Return to moorhen home page

Return to section index

Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Image Taken on 24 Apr 2022 at 12:23    Image of day on 29 May 2022

A male Small White Butterfly with proboscis deep in a Dandelion.


Ref: 20220529_d72_20220424_1223_075 small white butterfly male feeding on dandelion flower(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 20 Jul 2019 at 08:30    Image of day on 12 Sep 2019

An early morning Small White Butterfly makes a visit to an early-opening Convolvulus flower surrounded by several still closed after the night.


Ref: 20190912_df3_20190720_0830_001 small white butterfly on convolvulus flower(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 07 Aug 2019 at 12:36    Image of day on 26 Sep 2019

A Small White Butterfly perched on a Stinging Nettle leaf.


Ref: 20190926_d73_20190807_1236_032 small white butterfly on stinging nettle leaf(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 29 Sep 2012 at 10:28    Image of day on 09 Nov 2012

Not MANY insects this atypical year, but those we have are staying about longer than usual. Here a Small White Butterfly enjoying nectar from the last few Water Mint flowers.


Ref: 20121109_df1_20120929_1028_009 small white butterfly on water mint flower (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 22 Jul 2021 at 12:35    Image of day on 01 Sep 2021

The four Small White Butterflies quickly split into 2 pairs - this is a montage of one of the pairs now fluttering downwards in close formation, the male (above) casting his shadow on the female.


Ref: 20210901_d73_20210722_1235_038+039 small white butterfly pair courtship flight - male shadowing female 1+2 of 2 (montage @ 10fps)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 23 Sep 2014 at 09:59    Image of day on 28 Nov 2014

In the last warm days of summer this pair of Speckled Wood butterflies fluttered around each other in a pool of woodland light. We love watching this, and sometimes try to capture the feeling as here.


Ref: 20141128_df2_20140923_0959_023-030 2 speckled wood butterflies courting in shaft of sunlight 1+2+3-6 (accurate montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 24 Aug 2020 at 09:48    Image of day on 06 Oct 2020

A pair of Speckled Wood Butterflies in a courtship flight. Read right to left in pairs, accurately positioned at 10 fps.


Ref: 20201006_d73_20200824_0948_019-021 2 speckled wood butterflies courtship flight 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage right to left @ 10fps)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 08 May 2022 at 16:15    Image of day on 13 Jun 2022

A remarkably pristine Speckled Wood Butterfly, probably fresh out of the Chrysalis. This species has 3 broods per year and we see them throughout the summer.


Ref: 20220613_df3_20220508_1615_440 speckled wood butterfly(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 02 Jul 2021 at 17:47    Image of day on 05 Aug 2021

The second crop of Speckled Wood Butterflies seems to be emerging. They may be just every brown imaginable, but we find them beautiful.


Ref: 20210805_d73_20210702_1747_055 speckled wood butterfly(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 27 Apr 2021 at 12:52    Image of day on 22 May 2021

24 hours later this Speckled Wood butterfly provide a clear view of the underside of the wings.


Ref: 20210522_d73_20210427_1252_135 speckled wood butterfly(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 14 Jul 2020 at 12:35    Image of day on 18 Aug 2020

A Speckled Wood butterfly sunning itself around mid-day.


Ref: 20200818_d73_20200714_1235_050 speckled wood butterfly(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 23 Aug 2016 at 10:22    Image of day on 11 Oct 2016

A Speckled Wood Butterfly on a blackberry leaf in a tiny shaft of sunlight


Ref: 20161011_df3_20160823_1022_066 speckled wood butterfly(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 16 Jun 2015 at 10:23    Image of day on 17 Aug 2015

We have had a few sightings of Speckled Wood butterflies at the woodland edge, but this is the first time we had an opportunity for a decent photo.


Ref: 20150817_df3_20150616_1023_063 speckled wood butterfly(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 26 Apr 2021 at 12:30    Image of day on 22 May 2021

Our first sighting 2021 of a Speckled Wood Butterfly - once they arrive we tend to see them for months, mostly at the woodland edges.


Ref: 20210522_d73_20210426_1230_010 speckled wood butterfly (1st of 2021)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 18 Apr 2023 at 10:58    Image of day on 01 Jun 2023

An apparently pristine Speckled Wood Butterfly (1st appearance in 2023).


Ref: 20230601_df3_20230418_1058_050 speckled wood butterfly (1st of 2023)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 15 Aug 2019 at 16:08    Image of day on 07 Oct 2019

This days particular juicy foods attracts an assortment of insects.


Ref: 20191007_d36_20190815_1608_008_fb4 speckled wood butterfly + flies + wasps on freshly baited tree-stump(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 17 Apr 2022 at 15:12    Image of day on 17 May 2022

The first Speckled Wood Butterfly we have seen this year.


Ref: 20220517_df3_20220417_1512_065 speckled wood butterfly - first of 2022(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 30 Apr 2019 at 11:07    Image of day on 31 May 2019

In a shaft of sunlight in the woodland, both a Speckled Wood Butterfly (in remarkably good condition after over-wintering) and a small Spider (unidentified) warm themselves on an otherwise chilly day.


Ref: 20190531_df5_20190430_1107_066+067 speckled wood butterfly and spider in leaf litter (acc montage for focus)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 03 Jun 2018 at 15:52    Image of day on 14 Jul 2018

We know the Speckled Wood butterfly so well, but only when perched with it's wings open. So this one actually puzzled us for a while in a patch of dappled sunlight.


Ref: 20180714_d72_20180603_1552_033 speckled wood butterfly female 1st brood (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 18 Jun 2017 at 15:40    Image of day on 10 Aug 2017

Speckled Wood butterflies like the edges of our woodland rather than the areas of full sun or shade.


Ref: 20170810_da1_20170618_1540_489+1543_507_ft1 speckled wood butterfly in 2 flights + blackberry flowers (montage)(r+mb id@1024).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:-