Priddy Butterfly Safari
It had been a while since I visited Priddy Mineries in the Mendip Hills of Somerset. Then I mainly focused (literally) on dragonflies around the Waldegrave Pond. So this summer I spent of couple of days photographing its butterflies.
I read a few websites that listed the target species to read. This included:
- Small Heath
- Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
- Dark Green Fritillary
- Chimney Sweeper moths
- Large Skipper
- Small Copper
- Common Blue
- Dingy Skipper
- Green Hairstreak
- Marsh Fritillary
- Six-spot Burnet
- Mother Shipton
Of course, not all of these are flying about at the same time of year, but I wanted to photograph as many as I could.
Small Heath
These are easy to find on the mineries. They flutter about close to the ground. They rarely open their wings when resting, instead they flop other to one side. This can make them tricky to photograph – it all depends on which way they flop.
Two of my favourite things – a small heath and a dandelion.
Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary
I have already posted on these fritillaries. There is a patch on the mineries where these small butterflies can be found.
Dark Green Fritillary
I missed out on these larger fritillaries. Not surprising as it it unlikely that they will be flying until August.
Skippers
Everyone’s favourite. Dashing around all over the place close to the ground amongst the grasses and brambles.
Dingy Skipper
This one was a long shot. But by pure luck it was one of the first butterflies I saw. It is easy to overlook these small brown butterflies but calling them dingy is a bit harsh.
Green Hairstreak
Another small butterfly found sitting on bramble leaves.
Marsh Fritillary
I did not expect to find one of these. I was speaking to some fellow butterfly hunters, they had seen a small pearl down the main path. I went for a look only to find a marsh fritillary sitting in a buttercup.
Small Copper
I have been struggling to find small coppers this year. I’m not sure if it just me, or if they are having a hard time this year. So this is one I saw at Priddy Mineries back in 2014.
Common Blue
Missed out on this one too. Perhaps the first brood of the year is over and the second is yet to star.
Burnet Moths
I saw some of these moths but did not get any pictures that I liked, so this is another older picture. I liked this image as the two burnets are mating immediately after emerging from their cocoons.
Chimney Sweeper
A saw several of these little moths, but getting close was impossible. I was running around for some time before I managed to get this distant picture.
Mother Shipton
Missed these too. So this is one from nearby at Stoke Camp.
Useful links:
- https://somersetbutterflies.webs.com/locations
- https://butterfly-conservation.org/events/field-trip-priddy-mineries-on-the-mendips