Jonathan's Birding Blog: Butterflies

A selection of butterfly photos are given below. All taken with my Panasonic Lumix FZ45 Bridge camera since the summer of 2012 (with one or two exceptions). Ordered as follows:

Hesperiidae - Skippers
Papilionidae – Swallowtails
Pieridae – Whites
Riodinidae – Metalmarks
Lycaenidae – Hairstreaks
Nymphalidae - Aristocrats, Fritillaries & Browns

The countries indicated after each name denotes where the species shown in the photographs were seen.

All photos copyright of the author unless stated otherwise.

Hesperiidae - Skippers

Small Skipper - Thymelicus sylvestris (UK)

Very common amongst the grasses at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK in July 2012, with the bottom one from nr Borehamwood, Herts. in June 2020.

Essex Skipper - Thymelicus lineola (UK)

Reasonably common amongst the grasses along the riverwall at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK in July 2012 (all apart from bottom two - July 2016). Note the all dark antennae, including the underside.

Large Skipper - Ochlodes sylvanus (UK)

The first two photos taken in the Cordite woodland at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK in June 2012 with the bottom one from nr Borehamwood, Herts. (June 2020).

Clouded Skipper - Lerema accius (USA)

An uncommon "fall" migrant butterfly from southern USA, Cape May, New Jersey, Sep/Oct 2013.

Fiery Skipper - Hylephila phyleus (USA)

Showed well in excellent garden habitat at 'Coral and Cambridge', Cape May, New Jersey, Sep/Oct 2013, and Oct 2015 (bottom two).

Sachem - Atalopedes campestris (USA)

Together with 'Fiery Skipper' showed well in excellent garden habitat at 'Coral and Cambridge', Cape May, New Jersey, Sep/Oct 2013. Bottom three from Cape May in Oct 2015.

Ocola Skipper -

This irruptive species from the south showed well in Point gardens at Cape May, New Jersey, Oct 2015.

Zabulon Skipper - Poanes zabulon (USA)
Examples of this smart skipper hiding in the shade of the pines in the State Park, Cape May in May 2013 (top two) and May 2017 (bottom two).

Dingy Skipper - Erynnis tages (UK)
Finally caught up with this smart species in the Wath Area (Barnsley, South Yorkshire), several showing well near to Old Moor RSPB's visitor centre in late May 2018.

Horace's Duskywing - Erynnis horatius (USA)

Present at the famous garden at 'Coral and Cambridge', Cape May, New Jersey, Sep/Oct 2013.

Juvenal's Duskywing - Erynnis juvenalis (USA)

Taken in Belleplain State Forest of Cape May County, New Jersey in May 2013. Very similar to Horace's Duskywing

(North American) Silver-spotted Skipper - Epargyreus clarus (USA)

Taken in Belleplain State Forest of Cape May County, New Jersey in May 2018.

Millet Skipper - Pelopidas thrax (Cyprus)
Photographed at Akrotiri, Cyprus in October 2019.

Papilionidae – Swallowtails

Black Swallowtail - Papilio polyxenes (USA)

A stunning butterfly. Photos from Cape May, New Jersey, USA taken in May 2013 (first), Sep/Oct 2013 (second), May 2015 (third and fourth) and Oct 2015 (fifth and sixth).

Pieridae – Whites

Clouded Yellow - Colias croceus (UK)

It looks like 2013 is a Clouded Yellow year. Most of the photos are of an individual present at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK in late July 2013. The bottom left photo was of another sighting just outside the reserve in early August 2013.

Orange Sulphur - Colias eurytheme (USA)

This 'Clouded Yellow' lookalike showing well at Cape May, New Jersey in Sep/Oct 2013 (first two) and others from this location in Oct 2015, and May 2017 (bottom).

Sleepy Orange - Abaeis nicippe (USA)

A smart and gentle looking butterfly. This predominantly southern species photographed at Cape May, New Jersey, USA in Oct 2015.

Cloudless Sulphur - Phoebis sennae (USA)
This 'Brimstone' lookalike easily seen at Cape May, New Jersey, Sep/Oct 2013.

Brimstone - Gonepteryx rhamni (UK and GER)

Taken along a footpath at Wittenham Clumps, Oxon. in August 2012 and nr Karlsruhe, Germany - Apr/May 2016.

Small White - Pieris rapae (UK)

Taken at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK in July 2013.

