The Chequered Skipper was once common in the west midland woodlands of the Rockingham Forest area of Northamptonshire and woods in the neighboring counties, but this butterfly died out from England during the 1960's and 1970's. It is however still fairly common in the open woodlands of Western Scotland around the Fort William area, which is where I took this photograph.

Sitting on a Knapweed flower head, this Dingy Skipper is well camouflaged. A widespread but seldom plentiful butterfly.

Regrettably the Grizzled Skipper seems to be declining in Britain. In Bedfordshire we lost our strongest colony a few years ago due to it's habitat becoming flooded for several weeks during the winter.

Paired Small Skippers, a widespread and usually common butterfly.

The Essex Skipper looks similar to the Small Skipper, but can be distinguished by the black tips to the antenna.

Being mostly restricted to Dorset, a journey to that county is needed to see the Lulworth Skipper, which can be common in it's most favoured locations.

A female Large Skipper, a common butterfly in many areas.

A Sliver-spotted Skipper feeding on a Scabious flower. This butterfly is restricted to well grazed chalk downs. This one was photographed on Aston Rowant NNR, Oxfordshire.