As this was my first summer in Europe since 2012, I did quite a bit of Belgian butterflying, seeing five new species as a result. I thus decided to dedicate this year's online advent calendar to Belgian butterflies, with the aim of providing a mini photographic identification guide to some of Belgium's commonest and prettiest species. To start with, here is nice, late-summer image of a Map Butterfly and Gatekeeper feeding on thistles.