New Life

A beautiful warm sunny morning so I decided to return to our local heath to seek out the Silver Studded Blues (Plebejus argus).  Butterflies were everywhere, Meadow Browns, Ringlets and Small Heaths.  As I wandered among the gorse and heather I came to an area where dozens of the Blues where flying.  I was delighted to find a butterfly emerging from deep in the grass, slowly it climbed the stems to inflate it’s new wings in the sun.

The newly hatched Silver Studded Blue inflates it’s crumpled wings

It took many attempts as the gentle breeze kept knocking it back down.  It persevered, the will to survive is strong.  This is the first time I have witnessed the first moment of a butterflies life.

Starting the long climb again

Also delighted to find a mating pair.  Hanging on the top of a grass stem, swaying in the breeze, starting a new generation.  They also had to put up with the unwanted attention of other males trying to muscle in, but carried on regardless.

Starting a new generation. The female (the browner one on the left) has beautifully marked silver studs on the outer edge of the wing