Hairy

Meadow Brown, Heathwaite, Arnside Knott

The great thing about macro photography is the revelation of hidden details and miniature landscapes seen on a human scale. I had no idea that the body of a Meadow Brown butterfly was quite so hairy, nor that the hairs extend up the wings. While this wasn't taken as an aid to identification, you can see the RAF-style wing spots.

A great day for butterflies, and an optimistic weather forecast for the next couple of weeks that should be a huge benefit to the species on the wing now. This morning I saw my first graylings of the year flitting about the stony limestone slopes of the Knott; meadow browns and northern brown argus butterflies were flying at Heathwaite, and this afternoon on top of the Knott the small pearl-bordered fritillaries were joined by larger, faster dark-green fritillaries.

I stayed in to watch the Wimbledon Ladies final. Such a disappointment to see Sabine Lisicki succumb to the nerves of the occasion, not today was that smile to light up the Centre Court. But then the quirky Marion Bartoli was a worthy winner on the day.