Small Heaths join the Skippers at Mill Hill

Small Heath, Coenonympha pamphilus

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On Thursday under a blue sky I did my Mill Hill butterfly transect with the following result: Brimstone 1, Dingy Skipper 11, Grizzled skipper 5, Large White 2, Orange-tip 1, Small Heath 2, small Tortoiseshell  1. There was plenty of Horseshoe Vetch in flower for the blue butterflies to lay their eggs on when they emerge. I spent some time with the first Small Heath I have seen this season  trying to get open wing shots. 

All photos taken with Nikon D90, 180mm Sigma macro lens unless stated

Brimstone, Gonepteryx rhamni on Cowslip, Primula veris

Dingy Skipper, Erynnis tages

Dingy Skipper, Erynnis tages

Grizzled Skipper, Pyrgus malvae

Horseshoe Vetch, Hippocrepis comosa

views from Mill Hill (Canon G9)

Small Heath, Coenonympha pamphilus on Thistle

my best open wing shot of the Small Heath, which never fully opens its wings when settled.

Small Heath with partially open wings

Hydrothassa glabra

Thanks to Mark Colvin for the id for this beetle. 
"It is associated with the flowers of buttercups and the larvae feed on the petals".