The adorable umber skipper

How I love the Umber Skippers Poanes melane!

I look forward to their arrival every spring.

They flit and flutter around the garden all day, and are very willing to sit and pose for me when I take their photo.

Sometimes they seem to like to land right in front of me, on blossoms, leaves, bamboo arches, and in this case, on the head of a Poppy of Troy whose petals were blown away in the wind a few days ago.

Doesn't the skipper look like it is straight out of a fairy tale story?