I have been spending quite a bit of time recently chasing Adonis Blues over the dry chalky slopes above the tiny village of Radnage, near Princes Risborough. Unfortunately the recent dull and windy weather has made butterfly photography incredibly difficult. and at times virtually impossible. Trying to take a picture of an Adonis Blue, in low light, as it clings on for dear life to a wind tossed flower can be a bit of a challenge and the poor weather is especially frustrating as I have a new 105mm macro lens to play with! Luckily there were hundreds of Chalkhill Blues to keep me occupied in between sporadic Adonis sightings. As I tramped across the slope they rose in their dozens from the short grass, glittering and spinning away from me before disappearing, just as suddenly, back into the vegetation. Every so often the sun would break through the low clouds and the nagging wind would briefly drop, encouraging a few butterflies to climb the stems of plants and grasses to bask in the transitory warmth.
It seems only moments ago that I was anticipating the first Brimstone of the year and now the butterfly season is drawing inexorably to a close. The second brood of Brimstones are flying and Red Admirals are haunting gardens and orchards waiting for Autumn's rotting fruit. I always get a bit melancholic at this time of year as the butterflies slowly fade away, like lights being switched off one by one. It seems sad that all that colour and beauty should brighten our lives for such a short time. The party is coming to an end for another year.
Chalkhill Blue Lysandra coridon, mating pair - Radnage (15/08/2011)
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