Search Results for: Adonis Blue

A bright blue butterfly with a white fringe to the wings on a white flower

Adonis Blue (male). Photo: Mark Pike

 

A dark brown and blue butterfly with some orange markings and a white fringe to the wings nectaring on a yellow flower

Adonis Blue (female). Photo: Mark Pike

Two photos from Mark sent in telling us:

A visit to Hod Hill today, 26/08/2026 and like everywhere else it was looking very parched, with just a few wild flowers etc putting up with the dryness.  Adonis Blues were still doing ok though – the female of these two examples is particularly fresh.

A blue butterfly with some black markings and a white fringe to the wings resting on some brown vegetation

Adonis Blue. Photo: Garry Hunt

Garry sent in this photo of a very bright Adonis Blue butterfly he saw on the grass hill slope facing the sea near Seacombe yesterday, 21/08/2026 saying that it was a very bright blue and had probably just emerged.

Mating blue and brown butterflies with black, white and orange markings

Adonis Blues. Photo: Christy Waterfall

Mating brown butterflies with black, white, blue and orange markings

Adonis Blues. Photo: Christy Waterfall

These two photos were sent in by James Waterfall telling us:

We saw several mating pairs of Adonis Blue at Fontmell Down yesterday, 22/08/2026 and my daughter Christy Waterfall (Wiltshire Branch BC Member) captured these moments on her camera. This pair very intimate then interupted by an intruder male!!! 

A brown butterfly with a white fringe to the wings and some orange, blue and black markings

Adonis Blue (female). Photo: Nick Galer

Nick sent in this photo telling us:

I returned to Hambledon Hill this morning, 19/08/2026 after the very welcome rain and was delighted to see the hillside awash with Adonis Blues, most of them appearing very fresh. Managed to spot this female warming in the sun.

A brown butterfly with black, white and orange markings on a pink flower

Adonis Blue ab. cinnides. Photo: Mike KIrby

A brown butterfly with black, white and orange markings on a pink flower

Adonis Blue ab. cinnides. Photo: Mike Kirby

Two photos from Mike sent in telling us:

I visited Tout Quarry on 17/08/2026 to look for Grayling and eventually managed to locate a couple and was surprised at how many Wall Browns were around. There were also Chalkhill, Adonis and Common Blues on show and plenty of Red Admirals & Painted Ladies.

The star of the show, however, was this fascinating male Adonis Blue aberration, with no black spots on either of the underwings. I’ve not yet been able to find out if this form has a name, although there are similar forms. 

Editor’s Note:  Mike has subsequently advised us that he understands that the ID of this one is ab.cinnides.  I also referred these photos to one of our Dorset BC specialists who had similar difficulties to Mike in finding an ID for it but he has also now advised that ab.cinnides seems to be a good fit for it although there are very few photos of them online – just some on the Natural History Museum website which show a lot of variation.

A blue butterfly with some black markings and a white fringe to the wings resting on a yellow leaf.

Adonis Blue. Photo: Mike Wenham

Mike sent in this photo telling us:

A rather tatty Adonis Blue, a first for this year to be recorded on the Winspit Valley transect today, 16/08/2026. Other species recorded were Small White, Small Copper, Common Blue, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Small Heath and numerous Meadow Browns plus a single Clouded Yellow.

A bright blue butterfly with a white fringe to the wings and some black markings

Adonis Blue. Photo: Nick Galer

An orange butterfly with black, white, blue and yellow markings

Small Tortoiseshell. Photo: Nick Galer

Nick sent in these two photos telling us:

I had two trips out on 07/08/2026 –  early in the morning I returned to Hambledon Hill to catch the Adonis Blues and then later in the afternoon called in at Alner’s Gorse.  The Clouded Yellows and Painted Ladies outnumbered every other species but I was pleased to catch this Small Tortoiseshell.

A bright blue and brown butterfly with black, white and orange markings.

Adonis Blue. Photo: Nick Galer

A brown butterfly with black, white and orange markings

Adonis Blue. Photo: Nick Galer

Nick sent in these two photos telling us:

I visited Hambledon Hill this morning, 05/08/2026 hoping to see second brood Adonis Blues and was fortunate to catch pictures of some very fresh-looking males.