Small Tortoiseshell - Favourite Photo of 2021

[Wurzel]

Small Tortoiseshell - Favourite Photo of 2021

Week 17

We’re still in the ‘Smalls’ . With the weeks ticking by faster and faster it won’t be long until we might be able to start getting some of our Favourite Shots of 2022 before too long! I can’t wait!

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 and stay safe

Wurzel

[Matsukaze]

A good summer for this species.

[Bertl]

Most small tortoiseshell appeared in my garden in august.

[Wolfson]

Despite taking plenty of acceptable photographs of Small Tortoiseshell in 2021, my favourite was a bit of luck. I was patiently waiting by a privet for a Dark Green Fritillary to visit when a Small Tortoiseshell landed and alerted me to a species I had not previously seen at this site.

[downland boy]

Wolfson....I notice you have a nice little Hairstreak bonus on the privet flower with your Small Tortoiseshell....can't quite decide whether Black or White-letter from the angle?

My favourite Small Tortoiseshell photograph was of this fresh specimen spread out on a bracken frond.


http://eastsussexwanderer.blogspot.co.uk

[Goldie M]

I saw Small Tort's from Spring through to July and September, they'd a good season in the North , first two shots were taken in my Garden in September ,third shot taken at Brockholes CP Preston its July Goldie

[Allan.W.]

For me the Small Tortoiseshell was the butterfly of 2021 ,having returned locally in some numbers ,i found lots of overwinterers early on and witnessed egg laying on two occasions ,and found one larval nest ,something i haven't seen for some time .
The courting pair was taken on my local patch walk in early April .....................the male was very pale .
the others were both from Orlestone forest ,where they were pretty numerous ...................compared to the last few years.
Allan.W.

[Neil Freeman]

For me the Small Tortoiseshell was the butterfly of 2021...

And for me too.

Another good year for Small Tortoiseshells around my part of the midlands. I saw lots locally when they came out of hibernation when it is always special to see them on spring blossom.

Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 02.04.2021

Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 29.03.2021

Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 13.04.2021

Numerous courtships were seen but as usual they all ended with the couples disappearing off out of sight.

Small Tortoiseshells - Wagon Lane 24.03.2021

Later in the summer, I saw lots more flying with plenty of variation seen between individuals as shown in the three below, all seen on the same day at my local spot by Wagon Lane.

Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 11.07.2021

Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 11.07.2021

Small Tortoiseshell - Wagon Lane 11.07.2021

By the beginning of August, most had disappeared into hibernation around here with their place being taken by Peacocks.

Cheers,

Neil.

[Wurzel]

Small Tortoiseshell

I was fortunate enough to find plenty of Small Torts again this year which meant that picking my favourite was quite a task albeit a pleasant one. Somehow I managed to whittle it down to two and then I could go no further.

The first came from the hedge from the grounds of my work back in June and so I’m guessing that it’s a second brood. I chose it as I remember spotting it among the nettles and it really stood apart from the others as the ground colour was much lighter and almost a uniform peach colour rather than the more usual bright, red-orange. The black markings were also much darker and bigger which contrasted even more with the paler ground colour than in the other Small Torts that were occupying the same bush.

The second came from Daneways a couple of days later and I chose it as on the day almost all of the butterflies seen were black and white or monochrome brown or blue. Yet this Small Tort that we encountered on the corner near the gate was so bright and vivid it almost seared our eyes when it popped into view. I also noticed that the blue was quite extensive with little fingers running out from the triangles on the fore wing and forming a blue final margin on the hind wind – cracking!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

This summer brood individual, taken at Port Eynon, Gower, on 27th August, was probably my favourite:

[Medard]

A welcome visitor to my Somerset home.
https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com

[David M]

Lovely image, Jim, and such a fresh specimen. The colours really stand out!

[PhilBJohnson]

I would like to give myself two points, for this photo.
1. For photographing the upper side and underside, in one image.
2. For showing how the butterfly, might easily camouflage on natural wood, including, when it's in the shade (shadow), that gave a clue as to how it might hibernate (evolved to camouflage, over long periods of time, when it did not overwinter in the United Kingdom, in any other life cycle stage).
3. A point, I would like to give to others, is for keeping their detracting points, private.

March 30th 2021, Lincolnshire