Butterflies feeding on thistle

Meadow brown butterfly on thistle

On one sunny day last month, a thistle patch on Barley Field was attracting a variety of butterflies. A meadow brown.

Tortoiseshell butterfly on thistle

A tortoiseshell

Peacock butterfly on thistle

Peacock

Tortoiseshell butterfly on thistle

Tortoiseshell showing its underwings

Gatekeeper butterfly on thistle

Gatekeeper

Tortoiseshell butterfly on thistle

Another tortoiseshell

Small white butterfly on thistle

A small white

Meadow brown butterfly on thistle

Sideways view of the meadow brown

Small white butterfly on thistle

An older small white.