The Day of the Skippers (and many others)

Today, Thursday 9th July, conditions were perfect for butterflies on the riverside.

It was a warm afternoon with few clouds, less humid and with a fresh breeze.

Small Skippers in large numbers were out on the long grasses and thistles which are now flowering at last. Skipping from flower to flower and dropping into the long grasses, it wasn't easy to find any that were still for long - in order to check the species - but today there did not appear to be any Essex Skippers amongst them.

This is clearly a Small Skipper as the tips of its antennae are 

orange (would be black on an Essex Skipper) and the upper

wing markings are bright orange with thin dark veins.

View of one of the numerous Small Skippers showing the upper 

wings and typical perching pose.

Thistles are a prime food source here - for bees as well - and

for birds later in the year.

Many other butterflies were seen amongst the Small Skippers:

Ringlets, Meadow Browns, Large White, Large Skipper,

Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood and numerous bees..and...

First sightings this year - yesterday 8th July 2015

Gatekeeper butterflies chasing along the riverbank nettles and Meadowsweet -

before long finding a good source of nectar - Bramble flowers. 

There is a good mix of plants here that are essential for butterflies.

A total of 28 species have been recorded in a variety of habitats here in our

local riverine environment.

More to come on this!