Six-spot Burnet
 
A afternoon out in Northamptonshire resulted in me not seeing the butterfly species that I was targeting.  I decided to stop at Tywell Dale Country Park just off the A14 on my way home and see what butterflies where showing.  I expected (and indeed saw plenty of Marbled Whites, Ringlets, Skippers, et.)  But I was also very pleased to see large numbers of Burnet moths.  Indeed they were very plentiful and reasonably easy to photograph in as much as they did not fly away quickly, but the flowers that they were resting on were blowing well in the wind resulting in good but not great pictures.

The number of these moths seen on one visit in July 2008 was easily into the thousands......
 

 
there are several species of Burnet moth such as
"five spot Burnet" "Scotch Burnet", New Forest Burnet, etc.

But the Six-spot Burnet is the most common Burnet moth in Britain.

 

I have seen Six-spot Burnet at many sites
including Durlston Country Park at Swanage in Dorset where the picture right shows one emerging from it's chrysalis was taken

 

 

 
 
 

All Photos Copyright Nigel Spencer