This year summer had difficulty extracating itself from winter for although by April 27th - the day of the wave at Beaulieu - the temperature had reached 26c, a week later on 5th May it was down to 2c with wet snow. By 20th May it was warming up again and large numbers of fritillaries were seen in the field. These were of two species, the Glanville fritillary seen in earlier years, but also rather lightly marked Knapweed fritillaries (Melitaea phoebe). These were identified by the total lack of any black spots on the hindwing, just some reddish orange ones. A number of these butterflies appeared to be newly hatched and a rather bright brick red, with both sexes seeming determined to mate but not seeming to know how... This pair of Knapweed fritillaries had a particularly desperate look in their eyes.

"Its that look in your eyes..." click to enlarge.

A blue butterfly was photographed because it did not look quite like the others I had seen. Examination of the photograph allowed identification of Chapman's Blue (Agrodiaetus thersites).  This butterfly looks like a common blue except that it lacks a black spot on the underside forewing just above the head. Compare with the common blue on this blog, August 25th 2008.

click to enlarge.