The Gatekeeper

This is a relatively common butterfly in the south of England and Wales, its larvae feeding on a number of different grasses and the butterflies being keen on the flower of the bramble and on honeydew. It is one of the species that is prolific in my meadow at this time of year and I saw dozens of them in the garden today when I was cutting the grass. I stopped for a while to watch them basking in the sun on a red sedum flower.