Copper

With rain yesterday and also forecast for tomorrow I was so pleased the sun was shining today to bring out the butterflies.

I spotted her in a thistle patch although she was only small because she was so very vivid. Not just the copper of the back wings shimmering but the vibrant fiery luminosity of the orange forewings. The Small Copper or Lycaena phlaeas is so very aptly named as the Greek word 'phlego' is translated as, 'to burn up'.

She was a quick flier, darting about occasionally meeting up with the male and flitting off but always coming back to the same patch for the nectar on the thistle flowers. Lucky me!