59: NYMPHALIDS

59.023 Red Admiral in my garden at Skircoat Green, Sept. 10th 06. It's feeding on last night's sugar solution which had been painted on to the trellis.

59.023 Red Admiral along the top path at North Dean wood, Copley on Sept. 7th 06.

59.024 Painted Lady nectaring on the garden Heleniums at Skircoat Green, July 3rd 2019. Most satisfying when you plant specifically for butterflies and they duly oblige by turning up to feed.

59.024 Painted Lady at Brookfoot Loop, Aug. 31st 2004.

59.027 Small Tortoiseshell caterpillar feeding on Common Nettle, Skircoat Green allotments, June 16th 2014.

59.027 Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars at Skircoat Green allotments, June 18th 2014. After realizing that their hideout of spun leaves had been all but munched away they frantically search for pastures new.

59.027 Small Tortoiseshell chrysalis, June 23rd 2014. Four of the above caterpillars were taken home to rear through and they soon pupated. Each chrysalis had a golden metallic sheen over various parts of the case - not too well demonstrated in this photo sadly.

59.027 Small Tortoiseshell chrysalises, July 1st 2014. Eight days on and the chrysalises are on the verge of hatching. Remarkable structures of form and colour and a surprising variation of two chrysalises of the same age. 

59.027 Small Tortoiseshell egg laying on Common Nettle at a canal-side field near West Vale on May 6th 2014. You can just make out the gap between the wings where the tip of the abdomen usually sits.

59.027 Small Tortoiseshell in my garden at Skircoat Green on Sept. 22nd 2010. It's nectaring on Verbena bonariensis which is an excellent plant for attracting late summer species such as Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady and Red Admiral. In winter small flocks of Goldfinches feed on the seeds.

59.026 Peacock nectaring on the garden buddleia at Skircoat Green on Aug. 14th 2004. 

On the face of it, it's just another generic Peacock shot but this was my fledgling photo session with my first ever digital camera. I was so impressed with the results they inspired me to take up macro photography which in turn led to an interest in lepidoptera. 

Quite a momentous day!

59.026 Peacock on a bridle path near Norland village on Apr. 28th 2014. Its proboscis is out so perhaps it is feeding on minerals in the soil.

59.026 Peacock nectaring on Black Knapweed at Hollin Hall orchard, Hardcastle Crags on Aug. 8th 2025.

59.026 Peacock caterpillars feeding on nettles at Milner Royd nature reserve on June 9th 2020.

59.026 Peacock chrysalis on June 26th 2020. Reared from one of the caterpillars pictured above.

59.031 Comma caterpillar found at Skircoat Green allotments on gooseberry, May 30th 09. Also found feeding on Red Currant at this site.

59.031 Comma pupa, June 6th 09. Reared from the caterpillar above.

59.031 Comma, North Dean wood, Sept.7th 06. Basking on Bramble.