Large Blue

by Jeff Bevan · Published 11th June 2018 · Updated 25th July 2018

Church of St Andrew – Dundon from Collard Hill, Somerset, UK. ID 825_1805

Back to Collard Hill

On my last visit to Collard Hill it was too hot to photograph butterflies. They rarely settled, instead they flew passed quickly disappearing over the horizon. Today, a change to more cloudy weather was more hopeful.

On the way to Collard Hill from the car park next to the YHA you pass through the meadows of Ivythorn Hill. Oxeye daises are one of my favourite flowers. This meadow brown just added to the picture.

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) on Oxeye Daisies – Ivythorn Hill, Somerset, UK. ID 825_2031

Large Blue

But I was not here to photograph the very common meadow brown. But instead the very rare large blue butterflies.

At first the butterflies were hard to spot hiding down deep in the grass for shelter.

Large Blue (Maculinea arion) – Collard Hill, Somerset, UK. ID 825_2063

But after an hour or so the sun came out the butterflies appeared and opened their wings.

Large Blue (Maculinea arion) – Collard Hill, Somerset, UK. ID 825_2158

This year the butterflies seemed incredibly blue. Maybe its just timing, my visit may be just after they have emerged. Maybe the lack of rain has protected their wings.