Small Blue blues

This is a lovely Small Blue butterfly, Cupido minimus, that I found at the end of a walk I led at the nature reserve today. I rediscovered Small Blue at the reserve 2 years ago after a lot of clearance we carried out in some old chalk pits triggered germination of lots of Kidney Vetch, the food plant for its larvae. That year I recorded only three or four adult butterflies. Last year it was a complete wash-out during May and June and I didn't record any. This year I have been constantly scouring the bank where the Kidney Vetch grows best, but have not seen a single butterfly. Now the Kidney Vetch flowers are opening I've started examining them for the minute eggs - often the best way to be certain that Small Blues are present. Then today I spotted this perfect adult flying around our neighbour's field...where there is no Kidney Vetch and none of the other habitat requirements we associate with this butterfly. Just another butterfly enigma!!