Hypochrysops apelles (Copper Jewel)

Notes

I looked for this species several times before I finally got pics in December 2008. It can be found along the Mangrove Boardwalk close to the Cairns airport, though I didn’t see it there in August 2007. I saw one in September 2008, but it was startled by the flash and I only captured a shot of a copper-coloured blur. I got shots of H. narcissus both times, but nothing useable of this species.
I also looked for it at Redland Bay, near Brisbane, but it wasn’t around at the time (got H. epicurus though).

In December 2008, however, there were a few of them along the Cairns boardwalk, and after getting a couple of OK-ish shots one day I finally got some good pics the following day. When it flies around, this would have to be one of the fastest butterflies I’ve ever seen.

My best shots of this species were taken at Holloway’s Beach, where a few of them were sitting on some shrubs just in from the beach. It was a windy afternoon and they were taking shelter on the leeward side of the vegetation.

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