Small Copper - Favourite Photo 2019
Small Copper - Favourite Photo 2019
Small Copper - Favourite Photo 2019
Week 16
In the words of Red Leader, Garven Dreis: “Almost there…almost there” .
Please could I ask that everyone waits until a topic has been opened by me for a particular species before posting photos as then it will be easier to keep track of things? Of course our overseas members are very welcome to fill in the obvious gaps relating to rare UK migrants. As in previous years details of locations, dates, times and circumstances would be welcome as would any accompanying stories and anecdotes or other observations of behaviour and interesting other points.
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Week 16
In the words of Red Leader, Garven Dreis: “Almost there…almost there” .
Please could I ask that everyone waits until a topic has been opened by me for a particular species before posting photos as then it will be easier to keep track of things? Of course our overseas members are very welcome to fill in the obvious gaps relating to rare UK migrants. As in previous years details of locations, dates, times and circumstances would be welcome as would any accompanying stories and anecdotes or other observations of behaviour and interesting other points.
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Small Copper - Favourite Photo 2019
Not the best year for these guys in 2019. Normally a slow burner through the season and peaking late summer but they didn't seem to peak at all last year, simply pottering along in low numbers all season. Anyway I found this mating pair at Bookham which I like for the difference in condition with the well aged male and the pristine female.
Some addictions are good for the soul!
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- Posts: 234
- Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2013 9:05 am
- Location: East Sussex
Re: Small Copper - Favourite Photo 2019
I have three favourite photographs of the Small Copper from 2019.
In date order, the first is of a mating pair, an occurrence that I don't often come across in this species.
The second is of a nectaring female. Only when I downloaded the photograph at home did I notice a Crab Spider lying in wait on the adjacent flower head. If she had landed on that flower, I would have been presented with a very different image.
The third is a female, aberration extensa.
http://eastsussexwanderer.blogspot.co.uk
In date order, the first is of a mating pair, an occurrence that I don't often come across in this species.
The second is of a nectaring female. Only when I downloaded the photograph at home did I notice a Crab Spider lying in wait on the adjacent flower head. If she had landed on that flower, I would have been presented with a very different image.
The third is a female, aberration extensa.
http://eastsussexwanderer.blogspot.co.uk
Re: Small Copper - Favourite Photo 2019
Although I regularly see Small Copper in my garden, I have never encountered a pair mating. That is why I chose this photograph, taken on 18 September. Looking good for 2020.
Re: Small Copper - Favourite Photo 2019
I only saw two Small Copper's last year, one at Beachy Head on the 5th of June and the other on the 16th July at Dover, luckily they were both Blue Badges so I've posted both Goldie
- Chris Jackson
- Posts: 1929
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2013 6:35 am
- Location: Marseilles, France
Re: Small Copper - Favourite Photo 2019
Nice shots above. Particularly from Wolfson, highly artistic - well done that man!!
I only have a token shot from last year, from 11th of August: Chris
I only have a token shot from last year, from 11th of August: Chris
- Neil Freeman
- Posts: 4496
- Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:25 pm
- Location: Solihull, West Midlands
Re: Small Copper - Favourite Photo 2019
I saw more first brood Small Coppers around my local patch in 2019 than I have for some years with examples seen at most of my usual sites.
Later in the year they turned up nearly everywhere I went, including Cornwall in early August,
and Dorset in early September when I saw this nicely marked male at Durdle Door,
and this lovely pale female the day after on Bindon Hill,
Cheers,
Neil.
Later in the year they turned up nearly everywhere I went, including Cornwall in early August,
and Dorset in early September when I saw this nicely marked male at Durdle Door,
and this lovely pale female the day after on Bindon Hill,
Cheers,
Neil.
Re: Small Copper - Favourite Photo 2019
Pleased to say this species did okay round my way in 2019.
Normally, Small Coppers pose with wings part-open (first image) but if conditions are right they'll bask with them fully extended (second image), such as this one seen at Crymlyn Burrows in Swansea on 12th May:
Normally, Small Coppers pose with wings part-open (first image) but if conditions are right they'll bask with them fully extended (second image), such as this one seen at Crymlyn Burrows in Swansea on 12th May:
Re: Small Copper - Favourite Photo 2019
Small Copper
This was taken on one of my later trips. I wasn’t expecting to see much but ran into a plethora of Coppers, enough in fact to make even an innocent man feel nervous! In amid them one really stood out as it had the biggest blue badges that personally I’ve ever seen – they were huge which led me to believe that this wasn’t an ordinary Copper, this was a DCI I reckon.
Have a goodun
Wurzel
This was taken on one of my later trips. I wasn’t expecting to see much but ran into a plethora of Coppers, enough in fact to make even an innocent man feel nervous! In amid them one really stood out as it had the biggest blue badges that personally I’ve ever seen – they were huge which led me to believe that this wasn’t an ordinary Copper, this was a DCI I reckon.
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Small Copper - Favourite Photo 2019
The small population on my local patch had a pretty good year in 2019 with individuals from all three broods seen, spanning the months from April to October. Here is the first one of the year on 29th April...
...and another beautiful new one a few days later. The summer brood appear to respond to the heat and look much duskier. They also tend to sport noticeable tails. Finally, a nice third brood example from 18th September, looking more like the first brood.
DaveRe: Small Copper - Favourite Photo 2019
A garden Small Copper (from 2018).
Re: Small Copper - Favourite Photo 2019
Very nice, Chris. This is one common species that I've never seen in my garden, irrespective of where I've been living.
Re: Small Copper - Favourite Photo 2019
I get a few here some years and none in others. Although I've planted out plenty of the foodplant, I don't think they are breeding here. Maybe I should plant up a couple of those pots in the background with sorrel over a gravel layer and see if that tempts them.
- dilettante
- Posts: 564
- Joined: Sun May 01, 2011 11:03 am
- Location: Cambridge area
Re: Small Copper - Favourite Photo 2019
Lovely shots millerd
I see so few Small Coppers in this part of the world (Cambs) so it was real delight to find this one with some others in Spring (20-Apr) when I was out looking for grizzlies
I see so few Small Coppers in this part of the world (Cambs) so it was real delight to find this one with some others in Spring (20-Apr) when I was out looking for grizzlies
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dilettante's butterfly photos at pbase.com
dilettante's butterfly photos at pbase.com
Re: Small Copper - Favourite Photo 2019
A few Kentish Small Coppers ,2 from Orlestone forest and the AB;Remota from an early morning spring visit at the ever reliable
Dungeness ,far fewer "blue spots " (for me !) than usual ,but the coppers still in high numbers . The third brood this year was a lot smaller than
previous years and I think my last Copper of the year (19) was around mid October compared to November 5th last season (18) ,I did find a female Radiata in the first brood on the RSPB RESERVE (Dungeness ) but was unable to keep tracks on it ,as I tried to explain to a couple of interested birders
what I was looking at ………………….it never hung around to have its picture taken !
Allan.W.
Dungeness ,far fewer "blue spots " (for me !) than usual ,but the coppers still in high numbers . The third brood this year was a lot smaller than
previous years and I think my last Copper of the year (19) was around mid October compared to November 5th last season (18) ,I did find a female Radiata in the first brood on the RSPB RESERVE (Dungeness ) but was unable to keep tracks on it ,as I tried to explain to a couple of interested birders
what I was looking at ………………….it never hung around to have its picture taken !
Allan.W.
Re: Small Copper - Favourite Photo 2019
Lovely trio that, Allan, especially that second one which is most unusual.