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| Purple Hairstreak feeding on honeydew excreted by aphids on an Ash tree.
A few highlights from a visit to the Butterfly Conservation Society managed Alners Gorse in deepest Dorset. Although the weather was a bit mixed – a strong north-westerly breeze, plenty to see. |
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| Purple Hairstreak nectaring on Bramble. |
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| Frustratingly the wings are rarely opened to reveal the purple upper wing found on the males. | However, the “hairstreak” is fairly obvious |
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| Painted Lady nectaring on one of the many thistles growing amongst the meadows. |
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| One of several White Admirals found within the wooded glades. The Bramble proving popular again. | Silver-washed Fritillary. Apparently Alners Gorse is the best site in the country for the rare bronze-green, valezina form. Unfortunately the only one I saw shot past at 30 mph. |
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| Just the 1 Brown Hairstreak to be found with this one proving to be camera shy. | However the sheer number of Gatekeepers was incredible with clouds of them erupting from the hedgerows. |