Skippers (Hesperiidae)
Probably the most overlooked family of butterflies. They can easily be mistaken for moths, in looks and behaviour. When I saw my first large skipper I thought it was a moth. They're small and you can only really appreciate their beauty close-up. Large and Small are fairly widespread, but the others are only found at a small number of locations. They are species of grassland.
Large Skipper
Chequered Skipper
The rarest of all skippers. Until recently reintroduced into Rockingham Forest, where these were seen, they could only be found in a relatively small area near Fort William. Well worth going to see though. Their markings are exquisite.
Dingy Skipper
At first sight they do seem true to their name, but on closer inspection they are subtly attractive. Easy to miss, being dull brown and grey. Although very widespread, they are certainly not common. They live in local colonies.
All taken at Ivinghoe Beacon, Bucks in early May.
Essex Skipper
Very much like the Small Skipper. You have to see those jet black tips on the front of the antennae to be sure you've got an Essex. The Small has orange front tips.
1. Trench Wood, Worcs. 2&3 East Leake Quarry, Notts
Grizzled Skipper
Often found in the same locations as the Dingy. Both are early butterflies but the Grizzled is perhaps the earliest of all those that don't over winter.
Ivinghoe Beacon, Bucks. Early May
Large Skipper
Although it took me many years to see my first skipper, a Large, the Large and Small are actually pretty common and widespread. Like all butterflies, a freshly emerged example is very attractive. As with any wildlife, once you've got your eye in you realise that they are a lot easier to see than you thought. Males have the distinctive dark, diagonal lines on the forewings.
Female
Lulworth Skipper
To see this little butterfly in the UK will require a trip down to the south coast of Purbeck, Dorset. However when you get within their territory there is no shortage of them. I was amazed how numerous they were at Durlston, along the coastline. I was also surprised at how small they are. One of our duller species and easily overlooked, unless you want to see them. Unusual for most butterflies, the females are the more striking and easiest to identify. As the top 2 pictures show, they have a pale crescent on their upper wings.
Silver-spotted Skipper
Don''t bother looking for Silver-spotted unless it's a warm, sunny day. The Cilterns in Oxfordshire is about as far north as they inhabit, where I photographed these beauties. 2019 was third year lucky for me. This is one of the very latest of our butterflies, not emerging until late July. It's nice that all species don't appear at once.
Female
Aston Rowant Nature Reserve in the Chilterns - Early Aug
Small Skipper
Fairly widespread but not quite as common as the Large. They are slightly smaller, but unless you see the two together that's not obvious. Their wings are more uniformly and slightly brighter orange. They are also later appearing than Large, peeking in July.
