Butterfly1.jpg
Butterfly.jpg
ButterflyHuge.jpg
Comma1.jpg
Comma2.jpg
Comma3.jpg
Stockley Park
Stockley Park
Stockley Park
Stockley Park
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This is my favourite butterfly so far. It is about 4-5cm in size, and is so bright in colour. I was also lucky enough to get really close to one with a closeup lense that I was trying out that day.
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Butterfly1.jpg |
Butterfly.jpg |
ButterflyHuge.jpg |
Comma1.jpg |
Comma2.jpg |
Comma3.jpg |
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21st August 2002 Stockley Park |
26th March 2003 Stockley Park |
27th March 2003 - Huge 1000x1000 closeup. Stockley Park |
21st July 2003 - Same Butterfly. Stockley Park |
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 Comma1.jpg |
 Comma2.jpg |
 Comma.jpg |
 Comma.jpg |
 Comma.jpg |
 Comma.jpg |
 Comma.jpg |
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31st March 2004 Stockley Park |
31st March 2004 Stockley Park |
16th April 2004 Stockley Park |
24th June 2004 Stockley Park |
2nd July 2004 Stockley Park |
5th July 2004 Stockley Park |
6th July 2004 Stockley Park |
 Comma1.jpg |
 Comma2.jpg |
 Comma3.jpg |
 Comma4.jpg |
 Comma5.jpg |
 CommaHead.jpg |
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13th July 2004 - Same Butterfly. Stockley Park |
13th July 2004 - Same Butterfly. Stockley Park |
15th July 2004 Stockley Park |
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 Comma1.jpg |
 Comma2.jpg |
 Comma3.jpg |
 Comma4.jpg |
 Comma.jpg |
 Comma.jpg |
 Comma.jpg |
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3rd April 2005 - Same Butterfly. Barnhill |
7th July 2005 Barnhill |
11th July 2005 Crooked Mile |
26th August 2005 Gunnersbury Park |
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 Comma.jpg |
 Comma.jpg |
 CommaOpen.jpg |
 CommaClosed.jpg |
 Comma1.jpg |
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30th March 2006 Gunnersbury Park |
18th April 2006 Barnhill |
27th June 2006 Barnhill |
27th June 2006 Barnhill |
11th March 2007 Barnhill |
 Comma2Top.jpg |
 Comma2Side.jpg |
 Comma2Front.jpg |
 Comma2SideZoom.jpg |
 Comma.jpg |
 Comma.jpg |
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11th March 2007 - Same Butterfly Barnhill |
15th March 2007 Horsenden Hill |
8th July 2007 - Female Tugley Wood |
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 EarlyComma.jpg |
 Comma.jpg |
 Comma1.jpg |
 Comma2.jpg |
 Comma.jpg |
 Comma.jpg |
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11th February 2008 Horsenden Hill |
28th July 2008 Oversley Wood |
12th September 2008 - Same Butterfly. Kenton |
15th March 2009 Near Foxley Grove, Welwyn North |
17th March 2009 Horsenden Hill |
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 Comma.jpg |
 Comma1.jpg |
 Comma2a.jpg |
 Comma2b.jpg |
 Comma.jpg |
 Comma.jpg |
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30th March 2009 Horsenden Hill |
12th July 2009 Marlow |
12th July 2009 - Same Butterfly Kenton |
22nd September 2009 Horsenden Hill |
18th March 2010 Horsenden Hill |
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 CommaPeacock.jpg |
 Comma.jpg |
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8th April 2010 (Left) Horsenden Hill |
21st April 2010 Horsenden Hill |
This is a large (similar in size to Red Admiral) lively butterfly that flies quite fast. My first fritillary.
 DarkGreenFritillary1.jpg |
 DarkGreenFritillary2.jpg |
 DGF1.jpg |
 DGF2.jpg |
 DGF3.jpg |
 DGFritillary1.jpg |
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18th July 2005 - Same Butterfly. Sharpenhoe Clappers |
14th July 2007 - Same Butterfly. Sharpenhoe Clappers |
14th July 2007 Sharpenhoe Clappers |
5th July 2008 Sharpenhoe Clappers |
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 DGFritillary2.jpg |
 DGFritillary3.jpg |
 DGFritillary4.jpg |
 DGFritillary5.jpg |
 DGF1.jpg |
 DGF2.jpg |
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5th July 2008 Sharpenhoe Clappers |
5th July 2008 Sharpenhoe Clappers |
5th July 2008 Sharpenhoe Clappers |
5th July 2008 Sharpenhoe Clappers |
15th July 2009 Sharpenhoe Clappers |
15th July 2009 Sharpenhoe Clappers |
 DGF1.jpg |
 DGF2.jpg |
 DGF3.jpg |
 DGF4.jpg |
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7th July 2010 Sharpenhoe Clappers |
7th July 2010 Sharpenhoe Clappers |
7th July 2010 Sharpenhoe Clappers |
7th July 2010 Sharpenhoe Clappers |
A very rare 3cm butterfly. It looks very similar to the Heath Fritillary, except for the spots on the hindwings that are absent on the Heath. This one is found around the South Coast.
