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.

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.

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.

Amazing and sooo beautiful!
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Oh yes Pepix, super to find.
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WOW! I’ve never seen a newly hatched butterfly 🙂 Super impressed by these images, Brian! Bravo!
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I was thrilled Camilla a first for me too, sat for ages watching it.
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Definitely worth the wait! Fantastic shots, Brian. I can only imagine the excitement!
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Wow, great photos!
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Thanks Pete they look better on here than facebook!
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What a fabulous moment you have captured, Brian! Magnificent photos!
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Thank you Pete, such a thrill to sit and watch it, resisted the urge to help it every time it got blown off a grass.
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Amazing to see it emerge like that!
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Indeed Ray, it was another male SSB investigating that alerted me, they were searching for females, then this fellow pushed it’s way up through the grass, amazing.
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Extraordinary photos!
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Thank you Belinda, it’s nature that is extraordinary, we are just lucky to sometimes catch it on film (should say sd card now) 🙂
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Incredible! You have witnessed such wonderful experiences. Amazing!
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Indeed Simone and I felt like a little child again, nature never fails to surprise!
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Yes, Brian, it’s an endless source of energy! Have a nive week!
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So beautiful Belinda and what an experience to watch the hatching of a butterfly.
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Stunning captures and how awesome to see the birth of a butterfly!
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It was brilliant Donna.
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I didn’t realize like many birds, the females can (maybe all do) carry a slightly different color scheme. Nice additions to your impressive collection
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Thanks Brian, no not all females are a different colour but there is usually a subtle difference.
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Your butterfly shots are more than cool, Brian. 🙂 Far-out is more like it.
Furthermore, you know them so well, and articulate their strangeness
in such an informative way that I always come away having learned
something new, which never gets old. Cheerz to you! UT
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Many thanks UT, glad you like the little bits of info, always difficult to know just how much to write, too much could become boring, but I like to keep it slightly light hearted to compliment the photos.
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What a breathtaking insect. Yet another great job, blhphotoblog! Keep it up!
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Thanks for lovely comments and taking time to view my posts.
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No problem. I really enjoy your blog. I don’t see alot of butterflies out there in the wild. Maybe someday, though, I’ll be able to post about them on my blog too!
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