Purple Hairstreak

[Anders152]

Hello, today I saw a purple hairstreak in my garden and just wondered if this was unusual or not. It was flying low down near the ground resting on ivy and grass. We do live fairly close to woods where there are oak trees but I thought they usually stayed close to the treetops. I wonder if they are becoming more common as this was my first sighting ever.

[Deb London]

Although I can't answer this question, this year I have spotted more Purple Hairstreaks so far than the whole of the last. And some have been at eye level.

I was puzzling over some fast low flyers the other day, but I didn't have any optics that could focus that well or that quickly. But they could well have included these little gems. One of my favourite butterflies.

[aeshna5]

They are common in southern England at least where there is oak. Sometimes even a small tree can support a small colony. Because they often spend a lot of time sitting in the canopy where they feed on honeydew it's easy to overlook them + underestimate the numbers present.

If you're near oaks it's not that unusual to have a sighting in a garden. I've twice recorded them in my garden. They will come down to the ground- yesterday I had one at my feet apparently taking up moisture from some grass blades + another fluttering above some bare damp soil. I've also seen them on thistle + bramble flowers.

A nice treat for you that's for sure.

[Anders152]

I'm chuffed to bits
Couldn't quite believe what I was seeing, and so close up! Thanks for your replies.

Kathryn

[Anders152]

Just to update, with the help of binoculars, I spied a smallish oak tree in the garden of a house backing on to ours. So hopefully my sighting wasn't a one off!