Brief Encounter

Holly blue butterflies were flitting up and down Butterfly Alley this afternoon hardly ever stopping. Until this pair met. They very briefly spiraled together and then fluttered even more briefly on a Viburnum branch.

When these butterflies are in the air they show up bright blue but once they land they tend to keep their wings closed tightly together. Their underwings give a silvery effect which looks just like light reflecting off shiny holly or ivy leaves which they favour.

I haven't adjusted the colour of my image. I think the butterfly on the left is looking purplish and cream rather than blue and silver because of the partial shade and the light passing through the butterfly on the right.