“One last hurrah before the summer fades away” My reply to John from Hertfordshire on a fb group when he jokingly comments I’ve not been out and about much recently. He’s quite right though. The only butterfly trip I have been on this year was back in July to see the Purple Emperor in Fermyn Woods. A hot, hard day with only eight sightings in six hours and only two half decent photos, so no post.
With Mrs H on holiday, my day off and the weather set fair I knew the perfect place to visit and the perfect species – Yoesden Bank and the Adonis Blue.

It was two years ago when I made my previous visit to this beautiful nature reserve ( https://blhphotoblog.wordpress.com/portfolio/adonis-blue-delight/ ). The journey is a round trip of 330 miles that takes eight hours so we were up before dawn to make the most of the day. Yoesden Bank is in the county of Buckinghamshire on the border with Oxfordshire in the village of Bledlow Ridge. The area is known as the Chilterns. It is a range of hills that form a chalk escarpment across four counties. Yoesden is a steep south facing hill covered in wild flowers and the most northerly site (and closest to home) to see this enigmatic butterfly.

The Adonis (named after the Greek god of beauty and desire) is one of the largest of the blues with a wingspan of 1.5 inches (40mm). The caterpillar only eats horseshoe vetch and they require the perfect conditions. Because of this they were predicted to become extinct in the ’80s as farmers stopped using the hills for grazing and the rabbit population was hit with myxomatosis. The grass grew too long for the Adonis to survive. Now thanks to major conservation work the butterfly is back from the brink, still rare but increasing.

It was a touch breezy on the bank and every now and then the clouds would hide the sun. We sat and watched. When the sun appeared so did the butterflies. Hundreds of sadly faded milky Chalkhill Blues rose from the turf flapping weekly about as their life cycle draws to a close. Smaller but vivid Common Blues fed on the scabious and marjoram making you think Adonis? Then the real deal, so bright and electric. The males kept low down to the grass, searching for newly emerged chocolate brown ladies without luck. Not interested in nectar they were difficult to photograph. I had to wait for cloud cover, then they settled, carefully get in position and try and clear a few grass stems. When the sun comes out they open their glorious wings to warm up allowing time for a couple of shots.
Well that’s probably a wrap as far as butterflies are concerned this year. For sure there will be plenty around for weeks to come if the weather behaves and I might make a few more images. If you are interested in the butterflies of the UK check out this page I have put together, those who already have big thanks! https://blhphotoblog.wordpress.com/british-butterflies/
Top Fotos Brian.👍👍👍
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Big thanks Werner!
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Spectacular photographs of a stunning butterfly! Thank you for adding the information about this rarity. Here’s hoping it continues to do well.
Thank you very much for brightening up our morning with a jolt of electric blue!
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It should do well now Wally, glad to light up your day!
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Lovely Brian! The blue one is absolutely marvelous!! You share some interesting reading about these beauties as well. 🦋🦋
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Always pleased to share some info on these gorgeous insects Anita.
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You certainly travel a long way to catch your butterflies! (You’re making me feel guilty!) 😉
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It was a long day Mike, very tiring but worth it.
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Stunning, indeed. Beautiful shots Mister B.
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Thanks for that Ark.
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That is one stunning butterfly Brian, and wonderfully photographed!
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Thanks Pete, the Adonis is much better in the field as that blue changes hue with the light, difficult to capture on camera.
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Real beauties Brian and what an extraordinary shade of blue.
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It is Belinda and as I mentioned above it changes in the light, very striking.
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It’s a beautiful butterfly and well worth the trip to see and photograph it.
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That drive is on my limit of endurance for a day out! You have to go through the middle of four large and busy towns, that’s what takes the time. That said to see such beauty in a fantastic setting every couple of years is worth it.
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An amazingly gorgeous butterfly, your captures are superb! ❤
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It was difficult to get nice shots I’m quite pleased with these. Thanks Donna.
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WOW!!! Amazing butterflies!!
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They certainly are Greta!
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He knows how to make an appearance, that Adonis, but with a name like his, he has a reputation to uphold!
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😁👍
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Wow, I love the looks of that butter. Always surprised by the contrast of the top coloring to the bottom – makes it look like two completely different species. Forgot how seasonal they are – thankfully I can find birds all year round and based upon my frustration at attempts, a hell of lot easier to get in the tin than those nervous butters. (in my humble opinion). Mighty fine set of shots.
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Thanks B. As I mentioned in a couple of comments that intense colour can change in a second, they certainly are a gorgeous species.
With autumn coming up fast soon be time to get my birding head on and see if I can dig out any nice vagrants, would have been nice to get decent lens, maybe next year.
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