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| six-spot burnet moth |
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| meadow brown |
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| chalkhill blue |
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| chalkhill blue |
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| chalkhill blue |
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| meadow brown |
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| ? meadow brown ? |
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| six-spot burnet moth |
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Up on the Cotswold escarpment the wild flowers are still beautiful. I spent the afternoon having a wander with the boys and snapping butterflies. I'm not completely sure about the identifications. I think the brown one is an older tattier meadow brown.
We saw a couple of painted ladies and some marbled whites as well but I didn't manage to get pictures of them. The littlest boy got stung by a bee and yelled so loudly you could hear him in three counties. To my horror he declared that he doesn't like bees any more. We'll see about that, it's pretty much compulsory in this house.
The camping plan is gathering pace. The middle boy put up a tent in the garden today and the littlest boy found a packet of 36 jaffa cakes which will do nicely as Camping Snacks. I shall make sure there are many delicious things packed. I have a feeling good food is a major feature of a good camp.
Wishing all a good Sunday. CJ xx
What wonderful little gems. I like the Chalkhill Blue, especially. Good snacks are nice, good company is the best :)
ReplyDeleteYou are so good at photographing butterflies. What an amazing variety you have there. I think your camping plan is off to a good start. We like to eat hot dogs, smores and Jiffy Pop popcorn when we camp. Do you have Jiffy Pop there? You need to make it over a campstove. It's a pain in the neck but so worth it. Food is definitely important when camping. Beer too. :)
ReplyDeleteWow, I'm impressed. I find it tricky to photograph butterflies - you have to catch them at the right moment. Beautiful photos! I love grassy upland, and especially harebells - one of my favourite wild flowers. A lovely post.
ReplyDeleteCathy x
With 3 boys to feed, I agree that the amount of yummy snacks will make or break this trip! :-) That blue butterfly was the prettiest thing ever! So fluffy and pretty. When do you leave for the camping extravaganza? I'm excited for you all! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteIts been a long time since we went camping but we certainly had fun with food, marshmallows are a must for over a fire. Great photos.
ReplyDeleteOur buddleias are still rather devoid of butterflies except for the whites. Has the Meadow Brown in your second photograph of a meadow bown got mites on its body? I think camping in the garden would be the best idea.
ReplyDeleteI think your large white might be a small. The black tip of the wing usually extends further along the wing in the large. Lovely set of pics and so pleased you saw some chalkhills. Fingers crossed for weather holding for the camping xx
ReplyDeleteGood pictures, I especially like the second picture of the chalkhill blue. Lucky you to see and photograph such a variety. I hope the littlest boy is okay and I'm sure he'll soon like bees again.
ReplyDeleteThanks, and you too. Flighty xx
Your youngest has my commiserations - I was also stung when small, I remember it so clearly all these decades later! Must have hurt like hell (both your boy and me!) but rest assured I am definitely not put off bees but do have a healthy respect for not bothering them! Fab photos, CJ, and what luck to see so many butterflies and moths - such a lovely part of the country to live in. PS. Food is essential for camping but, with boys, so are compasses, binoculars, sticks, maps, Swiss Army knife, hat and a rucksack for holding it all! Good luck! C xx
ReplyDeleteSo wonderful thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteClare x
Isn't it wonderful to see so many butterflies and moths at the moment. Basil and I got attached and stung by wasps earlier this week. We aren't big fans at the moment! Hope you are all enjoying the summer holidays so far. x
ReplyDeleteGreat butterfly (and moth) photos. CJ. The blue is my favourite one. Never seen one round here though. Yes, marshmallows are a must for camp fires and Jaffa cakes should be compulsory too. xx
ReplyDeleteBeautiful images and pretty butterflies, it must be lovely walking the Cotdwalds Escarpment amongst those grasses and wildflowers. Sorry your boy was stung by the bee. Enjoy your garden camping, it will be fun, brings back memories of when my children were much younger. Yum, Jaffa Cakes! :)
ReplyDeleteHugs dear CJ, best wishes, Dianne
xoxoxo. ❤️
Lovely butterfly photos :) .. and I love that little cottage nestled into the hillside. Poor littlest. Hopefully Jaffa cakes will help to erase the memory!
ReplyDeleteCamping is ALL about the food! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's butterfly and moth season here too, but I can't ever seem to capture them on camera. Your shots are lovely - the six-spot Burnet and the chalkhill blue are especially beautiful. On yesterday's ride I saw hundreds of (what I think were) sulfur butterflies, all dancing around in the red clover and the knapweed that grow wild along the verges. It makes for such a happy view.
lovely photos, as always. i despair to ever be able to take a snap of a butterfly...either i'm very loud or our butterflies are very....well...flighty because i can never get close enough. note to self: work on stalking techniques.
ReplyDeletei want to live in that little cottage you photographed. if you could just pop around and let them know i'm coming.....;)
good food is definitely requisite for any camping adventure. jaffa cakes sound like a good start.
xo
The Chalk Hill Blue butterfly is rare in Lincolnshire. I've only ever seen one. Lovely photos.
ReplyDeleteWonderful pbotos, especially the chalkhill blue - fantastic. The jaffa cakes sound like a good start to the camping snack list xx
ReplyDeletethe food is the most important part of the camping, the famous five talk about nothing else x
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful, I've only had cabbage whites on my garden this year, despite all the flowers, bit worrying, where are they all?! :) xxx
ReplyDeleteLovely photos. I wonder how the slightly battered Meadow Brown Fared? Food for camping is essential, lots of it and also plenty of snacks, aka junk food. We freeze pasta sauces and milk to keep the cool box cold. Cold beer is also a must, but too much of it is bad for nightly toilet trips :-) We always argue when we setup the tent.... Wishing you great fun! xx
ReplyDeleteMarshmallows are a must cj !!!!!! xx
ReplyDeleteMarshmallows are a must cj !!!!!! xx
ReplyDeleteHow do you manage to capture the butterflies with their wings open? The camping plans already look very promising! Sarah x
ReplyDeleteOH MY! what an amazing collection of photos. what a great outing that must have been.
ReplyDeleteenjoy your camping! can't wait to see the photos :-)
Lovely! I want love that light blue butterfly. I want yarn that color. ha!
ReplyDeletehow gorgeous!! did you see the Attenborough programme about flying Sunday night? (not about flying on Sunday... about 'flying/flight'... you know what I mean...)? Fantastic as usual.
ReplyDeleteI love butterflies. Thank you.
I can't wait to hear (and see) more about your Camping Trip. These pictures of the butterflies are so detailed. I imagine it took a lot of patience to capture them. My dad is allergic to bees. Like deathly allergic, but he still likes them. Maybe the littlest will come around.
ReplyDeleteYour butterfly photos are just excellent, CJ. You've captured them so beautifully.
ReplyDelete(I would add that wine is also essential when camping.) xx