Aberration Day in Lincolnshire

[petesmith]

I have just been out for a walk around my local hot-spot in central Lincolnshire today. The weather conditions were far from favourable, with very few of the forecast sunny intervals actually materializing, and yet the butterflies were exceptional! I saw more White Admirals here today (50+ individuals) than I have since 1996, Silver-washed Fritillaries were out in excellent numbers, Ringlets were hyper-abundant, and White-letter and Purple Hairstreaks put in a good appearance.
However, the highlight of the day for me (and probably the highlight of the year) was finding a fresh female Purple Hairstreak ab.flavimaculatus.

F.quercus ab.flavimaculatus

What a stunner!

Then, just on the way back to my car, a rather aberrant Comma dropped down right beside me. I can't find a name for this ab. but it has very heavy black markings and some conjoined spots. Anyone any ideas?

[David M]

What an amazing aberration, Pete. I can't think of what to say to respond to that.

[Pauline]

Wow!!! That is stunning. What a find

[millerd]

That Hairstreak is a lovely butterfly, Pete. You're right - I would think it would be difficut to top that this year.

The Comma is pretty striking too...

Cheers,

Dave

[Pete Eeles]

Tending toward Brown Hairstreak! A stunning individual!

Cheers,

- Pete

[petesmith]

And the aberrations just keep coming!
This Silver-washed Fritillary was just one of at least three aberrant forms on the wing yesterday at Chambers Farm Wood.

Would anyone like to commit to a name? It seems to have elements of both confluens and ocellata.

[petesmith]

And yet another one, just down the road from me today. Ringlet ab.marpurgensis (View large for detail)

It must be the weather...(seriously!)

[petesmith]

Male Gatekeeper ab.bimaculata in the Lincolnshire Limewoods today.

[Adiroyle]

Further to Pete's aberrant purple hairstreak I found another in Little Scrubbs Meadow on 30.7.20. Not as good as Pete's but lovely to see nonetheless.

[bugboy]

Makes you wonder just how common that particular PH ab is given that even collectively we see a tiny proportion of the actual population, and of those (going on my own experience at least) most keep their wings closed.

[Adiroyle]

Possibly quite a lot up there in the tree tops just teasing us.

[Adiroyle]

Yet another CFW aberration, this time a Brown Hairstreak - ab.restricta-lineata. Found yesterday 24.8.20 by me, identified by Pete Smith last night.

[petesmith]

Great find Adrian! Gutted that I just missed out on this one...

[Adiroyle]

There'll be more!

[Rivoldini]

Nice ones. I got a valezina Silver Washed Fritillary in the garden at Chambers Farm last week.

[Adiroyle]

Excellent; been talked about a few times in passing but no luck yet there with one.