Common blue or a brown?

[Verinda]

I spotted this tiny blue butterfly today, I thought it was a common blue but when I looked it up it seems to be called a brown? It is much smaller than the usual common blues I see, could it be a brown? Odd name. Sorry it's not very clear I couldn't get close to him.

[Gillykat]

Without seeing a larger pic I would go with female Common Blue How does it compare with the photos below? I'm always surprised every single year when I see Blues in Northumberland ~ generally on coastal sites ~ as I forget just how small they are!

UK Butterflies - Common Blue - Polyommatus icarus

[Verinda]

Yes it probably is a common blue but when it's wings were folded it looked exactly like this, below, and I see it's called a brown argus not a brown! Oh well, just my mad desire to see a rare butterfly haha!

ButterflyID-Brown

[Verinda]

Oh on further investigation I see it is absent from Ireland. Ah well, it's always great to see a common blue. Sorry everyone I really have to do more research before posting...but at least we know now that there are no brown argus butterflies in Ireland!

[PyreneesPlot]

Much more interesting than the male common blue who is just loud and blue!!

[Verinda]

I spotted another one today and yes the ladies are like little works of art

[Gillykat]

Oh on further investigation I see it is absent from Ireland. Ah well, it's always great to see a common blue. Sorry everyone I really have to do more research before posting...but at least we know now that there are no brown argus butterflies in Ireland!

Don't worry - I still always get all excited when I see a female flit by and catch that glimpse of brown....and automatically start thinking it's something rare