Common Blue, Gatekeeper, Flying Ant Day

Wonderful to have a male common blue butterfly flitting about in the front garden. I've added a shot showing the underside of its wings to extras.

I've been seeing gatekeeper butterflies for a week or so. Their appearance is a sure sign that it's high summer. I captured the one in extras on a bramble this morning. Some people call them hedge browns.

It was flying ant day in the front garden this afternoon. In extras a worker ant can be seen grooming a princess about to take off on her nuptial flight.