Peacock butterfly on Black Knapweed

This afternoon I went up to the butterfly reserve on Morn Hill.  It was very beautiful though I slightly forgotten to factor in windspeed.  Luckily  the hillside does have some purposely created windshields and it was in my favourite of these I found this beautiful peacock feeding on black knapweed (Centaurea nigra).  Wind not withstanding, it occured to me as I walked round that at this point in the year it's no longer so much the lack of butterflies, but the lack of species that's the problem.  There were quantites of meadow browns and gatekeepers.  Of the rest I saw 2 brimstones only, this peacock, 4 or 5 small blues and a couple of painted ladies.  Really that was about it!  I shall go on looking, but did feel slightly pessimistic!

The rest of my day has been gardening and domesticity, so I won't bore you with all that.  But the sunshine has been a treat.

Enjoy your evening  xx