Two skippers taken recently in Dorset, before the rains came. Then, as the rain has poured over the garden, so I have pored over my ‘Dummy’s Guide to Lepidoptera’ to work out what type of skipper this is. Or should I say, ‘these are’, because although the photos are not particularly good, these two creatures look different to me. But that could just be the angle of the “sun”, whatever that was. Any hints from those kind enough to glance at this woefully under-curated ‘side-project’ blog would be welcome!
STOP PRESS Mike Kelly has been kind enough to leave this comment about these two skipper species: the first one “…COULD be Essex Skipper, the antenna tips are not clear enough to be certain. The 3 below are Small Skipper”.
The same type of skipper? Or another, maybe? [PS A Small Skipper – see above]
ROLLING HARBOUR GALLERY 
Can’t help with the ID but enjoyed the pictures .
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The most common skipper I see around here is ochlodes venatus. I’m not sure if it is the same or not as I’m not into butterflies apart from the appreciation of the passing one in the garden! Amelia
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Thanks Amelia. I find them all – except for the most obvious – confusing. I suspect they were both ‘small skippers’, which is quite a dull outcome. I’d like them to sound more exotic! RH
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