Friday 23 September 2016

The Last Lady

There's hardly been a butterfly on the wing in the last few days, so when, on Wednesday, we climbed into the open, windy area to the northeast of Ben Hiant, we didn't expect to find this clinging to a devil's bit scabious flower.

It's a painted lady, and it was so cold and damp that it seemed to welcome the warmth of a finger.

Its colours already faded. The species doesn't hibernate, and few migrate back south - and certainly not against the stiff southeaster that was blowing - so it's likely that this beauty will soon be dead.

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