fluttering round the pair(r+mb id@432).jpg
Image of day on 01 Aug 2005
Image from this date last year - a couple of 'Gatekeeper'
(AKA Hedge Brown) Butterflies feeding from Blackberry Nectar.
.jpg)
Ref: 20050801_c740_048010043 gatekeeper butterflies on blackberry flowers 2004aug01_12-23-54(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 16 Aug 2024
at 12:48 Image of day on 05 Oct 2024
The two white dots inside the black spot say 'Gatekeeper Butterfly'.
.jpg)
Ref: 20241005_d72_20240816_1248_036 gatekeeper butterfly(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 21 Jul 2024
at 15:25 Image of day on 31 Aug 2024
The Meadow area is quietly aflutter with a few species of butterfly.
Here is a Gatekeeper Butterfly.
.jpg)
Ref: 20240831_r70_20240721_1525_039 gatekeeper butterfly(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 17 Jul 2021
at 09:47 Image of day on 28 Aug 2021
Out first sighting this year of a 'Gatekeeper' Butterfly.
The 2 white specks in the black circle are a quick ID assist.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20210828_df3_20210717_0947_003 gatekeeper butterfly (1st of 2021)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 12 Jul 2024
at 13:10 Image of day on 20 Aug 2024
A few more butterflies are showing themselves.
This one is called a Gatekeeper from their habit (in the past) of flying about in the
weeds near gateposts.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20240820_r70_20240712_1310_086 gatekeeper butterfly (1st of 2024)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 12 Jul 2017
at 12:28 Image of day on 27 Aug 2017
A Gatekeeper Butterfly on the dead grass ground cover next to one of the many
young thistles that mean that sandals will NOT do if you walk over the rough grass.
.jpg)
Ref: 20170827_df3_20170712_1228_012 gatekeeper butterfly by thistle(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 18 Jul 2022
at 08:07 Image of day on 03 Sep 2022
This pristine Gatekeeper Butterfly is 'tucking into' a Blackberry flower.
The temperature then quickly rose as the hot south wind supplemented the
hot sun. By mid-day the skies and flowers were deserted in favour of finding
a shady spot and staying there!
.jpg)
Ref: 20220903_d73_20220718_0807_040 gatekeeper butterfly feeding on blackberry flower(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 29 Jul 2021
at 10:23 Image of day on 07 Sep 2021
Another sighting of a Gatekeeper Butterfly enjoying one of the thousands of
Blackberry flowers now offering their nectar and at the same time pollinating
the flowers for us to harvest the fruit in the autumn.
.jpg)
Ref: 20210907_df3_20210729_1023_073 gatekeeper butterfly feeding on blackberry flower(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 27 Jun 2018
at 13:56 Image of day on 13 Aug 2018
The Gatekeeper Butterfly (also known as the Hedge Brown, and older names Hedge
Eye, Small Meadow Brown, and Large Heath) has two white dots in its black spot
(unlike the single dot in a Meadow Brown).
In the 1970s we got really confused by these Browns, named differently in
different books, and are pleased we have just discovered why.
.jpg)
Ref: 20180813_df3_20180627_1356_012 gatekeeper butterfly feeding on blackberry flower(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 19 Jul 2020
at 12:12 Image of day on 24 Aug 2020
An immaculate female Gatekeeper Butterfly - the first female we have managed to
photograph this year. The 'boys' will be pleased :-)
.jpg)
Ref: 20200824_d73_20200719_1212_082 gatekeeper butterfly female feeding on cow parsley(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 10 Aug 2012
at 13:46 Image of day on 09 Sep 2012
The small Gatekeeper butterflies seem to spend most of their time
on Blackberry flowers. This flower head includes a Flower bud, a
forming fruit, and a fairly exhausted open flower.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20120909_da1_20120810_1346_111+1425_016_ft1 gatekeeper butterfly in flight with blackberry head including bud+flower+fruit (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 06 Jul 2009
at 08:58 Image of day on 07 Aug 2009
The gatekeeper butterfly has appeared. It is barely 2/3 the size
of the meadow brown, but the two white dots in the black spot is
characteristic
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20090807_da1_20090706_0858_034+20090705_1518_200 ft1 gatekeeper butterfly in flight with clover flower (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg
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