Common Blue in Flight at RSPB Pulborough Brooks

Welcome to my wildlife photography journal! On 25th July 2026, I spent some time at RSPB Pulborough Brooks photographing Common Blue butterflies in flight. It was another enjoyable session at this fantastic West Sussex nature reserve, with the summer landscape providing plenty of opportunities to look for butterflies and other wildlife.

Capturing butterflies in flight is always a challenge. Common Blues are small, fast-moving subjects, constantly changing direction as they move between plants and flowers. Following one through the viewfinder and keeping it in focus requires plenty of patience, quick reactions, and a fair amount of luck. However, when everything comes together, photographing butterflies on the wing can produce some really interesting images.

Although the Common Blue may be a small butterfly, it becomes a surprisingly challenging subject once it takes to the air. Rather than simply photographing it at rest, trying to capture the butterfly during flight adds another dimension to the session and makes every successful image feel that little bit more rewarding.

RSPB Pulborough Brooks continues to provide plenty of opportunities to practise and improve this type of wildlife photography. Sessions like this are as much about enjoying the challenge as they are about getting the perfect photograph, and photographing these delicate little butterflies on the wing made for another enjoyable visit.

Thanks for reading! Be sure to explore my other wildlife adventures and photography from RSPB Pulborough Brooks and beyond. Every visit brings something new, and I look forward to sharing more moments from the field soon.