Small or Essex skipper?

[Terence_Baker]

Would anyone be kind enough to identify this butterfly? I veyr much appreciate your help. My first reaction was Essex skipper, but I sort of see some yellowish-brown shading on the antennae, and I do not know enough about its other identifying marks to make the final say.
I saw it at Snape Warren RSPB Reserve in Suffolk, and it was on flowering bramble.
Regards, Terry

[Psyche]

Female Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola.

The antennal colour is very unreliable from above being very variable in both species.
The males can of course be ID'ed by the brand on the forewings.

The females of the two are extremely similar & often confused in images on the web.

Female Essex Skipper T. lineola ;Forewing with a diffuse shading in the outer marginal area extending to the apex; veins slightly darker than female Small Skipper.
http://www.butterfly-guide.co.uk/species/skippers/uk7.htm
http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Thymelicus_Lineola
http://www.lepiforum.de/lepidopterenforum/lepiwiki/pics/heidrun_melzer/lineola_thymelicus_2007_w.jpg

Female Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris. Forewing outer marginal area only narrowly dark-shaded & veins less darkened.
http://www.butterfly-guide.co.uk/species/skippers/ukm2.htm
http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Thymelicus_Sylvestris
http://www.lepiforum.de/lepidopterenforum/lepiwiki/pics/jens_philipp/sylvestris_thymelicus_2007_06_20_D_SX_Sueptitz_w_O S.jpg
http://www.schmetterling-raupe.de/bild3/bild3457.jpg

TL Seow: Cheers.

[Terence_Baker]

Thank you, Psyche, for your kindness. This is exciting, my first Essex skipper, to add to my first Swallowtail seen at Scrumpshaw Fen in June. Regards.