Tag Archives: Pike

Green butterfly with a very few white marks

Green Hairstreak. Photo: Mark Pike

Mark says it was a good morning for Green Hairstreaks at Cerne Giant Hill on 13/05/2019. They are such a small butterfly it seems rather amusing to think of them on a giant.

Small butterfly with brown markings on a mainly orange background

Duke of Burgundy ab. gracilans. Photo: Mark Pike

Mark tells us he has seen this aberration at Giant Hill (Cerne Abbas) for the last two or three years, but this is the first decent shot he has been able to get of it. It is much more orange than the usual Duke. Continue reading →

Very small butterlfy with pale blue underwings with black spots on a daisy flower

Small Blue. Photo: Mark Pike

The Small Blues are just out. Mark spotted this one at Compton Down (North Dorset) on 07/05/2019. They have also been seen at Fontmell Down, not far from Compton Down, and 16 were counted on the Weymouth Relief Road cutting.

They are tiny butterflies, appearing a silver-grey colour in flight. They are quite rare, but became more widespread in Dorset between 2010 and 2014. Nationally, they have reduced in abundance.

photo of a Green -veined White and an Orange -tip plus an egg, on Lady's Smock

Orange -Tip and Green-veined White and an Orange -tip egg. Photo. Mark Pike

Mark visited Motcombe Meadows on 25/04/19 and although overcast and windy he found this delightful scene.

An Orange-tip and a Green-veined White sharing a Lady’s Smock flower where an Orange-tip has laid a tiny orange egg.

This egg would have been a whitish colour when it was first laid a few days ago, before turning bright orange. Green-veined White eggs are whitish when laid and do not change colour.

view of a Grizzled Skipper ona leaf showing full upper wing pattern

Grizzled Skipper. Photo: Mark Pike

This gorgeous Grizzled Skipper was found by Mark at Badbury rings on 22/04/19.

This is a warmth-loving butterfly, and both sexes bask in the sun for long periods, typically on a stone, leaf or bare earth. This is an active butterfly which will fly at most times the day, and even into the evening, if conditions are warm enough.