Swallowtail - Favourite Photo of 2022

[Wurzel]

Swallowtail - Favourite Photo of 2022

Week 18

And so the end is near and winter faces its final curtain…let’s just hope that it doesn’t come back for an encore! AS the grand finale is now only two weeks away it’s time to check back and make sure that you’re happy with your choice for the Overall Favourite (Butterfly) Photo of 2022.

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

[millerd]

An overnight stay at a Norwich hotel gave me two days at Strumpshaw with this species. As well as a few photos of a fresh individual, I was also able to find and get some closeup shots of both eggs and newly-hatched caterpillars. The adult butterfly would only settle and fully open up when the sun went in, so these shots turned out darker than I'd have liked.

I was very pleased with the egg+cat shots in particular.
Dave

[Pete Eeles]

So you should be, Dave! Excellent photos!

Cheers,

- Pete

[bugboy]

My favourite shot last year was this find. After a couple of summer visits I finally managed to track down a fully grown caterpillar, something that's been on my want list for quite some time, it didn't disappoint, a wonderful beast in the flesh and well worth all the time spent tracking him down!

[Wolfson]

Always difficult to chose a favourite photograph of this spectacularly exotic species. I made an early start and the day was relatively calm. There was plenty of Swallowtail action.

[David M]

Saw plenty of gorganus over the spring/summer. This one is from northern Spain on 1st May: