Search Results for: Common Blue

A blue and greyish butterfly with white, black and orange markings on a white flower

Common Blue ab. postradiata Photo: Mel Bray

Mel sent in this photo posing the following question:

“When I took this shot of a Common Blue at Badbury Rings on 30/05/2026 I was surprised to see that the underwing markings were quite unlike anything I’ve seen before. It may be a completely unique example. Be interested if anybody has a name for this particular aberration”.

As I was unable to answer Mel’s question myself I referred the photo to one of our verifiers who has now responded as follows:

“That’s an amazing aberration and after a bit of research seems very rare. Only found one picture that was similar but did get this description.

A Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) aberration postradiata is a distinct and rare underwing variation where the basal spots and the black submedian spots on the hindwing are elongated and fused into dark streaks or rays that extend towards the outer wing margin”.

Editor’s Note:  My thanks to Nick Urch for his research work which provided the name for this aberration.

Two brown and blue butterflies with orange, black and white markings on a green plant stem

Common Blues. Photo: Mike Kirby

An orange butterfly with black and white markings on red flower

Painted Lady. Photo: Mike Kirby

Two photos from Mike sent in telling us:

A trip to Lydlinch Common on 22/05/2026 produced the expected Marsh Fritillaries, but I was especially pleased to see a mating pair of Common Blues. I was a bit concerned for them, given that they were on the path, but the reserve does not see a lot of footfall and thankfully they eventually moved off safely. Other species seen there included Brown Argus and Small Copper.

Also, there recently seems to have been a big influx of Painted Ladies into the country and we had 4 of them in our Muscliff garden before 9am today, 23/05/2026 – they were favouring Red Valerian. 

A blue and pale brown butterfly with black, white and orange markings on some brown vegetation

Common Blue. Photo: Nick Galer

An orange and brown butterfly with a white fringe to the wings resting on some green vegetation.

Duke of Burgundy. Photo: Nick Galer

Two photos from Nick sent in telling us:

Pleased to see many Common Blues at Badbury Rings on Sunday, 10/05/2026 despite it being very windy even down in the channels. Earlier in the week on 07/05/2026 I saw my first Duke of Burgundy at Telegraph Hill where we had a good day seeing 7 in total with Nigel and the Dorset BC group.

A blue butterfly with a white fringe to the wings on some green vegetation

Common Blue. Photo: Brian Arnold

A brown butterfly with some lighter markings on some green vegetation

Dingy Skipper. Photo: Brian Arnold

Two photos from Brian sent in telling us:

On our Durlston transect count today, 01/05/2026 we saw the first of 3 species this year. We were surprised to see a male Common Blue as it seems quite early for this species – we were certainly not expecting to count any. We also counted our first Dingy Skipper and Small Copper. In our own Harmans Cross garden today we also saw a Painted Lady, and noted online that several have been seen locally. However, despite having fingers crossed we did not find any during our Durlston transect walk.

A greenish yellow and orange butterfly with some brown, white and black markings

Clouded Yellow. Photo: Brian Arnold

A blue butterfly nectaring on a yellow flower

Common Blue. Photo: Brian Arnold

Two photos from Brian sent in telling us:

We did the last butterfly count of 2025 today, 25/09/2025 at our Durlston East transect. Just 7 species, but for the 3rd week running we saw Clouded Yellows, seems there is an influx of them this September. Also a single Common Blue – maybe the last blue we will see this year? Other species counted today were Speckled Wood, Small White, Red Admiral, Small Heath and Wall Brown.

 

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

Common Blue. Photo: Mike Wenham

Mike sent in this photo telling us:

In blustery conditions on 16/09/2025, I was reptile surveying on Coombe Heath and was surprised to see a ‘Blue’ flying on the heathland. I wondered if it could be a late flying Silver-studded Blue as they are commonly seen there but it turned out to be a Common Blue. 

A pale brown and blue butterfly with orange, black and white markings

Common Blue. Photo: Lucy Dalzell

An orange and brown butterfly with some black markings resting on a thin brown branch

Small Copper. Photo: Lucy Dalzell

Two photos, both taken recently in Sherborne and sent in by Lucy’s mother Natalie, with the following comments:

These photographs were taken on my iPhone by my 9yr old daughter Lucy who has been developing, what I am sure will be, a lifelong interest in both wildlife and photography.  

 This year Lucy has been learning about and attempting to photograph and study the detailed markings of a variety of species of butterfly including the Common Blue, Holly Blue, Skippers, Brown Argus, Marbled White, Red Admiral and Gatekeeper. Her favourite however, remains the Peacock butterfly.

A blue butterfly with a white fringe to the wings on some green vegetation

Common Blue. Photo: Stewart Balmain

A brown and blue butterfly with orange, black and white markings on some yellow vegetation

Common Blue. Photo: Stewart Balmain

Two photos from Stewart both taken within the last few days in his Bourton garden – he told us that he had to wait a long time to get the first photo showing the butterfly with open wings.