 Glanville1.jpg |
 Glanville2.jpg |
 Glanville3.jpg |
 Glanville4.jpg |
 Glanville5.jpg |
 Glanville6.jpg |
 Glanville7.jpg |
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31st May 2008 - Same Butterfly Hurst Castle |
31st May 2008 Hurst Castle |
31st May 2008 Hurst Castle |
31st May 2008 - Same Butterfly Hurst Castle |
31st May 2008 Hurst Castle |
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A very rare 3cm butterfly that was spotted at Park Wood in Ruislip where they had been introduced. It looks similar to the Glanville Fritillary, except for the Glanville's spots on the hindwings.
 HeathFritillary1.jpg |
 HeathFritillary2.jpg |
 HeathFritillary3.jpg |
 HeathFritillary4.jpg |
 HeathFritillary5.jpg |
 HeathFritillary6.jpg |
 HeathFritillary7.jpg |
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16th June 2006 - Same Butterfly (Female). Park Wood |
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 HeathFritillary1.jpg |
 HeathFritillary2.jpg |
 HeathFritillary3.jpg |
 HeathFritillary4.jpg |
 HeathFritillary5.jpg |
 HeathFritillary6.jpg |
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28th June 2006 - Same Butterfly. Park Wood |
28th June 2006 - Same Butterfly. Park Wood |
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 Heath1.jpg |
 Heath2.jpg |
 Heaths1.jpg |
 Heath3.jpg |
 HeathHead.jpg |
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12th June 2007 Park Wood |
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 Heath4a.jpg |
 Heath4b.jpg |
 Heaths2.jpg |
 HeathFrit1a.jpg |
 HeathFrit1b.jpg |
 HeathFrit1c.jpg |
 HeathFrit2.jpg |
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12th June 2007 - Same Butterfly. Park Wood |
12th June 2007 Park Wood |
13th June 2008 - Same Butterfly. Park Wood |
13th June 2008 Park Wood |
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A very rare 3cm butterfly. Reminds me of a stained glass window with its unmistakable orangey colours and pattern.
 Marsh1.jpg |
 Marsh2.jpg |
 Marsh3.jpg |
 MarshPair.jpg |
 Marsh4.jpg |
 MarshDingy.jpg |
 Marsh5.jpg |
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31st May 2008 Seven Barrows |
31st May 2008 Seven Barrows |
31st May 2008 Seven Barrows |
31st May 2008 Seven Barrows |
31st May 2008 Seven Barrows |
31st May 2008 Seven Barrows |
31st May 2008 Seven Barrows |
The June 2003 one is a 4-5cm butterfly. At first it reminded me of a Red Admiral, but slightly smaller and paler underwings. However the July 2003 ones are bigger, about the same size as a Red Admiral, and a lot fresher looking. Sometimes these butterflies seem rare, but every now and then a large number of them migrate in from the continent. This happened in 2009. After only seeing one all year in 2008, I saw thousands of them in May 2009, when they became by far the most common butterfly for a while, with many seen even over Central London.
