Brown Argus

This is probably my favourite butterfly on the reserve. Fairly small - only the size of my thumbnail (sometimes a little bigger), but with beautiful chocholate brown colouring and red spots lining the wing edges, it looks superb. It was extremely common (probably the most common butterfly in Orchid Bottom) in 2010, but rather less common in 2011. I wait with fingers crossed for another bumper year in 2012.
Common Rock Rose is an important food plant for the caterpillars, and we have a lot here - especially in Woodpecker Down.