Lee Mount and Hunter Hill

I thought once over that Large Skippers had finished for the year until this one turned up in the garden, firstly on Phlox then on the blue Lobelia this afternoon. Not always so obliging to stay still for a photo and showing the paler wing panels that help to distinguish this species from the Small Skipper!

Large Skipper

Also nearby were 2 Holly Blue's on Hebe and a Purple Hairstreak around the tops of the Oak tree.

Below, a Gatekeeper from the end of July that ended up resting on New Zealand Flax. It often helps with identification of some species to confirm from upper-wing and the under-wing.

Gatekeeper

Hunter Hill earlier today. A good mix of butterflies in that area including a small colony of Small Heaths (no photos, they wouldn't keep still for long enough) - preferring an area of  short turf and bare earth with a few dried out cow-pats !