The Brown argus butterflies seem to be having a very good second brood locally, at least in those places where the habitat has survived the heatwaves and drought. Lavernock Nature Reserve is one such place, very wet and muddy underfoot in the winter months and still remarkably lush despite this summer’s weather.

I can’t remember ever having seen a mating pair so, when I saw these two, I waited and hoped they might get together. The male didn’t move from where he had been perched when the female flew in and landed further up the plant stem. She fluttered her wings a lot and came flouncing down the stem towards the male. He still didn’t move. The next thing, the female was pointing her abdomen stiffly upwards, the standard indication that a female butterfly doesn’t want to mate. Why she bothered to approach him at all, I have no idea, but it was still lovely to see the two so close together.