Gatekeeper Butterflies at RSPB Pulborough Brooks

Welcome to my wildlife photography journal! A visit to RSPB Pulborough Brooks on 25th July 2026 gave me the opportunity to spend some time photographing Gatekeeper butterflies. The summer grasslands were full of activity, making it another enjoyable visit to this excellent wildlife location.

The Gatekeepers were busy moving through the grassland, regularly flying between different areas and occasionally settling long enough to provide an opportunity for some photographs. These small butterflies can be quite active and are easily overlooked as they move through the vegetation, but when one pauses on a flower or grass stem, they make wonderful photographic subjects.

I particularly enjoy these quieter moments in wildlife photography. Rather than simply walking past, taking the time to watch the grassland closely can reveal all sorts of small details and encounters that might otherwise be missed. The Gatekeepers were a perfect example, with their activity adding another layer of interest to an already wildlife-rich visit.

It was another enjoyable session at RSPB Pulborough Brooks, with plenty of wildlife to keep me looking closely at what was happening around me. Sometimes it is the smaller encounters, such as photographing a butterfly moving through the summer grassland, that make a visit especially rewarding.

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.