The Gatekeeper is (yet) another butterfly species that I have photographed this year for the first time in our garden in Dorset. There are several possible reasons for this: I haven’t bothered to notice them before; I have noticed them, but confused them with the similar meadow browns I do recognise; I have become more observant and butterfly-aware since we restored the garden and planted a lot of bee / butterfly / moth attractant plants; the species is in fact new to the garden, perhaps for the previous reason. Anyway, whichever is right, they suddenly arrived in the garden / I finally recognised this ‘new’ species in early August. Here are some.
THE FIRST GATEKEEPER I NOTICED THIS YEAR 
SUBSEQUENT SIGHTINGS 
ROLLING HARBOUR GALLERY 
You have certainly got a good variety of flowers there to tempt them in. Amelia
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Well spotted! Mostly newly planted, but nothing specially exotic. As you have found, there’s nothing like restoring a garden to bring about good changes…
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