Small is Beautiful

I went out early this morning to try and catch the Butterflies napping.

I am after the Skippers. I want the photographs  that show the difference between a Small Skipper and an Essex Skipper.

A little Skipper.

The difference is tiny. The very tip of the underside of the antennae is black in an Essex and orange/brown in a Small Skipper. You can only see it if you look at the animal face on.

It is not easy getting close to them, never mind getting in their little faces.

I have been advised to hum to them to hold their attention. I was told a low almost inaudible hum but the only tune that I could remember when the time came was Wagners “Flight of the Valkyries” inappropriate perhaps and  it requires some gusto to do it properly but it was the only thing that sprang to mind as I crept up behind yet another of the little blighters.

Gotcha!

Orange tip on the underside of the antennae. That is a Small Skipper 100% Small. Excuse me while I savour my triumph.

Now all that we have left to do is to catch an Essex, well, one is not much use without the other.

Fizz, fetch me my butterfly net.