Sunshine on Icarus

Tend to be a bit of an early riser but chose the wrong day to feel lethargic and loaf about in bed and so inadvertently missed the Transit of Venus. Saying that, am not entirely sure there was any sun visible anyway, or at least not one at 07:15 when I finally dragged myself up to begin this short working week. I understand that this will be the last time that Venus is seen in front of the Sun until the year 2117. Fear not, I have now at least downloaded my free iPhone App, and so am now good and ready. No excuses next time.

Dashed off to Blackburn for a quick meeting and didn't really get chance to think what I was going to do the rest of the day. I knew it had to be work of some kind, but the advantage of being behind on several fronts is you can always choose what you would like to work on.

Anyway, thoughts then came around to Blipping and so I suddenly realised I would be driving past the same Brockholes Nature Reserve as was mentioned Saturday just gone. Peter's Silent Plankton exhibition beat it to it that day, so I thought it could get second bite. The sun was even shining, so my plan was I would just nip in and out and quickly shoot it from a distance.

So I did just that, but in the process of framing a shot spotted absolutely loads of little blue butterflies flitting about around my feet. Given my past abysmal failure at any kind of live action wildlife, this became the alternative challenge.....So here is my best effort at getting close without any macro or magnifying App. Net result, is I am afraid, that Brockholes the building loses out twice in less than a week.

As far as insects are concerned, my entomological knowledge is restricted to which ones Trout eat so I can tie the artificial flies. As such, butterflies don't really feature, and so I didnt know what this was at all. I was kind of hoping it was some rare species, but on my return home, it seems this is just a Common Blue. I was going to describe its Latin name as Mancunianatus Vulgaris after City and hope no one spotted it, but then thought that would just be petty and ingracious. I read that Polyommatus Icarus is it's real name, and (I think) from looking on the web, this looks like the male of the species.

Pleased about the serendipity of the taxonomy and it's allusion of flying too close to the sun.

Postscript 1: What I also missed last night and this morning the chance to see and hear a site-specific art installation by David Henckel called Venus in Sole Visa at Hoole Parish Church St.Michaels & All Angels at Much Hoole near Preston.

Postscript 2: It seems Brockholes is hosting part of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust 50th Anniversary Talk Series, and on 19th July, Laura Sivell is talking about the Butterflies and Moths of Lancashire.