I waited for ages for her to open her wings but now I realise she was busy laying her eggs. It was very breezy again today and it must be the equivalent of giving birth in a hurricane. This is why I keep telling Nigel we should let the nettles grow - Small Tortoiseshell butterflies are in rapid decline. Shame I couldn't get underneath to see the laying but it was a little way away.
Three GT
1. Thanks for yesterday's comments - I'll get on to it soon.
2. Out of the wind it's lovely and warm
3. Watching the brood of teenage Great Tits standing around with their mouths open from the comfort of the hammock - and feeling sisterhood with the mothers.
I didn't realise nettles were so pretty, we kill them off with out a thought for the poor butterfly. Your focus here is lovely & to see the feelers against the green is amazing.....little yellow tips!
your butterfly looks gr8 judith and is nicely camouflaged on your nettles. Best time to photography butterflies is early morning and late evening when the temp drops ...they settle on the plants with the wings closed and a a bit dozy !
This is a beautiful picture - love all the greens of the nettle and beyond. How cool that she was egg-laying. I've never seen that. Although I can already do all of The Very Hungry Caterpillar from memory: "In the light of the moon, a little egg lay on a leaf..."
I enjoyed your solidarity with the put-upon bird parents!
I enjoyed your solidarity with the put-upon bird parents!