Influx of migrant visitors

After taking a bit of time to find my first Painted Lady, all of a sudden it's one of the few I can find with regularity. I was really pleased to find over 10 during a hunt the other day. Some were better presented than others, with the tattier ones likely having mated already or were making last ditch attempts to procreate.

A battered PL at rest in the evening sun.

A clearly visible Proboscis on this PL resting. Sometimes it's quite amazing how much wing can be missing and still facilitate flight.

The Painted Lady is a long-distance migrant, which causes the most spectacular butterfly migrations observed in Britain and Ireland.

Each year, it spreads northwards from the desert fringes of North Africa, the Middle East, and central Asia, recolonising mainland Europe and reaching Britain and Ireland. In some years it is an abundant butterfly, frequenting gardens and other flowery places in late summer.

Butterfly Conservation, accessed 11 June 2015.

Another species where the underwing is as pleasing as the upper.