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Image-of-the-Day by Subject
Butterflies Page 20
Image Taken on 27 Jul 2014
at 12:42 Image of day on 05 Oct 2014
A painted Lady Butterfly feeding on a Teasel flower head.
"We didn't see one of those last year" we said.
We looked in our database and we found that it has been not 1 but 4 years -
last recorded in 2009.
 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20141005_df2_20140727_1242_199 painted lady butterfly feeding on teasel flowers (1st of 2014 - not seen since 2009) (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 02 Aug 2019
at 15:49 Image of day on 23 Sep 2019
Many years we don't see Painted Lady Butterflies at all, but this year has been 'bumper'.
This one on Teasel (where we are mostly seeing them) looks so delicate when perched above the spikes.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20190923_df3_20190802_1549_141 painted lady butterfly feeding on teasel flowers 3 of 3 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 02 Aug 2015
at 13:52 Image of day on 05 Oct 2015
Our first sighting of a Painted Lady Butterfly this year, and in
fact our first record at all since a large influx in 2009.
)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20151005_da1_20150802_1352_467+1240+273_ft1 painted lady butterfly in flight + thistle flower (montage))(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 14 Jul 2009
at 10:37 Image of day on 23 Aug 2009
After a years absence we are seeing the migrant painted lady
butterfly this year. Most are rather tatty and faded but this
individual was still in good condition. The Soldier Beetles on
the thistle spent all 45 minutes of the photo-shoot mating in
happy oblivion!
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20090823_da1_20090714_1037_075+1101_217 ft1 painted lady butterfly in flight with small thistle & soldier beetles (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 07 Aug 2015
at 09:53 Image of day on 10 Oct 2015
Proboscis maneuvering to a new flower on this nearly spent Teasel,
a painted Lady Butterfly replenishes the overnight fast.
.jpg)
Ref: 20151010_df3_20150807_0953_026 painted lady butterfly moving proboscis between teasel flowers(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 30 Jul 2009
at 10:02 Image of day on 05 Sep 2009
Painted lady butterfly out before the dew has dried sunning
itself to warm up prior to a busy day feeding at assorted wild
and cultivated flowers.
.jpg)
Ref: 20090905_db1_20090730_1002_020 painted lady butterfly on dew-wet grass(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 17 Jun 2017
at 08:21 Image of day on 11 Aug 2017
On the same Privet hedge we spotted this single Painted Lady Butterfly.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20170811_df3_20170617_0821_065 painted lady butterfly on privet flowers (at farm entrance)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 22 Jul 2014
at 10:16 Image of day on 27 Sep 2014
2014 has been a good year for Peacock butterflies, with at least
20 feeding in the meadow on sunny days.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20140927_df2_20140722_1016_174 3 peacock butterflies feeding on 3 teasel heads (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 22 Jul 2014
at 10:15 Image of day on 27 Sep 2014
The Peacock butterflies also feed en-masse on Teasel flowers.
Here are 2 sharing either side of a single Teasel head.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20140927_df2_20140722_1015_169 2 peacock butterflies feeding on single teasel head (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 26 Jul 2023
at 12:56 Image of day on 16 Sep 2023
We had begun to think that this year was a disaster for our normally healthy
population of Peacock Butterflies, but suddenly there a 'a few' about.
The early start of the season seems to have had quite the opposite effect
here on this species.
.jpg)
Ref: 20230916_df3_20230726_1256_108 2 peacock butterflies on single thistle head(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 22 Mar 2022
at 13:06 Image of day on 22 Apr 2022
Peacock Butterflies have emerged from their winter torpor and need
to get going with mating to get the next generation underway.
 pair courting in may blossom)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20220422_df3_20220322_1306_263 peacock butterfly (overwintered) pair courting in may blossom)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 22 Mar 2022
at 13:07 Image of day on 22 Apr 2022
Peacock Butterflies have almost black underside to their wings.
You can just see the tip of the top of the wing at the left of the lower insect.
They flew into impenetrable brambles before we could see them actually mating.
 pair courting in may blossom)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20220422_df3_20220322_1307_283 peacock butterfly (overwintered) pair courting in may blossom)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 22 Mar 2023
at 10:53 Image of day on 28 Apr 2023
An overwintered Peacock Butterfly is enjoying some of the early blossom.
The wings are a bit tatty from what looks like multiple bird pecks, but
that won't stop this butterfly completing their life cycle to make eggs
for the next generation. Its a fragile existence isn't it?
 feeding on hedge blossom(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20230428_df3_20230322_1053_046 peacock butterfly (tatty overwintered) feeding on hedge blossom(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 05 Apr 2024
at 15:31 Image of day on 01 May 2024
Our first definite Peacock Butterfly sighting this year.
Lots of early season insects are attracted to this (sometimes) sun-warmed sheet of corrugated iron.
.jpg)
Ref: 20240501_df3_20240405_1531_066 peacock butterfly - 1st of 2024(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 22 Jul 2011
at 10:12 Image of day on 01 Sep 2011
This Peacock butterfly was repeatedly irritated by the hover-flies
and kept flicking it's wings when they got close.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20110901_df1_20110722_1012_042 peacock butterfly and 4 hover-flies on perennial sow-thistle (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 18 Jul 2022
at 08:03 Image of day on 03 Sep 2022
This was at 8 a.m. on the first day of the heat-wave - the morning was already
pleasantly warm - a portent of the events to come. Many of the normally mid-day
visitors were already out making the most of this atypical weather. Here a
Peacock Butterfly has the proboscis in a flower hidden by the one closest to the camera.
.jpg)
Ref: 20220903_d73_20220718_0803_007 peacock butterfly feeding from great willow herb flower(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 22 Jul 2017
at 12:40 Image of day on 05 Sep 2017
A few Peacock butterflies are appearing - most of the butterflies share our
proliferation of flowering teasels. The underside of the wings nearest to us
is in fact very dark, but the sunlight is showing us the pattern on the top of
same wings shining through.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20170905_df3_20170722_1240_013 peacock butterfly feeding from teasel (crop 2)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 04 Apr 2021
at 15:43 Image of day on 03 May 2021
This Peacock Butterfly awake after overwintering is in quite good condition
for a 6 month hibernation. Nevertheless she has some bird peck damage to the left wing.
.jpg)
Ref: 20210503_d73_20210404_1543_118 peacock butterfly feeding on blackthorn blossom(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 15 Apr 2009
at 15:11 Image of day on 12 May 2009
This Peacock butterfly has overwintered in remarkably good
condition & decorates the cherry blossom, or is it vice-versa.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20090512_db1_20090415_1511_023 peacock butterfly feeding on cherry blossom (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 23 Apr 2013
at 10:46 Image of day on 07 Jun 2013
So far only the peacock butterfly has settled on the flowers long
enough to capture any images. This one is in a reasonable state
considering that it has been hibernating all winter.
.jpg)
Ref: 20130607_df1_20130423_1046_084 peacock butterfly feeding on cherry flower(r+mb id@768).jpg
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