 PaintedLadyClosed.jpg |
 PaintedLady.jpg |
 PaintedLady1.jpg |
 PaintedLady2.jpg |
 PaintedLady.jpg |
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11th June 2003 - Same Butterfly. Stockley Park |
28th July 2003 - Same Butterfly. Stockley Park |
29th July 2003 Stockley Park |
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 PaintedLady1.jpg |
 PaintedLady2.jpg |
 PaintedLady3.jpg |
 PaintedLady1.jpg |
 PaintedLady2.jpg |
 PaintedLady.jpg |
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30th July 2003 - Same Butterfly. Stockley Park |
25th September 2003 - Same Butterfly. Stockley Park |
9th June 2004 Stockley Park |
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 PaintedLady.jpg |
 PaintedLady.jpg |
 PaintedLady.jpg |
 PaintedLady1.jpg |
 PaintedLady2a.jpg |
 PaintedLady2b.jpg |
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21st August 2004 Lasham Airfield |
14th May 2006 Aldbury Nowers Nature Reserve |
25th May 2006 Sharpenhoe Clappers Nature Reserve |
8th June 2007 Park Wood |
8th June 2007 - Same Butterfly. Park Wood |
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 PaintedLady1.jpg |
 PaintedLady2.jpg |
 PaintedLady3.jpg |
 PaintedLadyClosed.jpg |
 PaintedLadyOpen.jpg |
 PaintedLady1.jpg |
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6th August 2007 - Same Butterfly Horsenden Hill |
23rd May 2009 - Same Butterfly Kenton |
28th May 2009 Strumpshaw Fen |
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 PaintedLady2.jpg |
 PaintedLadies.jpg |
 PaintedLady1a.jpg |
 PaintedLady1b.jpg |
 PaintedLadies.jpg |
 PaintedLady1.jpg |
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28th May 2009 Strumpshaw Fen |
28th May 2009 Strumpshaw Fen |
15th July 2009 - Same Butterfly. Sharpenhoe Clappers |
8th August 2009 Whitecross Wood |
8th August 2009 Whitecross Wood |
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 PaintedLady1a.jpg |
 PaintedLady1b.jpg |
 PaintedLady1c.jpg |
 PaintedLady1d.jpg |
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9th August 2009 - Same Butterfly. Kenton |
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Another large (4-5cm) striking butterfly. When I first saw this the circles reminded me of a WW2 bomber. The males appear to fight very aggressively. At high speed the white tips of the wing can sometimes make it look like a Red Admiral, but when they stop they are unmistakable.
 Butterfly1.jpg |
 Butterfly2.jpg |
 PeacockButterfly.jpg |
 Peacock.jpg |
 Peacock.jpg |
 Peacock.jpg |
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15th April 2003 Stockley Park |
23rd April 2003 Stockley Park |
10th July 2003 Stockley Park |
14th April 2004 Stockley Park |
16th April 2004 Stockley Park |
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 PeacockFemaleOpen.jpg |
 PeacockFemaleClosed.jpg |
 PeacockMale.jpg |
 Peacock.jpg |
 PeacockFeeding.jpg |
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22nd April 2004 - Same Butterfly (Female). Stockley Park |
22nd April 2004 - Male. Stockley Park |
23rd April 2004 Stockley Park |
25th April 2004 Stockley Park |
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 PeacockSide.jpg |
 PeacockHead.jpg |
 Peacock.jpg |
 CaterpillarSwarm.jpg |
 PeacockLarvae.jpg |
 PeacockLarvaHead.jpg |
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13th May 2004 - Female laying eggs? Stockley Park |
24th May 2004 Stockley Park |
7th June 2004 Stockley Park |
11th June 2004 Stockley Park |
11th June 2004 Stockley Park |
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 Peacock.jpg |
 Peacock.jpg |
 Peacock1.jpg |
 Peacock2.jpg |
 Peacock3.jpg |
 Peacock.jpg |
 PeacockLarva.jpg |
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3rd April 2005 Barnhill |
12th May 2005 Gunnersbury Park |
13th May 2005 - Same Butterfly. Gunnersbury Park |
18th April 2006 Barnhill |
27th June 2006 Barnhill |
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 PeacockLarvaeSwarm.jpg |
 Peacock.jpg |
 Peacock.jpg |
 Peacocks.jpg |
 Peacock1.jpg |
 Peacock2.jpg |
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27th June 2006 Barnhill |
11th March 2007 Barnhill |
15th March 2007 Horsenden Hill |
16th April 2007 - Courting Pair Horsenden Hill |
19th April 2007 - Same Butterfly. Horsenden Hill |
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 Peacock.jpg |
 Peacock.jpg |
 PeacockLarvae.jpg |
 PeacockLarva.jpg |
 Peacock.jpg |
 Peacock.jpg |
 Peacock.jpg |
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8th June 2007 Park Wood |
10th June 2007 Glapthorne Cow Pasture |
17th June 2007 Glapthorne Cow Pasture |
9th July 2007 Horsenden Hill |
16th July 2007 Horsenden Hill |
4th August 2007 Oakley Wood |
5th August 2007 Blakeney |
 Peacock1.jpg |
 Peacock2.jpg |
 PeacockEyeSpot.jpg |
 Peacock1a.jpg |
 Peacock1b.jpg |
 Peacock1c.jpg |
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22nd April 2008 Horsenden Hill |
22nd April 2008 Horsenden Hill |
3rd May 2008 Totternhoe Knolls |
12st July 2008 - Same Butterfly Kenton |
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 Peacock1.jpg |
 Peacock2.jpg |
 Peacocks.jpg |
 Peacock.jpg |
 Peacock1.jpg |
 Peacock2.jpg |
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28th July 2008 Oversley Wood |
28th July 2008 Oversley Wood |
17th March 2009 - Same Butterfly (Right) Horsenden Hill |
30th March 2009 - Same Butterfly Horsenden Hill |
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 PeacockCaterpillar.jpg |
 PeacockCaterpillars.jpg |
 Peacock.jpg |
CommaPeacock.jpg |
 Peacock.jpg |
 Peacock.jpg |
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19th June 2009 Hanwell |
19th June 2009 Hanwell |
18th March 2010 Horsenden Hill |
8th April 2010 (Right) Horsenden Hill |
13th April 2010 Horsenden Hill |
22nd April 2010 Horsenden Hill |
 Peacock1a.jpg |
 Peacock1b.jpg |
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3rd June 2010 - Same Butterfly Park Corner Heath |
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This species is similar in size (perhaps slightly bigger at about 4cm+) and behaviour to the Small Tortoiseshell.
