Wednesday, 29 August 2012

Marbled White

Melanargia galathea - Ragpits, Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, 24/07/2012

Chalkhill Blue

Male, Lysandra coridon - Radnage, Buckinghamshire, 12/08/2012

The flowery slopes overlooking Radnage Church were glittering with hundreds of Chalkhill Blues Lysandra coridon throughout the first half of August. Radnage is one of my favourite places, an archetypal Chilterns chalk downland decorated with Knapweeds, Thyme and Scabious and alive with butterflies.

Mating Pair, Lysandra coridon - Radnage, Buckinghamshire, 12/08/2012

 Mating Pair, Lysandra coridon - Radnage, Buckinghamshire, 12/08/2012

Mating Pair, Lysandra coridon - Radnage, Buckinghamshire, 12/08/2012

Sunday, 5 August 2012

Marbled White

The Summer is drifting past and Marbled Whites are already coming to end of their brief fragile lives. This very ragged butterfly,fading to silvery and brown, looked strangely beautiful in the evening sun as it nectared on one of the last Pyramidal Orchids at Ragpits. It always feel slightly melancholic as the butterflies slowly fade away marking the passing of another summer. I hate to think that I will not see many of them until Summer comes around again.

Marbled White, Melanargia galathea on Pyramidal Orchid - Ragpits, Buckinghamshire, 05/08/2012