Horns

Small skipper, Heathwaite, Arnside Knott

The family resemblance to the dingy skipper is apparent in those eyelashes. What surprised me was that in addition to the stripy antennae with the orange-clubbed tips, there is a pair of little horns on the head. The power of the macro to reveal the unexpected.

This one was very obliging in allowing me to photograph her from all sides and angles. It was warm enough at this time in the morning for most butterflies to be very active.

We spent the afternoon in Sue's garden while Ian and Karen's two girls made a huge fuss of Gus and Rowan, and we drank Pimms in the perfect afternoon sunshine. What an extraordinary run of weather we are having, it's almost like living in the deep south of England.