Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

2/6/2020

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary is an exquisite butterfly. My first of the season, that dramatic upper-wing is unmistakable as it settles on a flower open-winged. I hoped for photographs to show the pearls of the under-wing too. Strong sunlight made their wings translucent, like stained-glass windows. The butterflies are fresh and lovely and after a generous interlude with Small Pearl-bordered Friillary I have images which show their interaction with the flowers they pollinate.

My first glimpses of the butterfly were elusive, three flew by. A close-encounter came gradually. I relaxed once I had a cache of images and immersed myself in the butterfly experience, being sure to make no sudden movements.
A linnet perched for a few moments above the gorse, now fading and setting-seed. Gorse is dehiscent, its pods bursting open to disperse seed. In hot weather a gorse bush ejects its seeds in a fusillade of popping sounds.

There are lacunae in butterfly hunting, gaps in time when they don't show. And they're only one aspect of the morning. Cumulus clouds gather about the sun. Purple thyme, red clover and bedstraw come into flower and the heat is building.
Hunting for butterflies doesn't always go by the book. I know their season. This morning's hot weather will suit them but fair-weather clouds drift across the sun. I'm out fairly early and come upon them about 9.30am , I think. You can never have too much of a good thing, I'm not sure I'll have an image of the under-wing, so when the sun blazes down at mid-day I return to the hot-spot. And inexplicably there are no butterflies.

Today might see the end of the heat-wave and I may not have such a photo-opportunity with Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary tomorrow, or tomorrow, or tomorrow. And they are stunning