Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus)

Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus), originally uploaded by Pipsissiwa.

Not one of my best pics, but I was delighted to see this pretty blue butterfly in the garden for the first time.

Comma Butterfly (Polygonia c-album)

Comma Butterfly (Polygonia c-album), originally uploaded by Pipsissiwa.

A wonderful copper and dark brown coloured butterfly, with distinctive 'raggedy' wing margins. They love feeding on the copious numbers of ivy flowers growing on my fence. The name comes from the comma shaped pale mark on the underside of the wing.

Speckled Wood Butterfly (Pararge tircis)

Speckled Wood Butterfly (Pararge tircis), originally uploaded by Pipsissiwa.

These butterflies are an uncommon visitor to my garden but a very welcome one. Their simple brown-and-cream colouring is beautiful and understated.

Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui)

Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui), originally uploaded by Pipsissiwa.

A large butterfly (wingspan 55-60mm) with striking orange, black and white markings. The underside has equally striking, if less colourful, patterning. It is not resident in the UK due to the cold winter but new individuals arrive from southern Europe in the spring.