As you might have guessed I've taken a bit of a break from blogging of late ... no real and present reason, just general 'busyness', being going through a serious music phase with the new combo and my recruitment for YWT has been hectic too with numerous summer shows, but hey I'm still out there, the camera is still seeing action, so here's a quick post!
Took myself off on a mini tour of a selected few South Yorkshire reserves a few weeks back, including
Brockadale and
Blacka Moor (nr Sheffield). The most noticeable thing for me recently has been the number of butterflies on the wing lately. I suspect and hope it's been a good year for them after last year's wash out and by all accounts (mainly from the keen lepidopterists from
Askham Bog) this does seem to have been the case. I hope you've seen plenty in your garden and not just the common white variety!
Here's a nice
Marbled White for starters.
That was one of several I saw at
Brockadale nature reserve nr Pontefract and an absolute haven for butterflies at the moment.
Same location and not really butterflies there were hundreds of these
Burnett Moths in the fields around the reserve.
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Burnett Moths on Field Scabious
OOk, here's a proper butterfly and one that really does seem to have done well this year ... its a Comma, been very noticeable these beauties and I have some cracking pics of some at Askham Bog but not developed yet so here's one at good old Brockadale.  | Comma
There's been some Purple Hairstreak's at Askham Bog, rare butterflies indeed and I hope to get some pics soon if they stick around but here's my contribution to scarce butterflies ... a Dark Green Fritillary I spotted and captured nearby Ladybower Resevoir in the Peak District | Dark Green Fritillary
Closer to home here's a couple of recent ones from Askham Bog ... a nice Brimstone and a rather scarce Large Skipper (really tricky to see, let alone photograph!)
 | | Brimstone on Purple Loosestrife |
 | | Large Skipper |
Ok, I'm going to leave you with a beautiful Small Tortoiseshell, another butterfly that has surely done well this year. This one was shot near Stannage Edge, Sheffield but I've seen 'em everywhere this year!
 | | Small Tortoiseshell |
Yup, been a great year so far for Butterflies .... what have you seen?
Still plenty about folks so check out you're nearest natural hay meadow and get flutterby hunting!
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