Small Skipper - Thymelicus sylvestris (female)

[ladylouise62]

In a field near my work. I hadn't gone into the field before because the last time I looked (years ago) it was kept short by horses, but by chance I realised that it was now overgrown. I spent ages dashing about trying to catch the butterflies... rather unsuccessfully. I now have rather stiff arms from holding up the camera

[Chocky]

Yes. Nice captures

[rolf]

Great shots Louise, they are difficult little butterflies to photograph, very quick.

[Catherine]

That's a good photo, Louise!

AND I agree with Rolf that they're difficult to capture on camera!

This is one I took on Wednesday (and thanks for the ID as I didn't know what type it was!)

When I enlarged the shot, I saw another little insect on the grass in front of it. Very unusual markings - I don't think I've seen that one before either....

[ladylouise62]

I love it when you get a bonus-beastie I have no idea what it is though... I don't really know my creatures very well, I usually have to work out what they are once I've snapped them. But, that's how you learn

[rolf]

Think it's a spider, will have a look later.

[Catherine]

Still haven't managed to identify the small b and w insect. Any ideas?

BTW, I thought the Small Skipper was a moth - and it's listed as such in my Collins book. It DOES fly in the daytime though. Could someone clever clarify that too, please?

[rolf]

Nope, it's a Butterfly.

[ladylouise62]

I know what you mean, Catherine - it doesn't look much like a standard butterfly.. but i learned that an easy key to which is which is to look at the antennae - thin and clubbed at the end is a butterfly, feathery or unclubbed is a moth. After that I need an ID book

[Catherine]

OK! I accept it's in the Butterfly group.

The body being hairy, the wings never lying together but flat - and, looking closely at the one which sat still for a while, the antennae seeming much more 'loose' at the tips than the usual butterfly, so I had to query the type.....

[ladylouise62]

I hate the hairy bodied one, they are so confusing - they really should be moths!

[Chocky]

There are at least 11 different species of the Skipper and it is definitely a Butterfly.
Yours looks like a female Louise

Here is a male.
http://www.thamesvalleybirds.co.uk/i...l-skipper.html


Here some info
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skipper_(butterfly)