Meadow butterflies at Therfield Heath

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Despite the cloudy forecast the skies were blue so I took a spur of the moment decision to pop down to Therfield Heath as not sure when my next opportunity would be.  Marbled whites, dark green fritillaries and a couple of chalkhill blues had been seen there.

On arrival my first tick was for a gatekeeper near the entrance which I hadn't seen this year so far.   It wasn't  very long before I saw my first marbled white ever, there were plenty of them flying low across the grasses.    Lots of meadow browns and ringlets and skippers about too but no blues or large oranges visible.

Walking back to the car I suddenly saw a small blue butterfly fly a short distance then drop down into the grass and getting closer I found it posing nicely for a photograph - a chalkhill blue!

I had given up any hope of finding the dark green fritillaries but one did fly fast across the path in front of me and then disappeared.    T'hen I noticed a couple nearer the path which eventually settled  and I managed a quick photo.  So I was very pleased with my sightings for today! 


gatekeeper
 

 
 painted lady
 
marbled white
 
 
small skipper
 

 small skipper


chalkhill blue
 

dark green fritillary
 


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