Adonis Blue Bonanza

[Dom Greves]

It looks like being a very good year for the adonis blue in this corner of Dorset:

Adonis Blue Feeding Frenzy | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Anyone else seeing similar numbers?

[Dae]

I wish! I confess I haven't gotten to even see one...ever. Yet! But I'm a long ways from Dorset, and I'm unlikely to see one of these in Wales Thanks for sharing that, really amazing to watch.

[Susie]

That's a corker of an image!

There are good numbers of these out in Surrey, but a large proportion of the ones I have seen are aberrant.

[Deb London]

Thank you for posting these Dom, they are fascinating images.

[aeshna5]

Excellent photo Dom. I don't usually see aggregations of butterflies like this in the UK, but certainly in Europe + further afield.. I've been on downs such as Denbies where I may count 50 Adonis Blues but not all together like this. I'm hoping for fine weather next weekend when I hope to find some of these stunning blues.

I'm wondering whether the extremely dry conditions have encouraged this ensemble?

[Dom Greves]

Quite possibly. I'm told they're extracting salts when they do this. The majority were gathered in an area beneath a horse trough and others were on the remains of horse dung I think. More than 400 reported on a recent transect.

[Susie]

I've had groups of more than 14 together at Denbies.

It's particularly good when the chalkhill blues are emerging.

[Susie]

Just out of interest can anyone else who sees aberrant adonis blues let me know, either by PM or on this thread.

[Dom Greves]

What sort of aberrations should we be looking for Susie?