Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Butterflies Page 12

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.

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.

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'.

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.

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.

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.

Ref: 20240820_r70_20240712_1310_086 gatekeeper butterfly (1st of 2024)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 07 Jul 2025 at 09:42 Image of day on 27 Aug 2025

The Gatekeeper Butterfly is said to take its name from its habit of fluttering around the gateposts of Edwardian & Victorian houses. The quick diagnostic from other brown butterflies is that the black circle contains TWO proper white dots.

Ref: 20250827_d72_20250707_0942_029 gatekeeper butterfly (1st of 2025)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 07 Jul 2025 at 13:56 Image of day on 27 Aug 2025

Another Gatekeeper Butterfly showing the top of the wings.
The rear wings differ from the underside, but the Forewings are quite similar.
This Butterfly looks mostly orange in flight, while the Meadow Brown has dark upper wings and looks quite dark in flight.

Ref: 20250827_d72_20250707_1356_034 gatekeeper butterfly (1st of 2025)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 28 Jun 2026 at 12:28 Image of day on 17 Aug 2026

Our first sighting of a Gatekeeper Butterfly.
This one just wouldn't open her wings for a more 'standard' photo. A week later the whole site was delightfully 'awash' with this species!

Ref: 20260817_r52_20260628_1228_187 gatekeeper butterfly - 1st of 2026(r+mb id@768).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.

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!

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.

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.

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 :-)

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.

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

Ref: 20090807_da1_20090706_0858_034+20090705_1518_200 ft1 gatekeeper butterfly in flight with clover flower (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 18 Jul 2025 at 10:48 Image of day on 08 Sep 2025

Two images of Gatekeeper Butterflies, the left showing the top of the wings, and the right the bottom of the wings. The forewings seem to match identically, but the rear wings are a complete mismatch. Amazing!

Ref: 20250908_d72_20250718_1048_041+1049_042 gatekeeper butterfly on blackberry flower - top of wings left - bottoms at right (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 12 Jul 2006 at 17:08 Image of day on 16 Jul 2006

A gatekeeper butterfly on blackberry leaf.

Ref: 20060716_d60_20060712_1708_742 gatekeeper butterfly on blackberry leaf(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image of day on 26 Jul 2005

A Gatekeeper butterfly on a recently cut branch

Ref: 20050726_d60_03591 gatekeeper butterfly on cut twig 2005jul09_17-41-38(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 03 Jul 2026 at 07:58 Image of day on 27 Aug 2026

The 'top' side of a Gatekeeper Butterfly.

Ref: 20260827_r52_20260703_0758_026 gatekeeper butterfly on developing blackberry flowers(r+mb id@768).jpg

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