Green-veined White - Pieris napi (UK)

Showy individuals at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK - photograph taken in late July 2012 and April 2015. With examples from Midhope, South Yorkshire (July 2016), Kilnsea, Spurn, East Yorkshire (Sep. 2016) and Rainham Marshes RSPB, London (Aug. 2017). The bottom photo from nr Borehamwood, Herts. (June 2020).

Large White - Pieris brassicae (UK)

Taken nr Borehamwood, Herts., UK in July 2020.

Orange Tip - Anthocharis cardamines (UK)

Showing at Kilnsea Wetlands in late May 2013.

Riodinidae – Metalmarks

Behr's Metalmark - Apodemia virgulti (USA)

Taken in the Laguna Mountains, California in September 2012.

Lycaenidae – Hairstreaks

Green Hairstreak - Callophrys rubi (UK)

Seen in the woodland edge at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK in late June 2013 (top six), and along Broomhead Moor, South Yorkshire in May 2019 (bottom two).

Purple Hairstreak - Neozephyrus quercus (UK)

Seen frequenting oak trees in July 2020, Borehamwood, Herts.

Lesser Fiery Copper - Lycaena thersamon (Cyprus)
Photographed at Mandria, Cyprus in October 2019.

Small Copper - Lycaena phlaeas (UK)
Photographed near Midhope Res., South Yorkshire, UK in August 2014 (First two), and at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK in August 2015 (Third). The bottom three are from Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK in July 2017.

Brown Argus - Aricia agestis (UK)
A very neat butterfly. Photo taken at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK in July 2014.

Common Blue - Polyommatus Icarus (UK & GER)

Photographed at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK in August 2013 (first) and the rest from the wetland of Saalbachniederung, north of Karlsruhe, Germany (May 2019).

Holly Blue - Celastrina argiolus (UK)

Fairly easy to see at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK in August 2012, August 2013 and May 2015. Bottom photo was from Old Moor RSPB, Barnsley, South Yorkshire in Sep. 2016.

Eastern Tailed-Blue - Cupido comyntas (USA)

Only one example of this small butterfly at the Pavillion Circle, Cape May, New Jersey in Sep/Oct 2013.

Spring Azure Complex - Celastrina sp. (USA)

One example of the identical Spring Azure Complex species at Cape May in May 2017.

Summer Azure - Celastrina neglecta (USA)

Only one sighting of this 'Holly Blue' lookalike on the trip to Cape May, New Jersey in Sep/Oct 2013.

Lang's Short-tailed Blue -

Several of this beautiful diminutive butterfly seen on the south coast of Cyprus to the east of Paphos (Oct 2016).

Brown Elfin - Callophrys augustinus (USA)

Nice looks at this delicate butterfly on a sandy track at Belleplain State Forest, New Jersey, USA in May 2017.

Red-banded Hairstreak - Calycopis cecrops (USA)

Several showing well on a sandy track at Belleplain State Forest, New Jersey, USA in May 2017.

Nymphalidae - Aristocrats, Fritillaries & Browns

California Sister - Adelpha californica (USA)

Taken in the Laguna Mountains, California in September 2012.

Common Buckeye - Junonia coenia (USA)

Showing well at Cape May, New Jersey in Sep/Oct 2013 (top two), Oct 2015 (next two) and May 2017 (bottom).

Lesser Purple Emperor - Apatura ilia (GER)

A cracking confiding individual along the shaded entrance path to Waghäusel, Germany, June 2015 (top 7),and the remainder from Stutensee-Blankenloch (June 2018)..

Red Admiral - Vanessa atalanta (UK & USA)

Always nice to see, photos taken at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK in July 2012, August 2012 and Sep 2016, with an American example from May 2017. One more from the UK - Borehamwood, Herts. (July 2020)

Painted Lady - Vanessa cardui (UK & USA)

A selection of photos including -

1- One of many present at Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk in the summer of 1996 - an invasion year.
2- Sammy's Pint, Spurn, East Yorkshire (Aug. 2013).
3 & 4- From across the pond, Cape May, NJ, USA, Sep/Oct 2013.
5- Cape May, NJ, USA, Sep/Oct 2013.
6- Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK in September 2014 and August 2015.
7- Cape May, NJ, USA, Oct 2015.
8 & 9- Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK (Summer 2016).
10 - from Cape May, New Jersey, USA (May 2018).

