nanila: (tachikoma: celebratory)
Mad Scientess ([personal profile] nanila) wrote in [community profile] common_nature2018-07-22 11:57 am

Small copper butterfly

Small copper
Today I spotted a new (to me) butterfly in our garden! At first I thought it was another gatekeeper, of which we have many, but then I realised that the sides of its wings had multiple spots rather than the single eye that gatekeepers' wings have.

Small coppers are not uncommon, but I've never seen one here (rural Worcestershire) before. I was under the impression their territory was further south. It makes sense with the unusually warm weather that they'd be spreading north. This one was a particularly vibrant specimen. \o/
shapinglight: (Default)

[personal profile] shapinglight 2018-07-22 10:58 am (UTC)(link)
It's lovely. They aren't uncommon, true, but they're not common either. I've only seen two this year.
shapinglight: (Default)

[personal profile] shapinglight 2018-08-04 05:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Are they not habitual garden plant visitors?

I don't think so. I've certainly never seen one in my garden.
kotturinn: (Default)

[personal profile] kotturinn 2018-07-22 11:50 am (UTC)(link)
Lovely. It's being a good year for some butterflies.
kotturinn: (Default)

[personal profile] kotturinn 2018-07-26 08:38 am (UTC)(link)
Bit of both I would expect. I think for the ones that are in abundance (including the ones normally seen further south and the ones who migrate in as adults) the current weather is advantageous. Perhaps even the cold spring so most emerged later when cold snaps were geniuinely over. Habitat loss is still a big issue, as with much wildlife :-(
uninvitedcat: (Default)

[personal profile] uninvitedcat 2018-07-22 12:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Beautiful - both butterfly and photograph!
shirebound: (Default)

[personal profile] shirebound 2018-07-22 01:15 pm (UTC)(link)
It's wonderful that you're getting so many lovely visitors.
iddewes: (robin)

[personal profile] iddewes 2018-07-22 01:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Gorgeous! I have never seen one. I live in Germany now but used to live in southern England and Wales before that.
yourlibrarian: Butterfly and Alstroemeria by yourlibrarian (NAT-ButterflyAlstroemeria-yourlibrarian)

[personal profile] yourlibrarian 2018-07-22 02:14 pm (UTC)(link)
What a lovely picture, so pretty with the little flowers.
highlyeccentric: Sign on Little Queen St - One Way both directions (Default)

[personal profile] highlyeccentric 2018-07-22 04:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, that's beautiful!
minoanmiss: A detail of the Ladies in Blue fresco (Default)

[personal profile] minoanmiss 2018-07-23 11:36 am (UTC)(link)
What. breathtaking photo of a fluttering beauty!
felicitygs: a smiling shark with a lazer on its back. it slaps its fins and makes a heart. (Default)

[personal profile] felicitygs 2018-07-27 03:24 am (UTC)(link)
What a beautiful buttefly!! I wish I could see them more often when I'm out and about, but it's usually pretty fleeting.
felicitygs: a smiling shark with a lazer on its back. it slaps its fins and makes a heart. (Default)

[personal profile] felicitygs 2018-08-01 04:03 am (UTC)(link)
I wish I did! Unfortunately I don't, and that species of butterfly isn't very common here anyway :)

I'm pretty happy just visiting the local butterfly house when I get a chance.