 PearlBordered1.jpg |
 PearlBordered2.jpg |
 PearlBordered3.jpg |
 PearlBordered4.jpg |
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2nd June 2006 Tugley Wood Nature Reserve |
2nd June 2006 - Same Butterfly Tugley Wood Nature Reserve |
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This species is the biggest one I have ever seen in the wild, and seems to have an elusive legendary status. It looks about 7-8cm in size. Both sexes have striking markings on the undersides of the wings, and the Male has an area of bright Purple on the tops of its wings.
 PurpleEmperor1.jpg |
 PurpleEmperor2.jpg |
 PurpleEmperor3.jpg |
 PurpleEmperor4.jpg |
 PurpleEmperor5.jpg |
 PurpleEmperor6.jpg |
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11th July 2005 - Same Butterfly. Broxbourne Wood Nature Reserve |
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This species is one of the largest butterflies I have seen in the wild. Must be about 6cm in size. It seems to love blackberry blossom. This butterfly is particularly hard to photograph. It is very twitchy, and difficult to get close to without it scarpering at high speed.
 RedAdmiral.jpg |
 RedAdmiralFace.jpg |
 RedAdmiral.jpg |
 RedAdmiral1.jpg |
 RedAdmiral2.jpg |
 RedAdmiral3.jpg |
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2nd June 2003 - Same Butterfly. Stockley Park |
21st July 2003 Stockley Park |
27th August 2003 - Same Butterfly. Stockley Park |
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 BaskingRedAdmirals.jpg |
 RedAdmiral.jpg |
 RedAdmirals.jpg |
 RedAdmiral.jpg |
 RedAdmiral1.jpg |
 RedAdmiral2.jpg |
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5th September 2003 Stockley Park |
25th September 2003 Stockley Park |
26th September 2003 - Swarm. Stockley Park |
26th September 2003 Stockley Park |
29th September 2003 - Same Butterfly. Stockley Park |
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 RedAdmiral1.jpg |
 RedAdmiral2.jpg |
 RedAdmiral3.jpg |
 RedAdmiral1.jpg |
 RedAdmiral2.jpg |
 RedAdmiral.jpg |
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11th June 2004 - Same Butterfly. Stockley Park |
12th May 2005 - Same Butterfly. Gunnersbury Park |
20th May 2005 Gunnersbury Park |
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 RedAdmiral.jpg |
 RedAdmiral.jpg |
 RedAdmiral.jpg |
 RedAdmiral.jpg |
 RedAdmiral.jpg |
 RedAdmiral.jpg |
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8th June 2005 Gunnersbury Park |
27th October 2005 Gunnersbury Park |
4th October 2006 Kenton |
11th March 2007 Barnhill |
18th May 2007 Holme Dunes NNR |
14th July 2007 Sharpenhoe Clappers |
 RedAdmiralOpen.jpg |
 RedAdmiralClosed.jpg |
 RedAdmiral1a.jpg |
 RedAdmiral1b.jpg |
 RedAdmiral.jpg |
 RedAdmiral.jpg |
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7th June 2008 - Same Butterfly. Barnhill |
28th July 2008 - Same Butterfly. Oversley Wood |
2nd October 2008 Horsenden Hill |
6th October 2008 Horsenden Hill |
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 RedAdmiral.jpg |
 RedAdmiralClosedSide.jpg |
 RedAdmiralClosedFront.jpg |
 RedAdmiralOpenTop.jpg |
 RedAdmiralOpenFront.jpg |
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8th October 2008 Horsenden Hill |
12th July 2009 - Same Butterfly Kenton |
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This is a large butterfly similar in size to Purple Emperor (7-8cm?). It seems to spend some time up in the trees but often comes down to lower foliage, especially to brambles to feed.
