On this day - butterflies

It's not been the best year for butterflies and the recent dreadful weather seemed to be sealing their doom, but today in the sunshine, some signs of hope. These are just snaps, all taken today, visual proof of what's here.


Female Large White


Brimstone - this is the second brood, progeny of the early spring adults


Tatty little Gatekeeper


Ringlet - a very shy butterfly


Holly Blue wouldn't sit still for its photo


Marbled White - see underside here


Meadow brown, still the most common butterfly on the farm


A Skipper butterfly but I'm not sure which sort


Peacock, quite a lot of them about,which is nice


Red Admiral, another old favourite

There was also a Hummingbird Hawk moth but it's not a butterfly and it didn't want to stop for the camera either. This isn't anything like as many varieties as we get in the course of a year but it's a good cross section. I'm hoping with some sunshine we'll see many more.