New Flutters.

A warm, sunny but windy walk across a sloping chalk downland meadow above Juniper Bottom on Monday morning produced two new sightings.

Excellent numbers of Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) flitting about so I was able to locate a few resting individuals fairly easily.

However capturing a Dark Green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja) was far more problematical. Typically the males fly close to the ground constantly searching for a hidden female in the grasses and rarely take a rest so I had to be very, very patient and eventually caught up with the one below. 

More images to follow later this week ... see 'Friday Flutters' on my main blog. FAB.

Linking to Wordless Wednesday ..on Tuesday and Nature Notes.

Black and White Beauties.

During the past few days I have been fortunate to catch up with two of our very distinctive black and white butterflies.

Last Thursday it was the Marbled White (Melanargia galathea). Photographed amongst the tall grasses on the southern slope of the North Downs at Ranmore Common. [450D with 70-300 lens].

Today it was the turn of a White Admiral (Limenitis camilla). Photographed in a small sunlit glade along a path leading to Banks Common. [PowerShot SX50 HS].

Both species are likely to also feature in posts on my main blog very soon. During today's stroll I also saw plenty of Meadow Brown and Ringlets, Comma, Red Admiral, Large Skipper and a handful of Silver-washed Fritillary. You can view my photos of all of these species HERE.  FAB.

Linking to Nature Notes and Our World Tuesday.