 FemaleSWF.jpg |
 MaleSWF1.jpg |
 MaleSWF2.jpg |
 SWFrit1a.jpg |
 SWFrit1b.jpg |
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8th July 2007 - Female Tugley Wood |
8th July 2007 - Male Tugley Wood |
8th July 2007 - Male Tugley Wood |
28th July 2008 - Same Butterfly (Male). Oversley Wood |
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This looks very similar to the Pearl Bordered Fritillary. However this one has extra 'pearls' on the hind wings compared to the PBF, and the spots are closer to the chevrons (rather than equidistant) on the wing tops. The chevrons are also more attached to the wing edge and less 'floating' too.
 SBPF1.jpg |
 SBPF2.jpg |
 SBPF3.jpg |
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23rd May 2008 Park Corner Heath |
23rd May 2008 Park Corner Heath |
23rd May 2008 Park Corner Heath |
 SmallPbf1.jpg |
 SmallPbf2.jpg |
 SmallPbf3.jpg |
 SmallPbf4.jpg |
 SmallPbf5.jpg |
 SmallPbf6.jpg |
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3rd June 2010 Park Corner Heath |
3rd June 2010 Park Corner Heath |
3rd June 2010 Park Corner Heath |
3rd June 2010 Park Corner Heath |
3rd June 2010 Park Corner Heath |
3rd June 2010 Park Corner Heath |
This is a 3-4cm butterfly that I first found feeding on thistles. This was the first colourful butterfly that I managed to take a good closeup of.
 Butterfly5a.jpg |
 Butterfly5b.jpg |
 SmallTortoiseshell1.jpg |
 SmallTortoiseshell2.jpg |
 SmallTortoiseshell.jpg |
 SmallTortoiseshell.jpg |
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21st August 2002 - Same Butterfly. Stockley Park |
10th June 2003 Stockley Park |
11th June 2003 Stockley Park |
25th June 2003 (One member of a swarm) Stockley Park |
21st July 2003 Stockley Park |
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 Swarm.jpg |
 SmallTortoiseshell.jpg |
 SmallTortoiseshell.jpg |
 SmallTortoiseshellSide1.jpg |
 SmallTortoiseshellSide2.jpg |
 SmallTortoiseshellFeeding1.jpg |
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30th July 2003 - Swarm of 10-20 Small Tortoiseshells and 2-3 Painted Ladies. Stockley Park |
30th March 2004 Stockley Park |
14th April 2004 Stockley Park |
14th April 2004 - Same Butterfly. Stockley Park |
5th July 2004 Stockley Park |
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 SmallTortoiseshellFeeding2.jpg |
 SmallTortoiseshell.jpg |
 SmallTortoiseshell.jpg |
 SmallTortoiseshell.jpg |
 SmallTortoiseshell1.jpg |
 SmallTortoiseshell2.jpg |
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5th July 2004 Stockley Park |
25th March 2005 Horsenden Hill |
21st April 2005 Gunnersbury Park |
23rd March 2006 Gunnersbury Park |
11th October 2006 - Same Butterfly Near Loch Davan, Scotland |
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 SmallTortoiseshell.jpg |
 SmallTortoiseshell.jpg |
 SmallTortoiseshell.jpg |
 SmallTortoiseshell.jpg |
 SmallTortoiseshell.jpg |
 SmallT.jpg |
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11th March 2007 Barnhill |
15th March 2007 Horsenden Hill |
14th September 2008 Whipsnade |
8th August 2009 Stanton St John |
9th August 2009 Sundon Hills |
12th April 2010 Horsenden Hill |
 IMG_0307.jpg |
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24th April 2011 Ivinghoe Beacon |
This species is similar in size to the Red Admiral (6cm). It seems to be less nervous too, quite happily letting me get close while it feeds on brambles.
 WhiteAdmiral1.jpg |
 WhiteAdmiral2.jpg |
 WhiteAdmiral.jpg |
 WhiteAdmiral.jpg |
 WhiteAdmiral.jpg |
 WhiteAdmiral.jpg |
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11th July 2005 - Same Butterfly. Broxbourne Wood Nature Reserve |
28th June 2006 Park Wood |
12th June 2007 Park Wood |
8th July 2007 Tugley Wood |
26th June 2009 Park Wood |
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