Tag Archives: Compton Down

A golden brown butterfly with some black markings on a yellow flower

Large Skipper. Photo: Lucy Dalzell

Two blackish butterflies with white markings

Grizzled Skippers. Photo: Lucy Dalzell

Following on from the posting of photos taken by Lucy (age 9) added to the Gallery yesterday, here are two more of the images taken by her at Compton Down on 29/05/2026.

Skippers are a personal favourite of hers and she was delighted to see the Grizzled Skipper, Large Skipper and Dingy Skipper all at one location but as so often happens the Dingy was camera shy.

An orange butterfly with black markings and a white fringe to the wings

Glanville Fritillary. Photo: Lucy Dalzill

A blue butterfly with a white fringe to the wings on the brown seeds of a plant

Adonis Blue. Photo: Lucy Dalzill

These two photos were taken on 29/05/2026 by Lucy and were sent in by her mother, Natalie – Lucy age 9 is almost certainly our youngest contributor of photos for the Gallery.

Natalie told us that at Compton Down there were numerous Adonis Blues and this image of one is Lucy’s favourite shot.

Natalie also told us that they could not believe their luck when they stumbled across (almost stood on) a newly emerged Glanville Fritillary with wings not yet fully set.  After some time they eventually watched it take to the wing.

A white and orange butterfly with some black markings resting on a chalk path.

Glanville Fritillary. Photo: Nick Galer

An orange butterfly with black markings and a white fringe to the wings resting on a white rock

Glanville Fritillary. Photo: Nick Galer

Two photos from Nick sent in telling us:

I visited Compton Down track today, 05/05/2026 hoping to catch the Glanville Fritillaries and was lucky enough to see three this morning, along with Marsh Fritillaries, Small Blues, Small Coppers and Skippers.

Also a Polite Request from Nick:   Please don’t clamber up the bank to get your pictures as it will flatten the valuable habitat. With a little patience the Glanvilles will come down to the track to pose for a photo.

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

Adonis Blue ab.krodeli. Photo: Paul De’Ath

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

Adonis Blue ab.krodeli. Photo: Paul De’Ath

Two photos from Paul sent in telling us:

I went to Compton Down today, 25/08/2025 and saw and photographed quite a few Adonis Blues as there were loads of them there. It was only when I got home, I realised that two of my photos showed something that I thought was rather odd.

Having now seen the post from last year regarding the Adonis Blue krodeli variants, I believe that the photos I have attached are of two different females lacking different numbers of spots. I thought this would be of interest to you.

Editor’s Note: I referred these photos to one of our “verifiers” who advised that Paul is spot on with the identification of Adonis Blue ab.krodeli.

a tiny red/brown moth with gold markings on forewings resting on a wet leaf

Pyrausta aurata. Photo: Matt Copper

Pyrausta aurata .Photo: Matt Cooper

Matt spotted two of these moths at Compton Down on the 14/07/25 and was unsure if they were the same species.

They are both Mint moths, the common name for Pyrausta aurata, but one is faded due to age, and the other is fresher and in bright sunshine.

They can often be found in gardens when it’s sunny on herbs like Marjoram, mint  and other highly scented plants.

Two butterflies in flight, both orange, white and brown

Glanville Fritillaries. Photo: Matt Cooper

Very pale yellow butterfly with faint orange spots on the hind wings, flying.

Brimstone. Photo: Matt Cooper

Matt tells us:

During a very rewarding couple of hours, I finally managed to see the upper wings of a Brimstone, and also managed to capture “Frit Wars”!!! There were at least half a dozen Brimstone along the track, with similar numbers of Marsh and Glanville Fritillaries. Other people commented on the number of Small Heath on Compton Down itself, raising hopes of a much better summer than last year. I also managed to see my first Green Hairstreak for a couple of years, although I didn’t manage a photo. [11/5/25]

Side view of a butterfly with light brown wings heavily marked with black, white and orange

Adonis Blue. Photo: Mike Kirby

Butterfly with open orange wings marked in a pattern with brown and cream

Marsh Fritillary. Photo: Mark Kirby

Mark says:

Having been on holiday and only getting back last night, I realised there were lots of great butterflies now showing and felt I was missing out.

A trip out to Compton Down this afternoon (Sunday 4 May) soon rectified that! I saw six new species for the year – Glanville & Marsh Fritillaries, Dingy Skipper, Painted Lady, Small Heath & an Adonis Blue.

There were good numbers of Small Heath, Grizzled & Dingy Skippers showing. It was my earliest recorded dates for Small Heath, Marsh & Glanville Fritillaries & Adonis Blue (Marsh & Adonis by 10 days!). Other species seen were Speckled Wood & Orange Tip.

Very small chestnut brown moth with yellow flashes on its underwings

Pyrausta Aurata (Mint Moth). Photo: Matt Cooper

Orange butterfly with complex pattern of cream and brown marks

Marsh Fritillary. Photo: Matt Cooper

Matt tell us:

Marsh Fritillary and a Mint Moth today (29/4/25) at Compton Down. It was a little breezy, and fairly quiet down the track, just a couple of Speckled Wood, couple of Brimstone and a Holly Blue between about 8 and 10, ohh, and a hare in the middle of the track!