One thing I have noticed over the last few weeks in the UK is how many butterflies are around. A walk around farmland and nature reserves seems to reveal a plentiful supply of butterflies of a variety of species. A few years ago the EU changed agricultural subsidies so that they would only paid if some simple conservation measures were taken. These measures include not trimming hedgerows in the bird breeding season, leaving unsown strips around field boundaries and planting seed and nectar mixes for birds and insects. I have heard that the measures for birds are having some success but it is quite obvious that butterflies are benefitting considerably and I am now seeing more butterflies in the British countryside than I have for very many years.

Today I got this shot of a Comma and the photos that follow have all been taken in the last couple of weeks.