American Lady - Vanessa virginiensis (USA)

Photographs of this relative of Painted Lady include -

One taken at Lake Cuyamaca, California in September 2012.
Cape May in Sep/Oct 2013.
Cape May in Oct 2015.

Small Tortoiseshell - Aglais urticae (UK)

Showing fairly well during the summer of 2013 at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK. Photos from July 2013 (bottom two) and April 2015 (top three).

Camberwell Beauty or Mourning Cloak - Nymphalis antiopa (UK & USA)

The photo at the top is of one seen at Holkham Pines, Norfolk (UK) in 1997, whilst the following one was photographed in Cape May, New Jersey, USA in October 2011.

Large Tortoiseshell - Nymphalis polychloros (SPAIN)

This pair showing well around the Plataforma, Sierra de Gredos, Spain in May 2019.

Peacock - Inachis io (UK)

Photos from Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK in July 2013 and April 2015, and nr Borehamwood, Herts. UK (July 2020).

Comma - Polygonia c-album (UK)

The first two photos were taken in the Cordite woodland at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK in July and August 2012. The next photo from Wittenham Clumps, Oxon. in August 2012 followed by one from Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK in July 2015. The bottom 2 photos from nr Borehamwood, Herts. (June and July 2020).

Question Mark - Polygonia interrogationis (USA)

Photo from Cape May in May 2015.

Variegated Fritillary - Euptoieta claudia (USA)

This giant butterfly was photographed at Cape May, New Jersey, USA in Oct 2015.

Coronis Fritillary - Speyeria coronis (USA)

Taken at Tamarack Flat, Yosemite NP, California in September 2012.

Queen of Spain Fritillary - Issoria lathonia (GER & SPAIN)

This beautiful butterfly with its stunning underwing photographed in May 2019 - Extremadura, Spain (top two) and Baden-Württemberg, Germany (bottom three).

Speckled Wood - Pararge aegeria (UK & GER)

Present in the Cordite woodland at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK in June 2012 (top), July 2013 (second) and one from the Kaiserstuhl, Germany in May 2013 (third). The next three from Old Moor RSPB, South Yorkshire in August 2014 and Sep. 2016. Bottom from Kilnsea, Spurn, East Yorkshire in August 2021.

Wall Brown - Lasiommata megera (UK & GER)

Several showing well along Beacon Lane, Spurn, East Yorkshire in Aug. 2012 (first) and nearby at Kilnsea Wetlands in late May 2013 (second). Several were showing well at Flamborough Head in Aug. 2013 (third), and one from Kilnsea, Spurn, East Yorkshire in August 2015 (fourth). The penultimate one photographed in Germany (Apr/May 2016) and the last one from Kilnsea, Spurn, East Yorkshire in September 2019.

Eastern Rock Grayling - (Cyprus)
Reasonably common in the north west, photo taken near Polis, Cyprus (Oct 2016).

Grayling sp. - (Cyprus)
A tree hugger - Cyprus (Sep/Oct 2014).

The Hermit - Pyronia tithomus (Cyprus)

A shy butterfly spotted at Asprokremmos Dam, Cyprus (Oct 2016 and Oct 2019).

Gatekeeper - Pyronia tithomus (UK)

Widespread at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK in late July and August 2012 and July 2013 (first three) followed by one photographed in the Marsland Valley, Cornwall in July 2015, with the remainder from Rainham Marshes RSPB, July 2016 and nr Borehamwood, Herts. (July 2020).

Meadow Brown - Maniola jurtina (UK)

As with the Small Skippers this species is fairly easy to see in the grasses at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK. Photos from July 2012 (top 2), August 2015 and nr Borehamwood, Herts in July 2020 (bottom).

Cyprus Meadow Brown - Maniola cypricola (Cyprus)

Cyprus Meadow Brown photographed near Polis, Cyprus (Oct 2016).

Meadow Brown sp. - (Cyprus)
Cyprus Meadow Brown or Oriental Meadow Brown? - Cyprus (Sep/Oct 2014).

Small Heath - Coenonympha pamphilus (UK)

Fairly easy to see amongst the grasses especially along the riverwall at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK in late July 2012 (top and middle). Present at Sammy's Point, Spurn, East Yorkshire in Aug. 2013 (bottom).

Ringlet - Aphantopus hyperantus (UK)

This dapper species present in the Cordite woodland at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, UK - top three from July 2012, July 2013 and June 2014 with the next two from July 2016. The final two from nr Borehamwood, Herts. UK (June 2020).