Butterflies: Skipper

^{Warning: Many photos. Not for the attention-span-challenged.}

There are at least four species of skippers (Hesperiidae), dikkopjes in Dutch, in The Netherlands. That is, I have seen four; they are probably many more. Worldwide there are over 3500 species in this family, so you may have seen one where you live.

The species are notoriously difficult to tell apart; some cannot currently be distinguished in the field even by experts. I have tried with the photos I have, but I may have made mistakes.

Generally, these are classified as "cute" by people who see them; that is a fine classification too.

First, a few photos of unidentified ones (I didn't try with these, but feel free to have a go):

^{Olympus Stylus 1s, 300mm, ISO200, f5.6, 1/80s}

^{Olympus Stylus 1s, 300mm, ISO200, f8, 1/125s}

^{Olympus Stylus 1s, 300mm, ISO200, f8, 1/125s}

^{Olympus Stylus 1s, 100mm, ISO160, f5.6, 1/200s}

^{Olympus Stylus 1s, 300mm, ISO100, f5.6, 1/640s}

^{Olympus Stylus 1s, 300mm, ISO200, f5.6, 1/125s}

^{Olympus Stylus 1s, 300mm, ISO125, f5.6, 1/500s}

Here are are few I did try to identify. The first one was easy because of its pattern; it is the chequered skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon), bont dikkopje in Dutch:

^{Olympus Stylus 1s, 135mm, ISO200, f5.6, 1/250s}

^{Olympus Stylus 1s, 42mm, ISO125, f8, 1/160s}

A small skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), geelsprietdikkopje in Dutch:

^{Olympus XZ-1, 112mm, ISO100, f8, 1/320s}

An Essex skipper (Thymelicus lineola), zwartsprietdikkopje in Dutch, known in North America as the European skipper, As Seen on Mint:

^{Olympus XZ-1, 112mm, ISO100, f5.6, 1/200s}

And, finally, the large skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus), groot dikkopje in Dutch:

^{Olympus XZ-1, 112mm, ISO200, f8, 1/80s}

^{Olympus XZ-1, 112mm, ISO200, f5.6, 1/125s}

^{Olympus Stylus 1s, 300mm, ISO125, f5.6, 1/500s}

Still here after 14 photos? Thanks for watching then!

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