Speckled Wood - Favourite Photo of 2022

Wurzel · Post by **Wurzel** » Sun Feb 12, 2023 5:42 pm

Speckled Wood - 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

Bertl · Post by **Bertl** » Sun Feb 12, 2023 9:21 pm

Seen this species early season on 15th May at cambus o may on deeside. Best photos attached.

bugboy · Post by **bugboy** » Sun Feb 12, 2023 10:47 pm

Two males enjoying a short truce

Wolfson · Post by **Wolfson** » Mon Feb 13, 2023 8:20 am

My favourite was from an early October stay on St Mary’s, IOS. Speckled Wood are a bit different here and have an interesting history. They were easily the most numerous of the five butterfly species on the wing in contrast to the relative abundance of species on the mainland, I guess 20+ miles of Atlantic makes a difference.

Goldie M · Post by **Goldie M** » Mon Feb 13, 2023 5:12 pm

I took this photo on the 9th of April in my Daughter's garden, the weather was sunny and a really nice Spring day

My next shot was taken in Tankerton Park ( Castle Park ) on the 13th of April in a sheltered spot a way from the wind

Goldie

Post by **Vince Massimo** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 11:54 am

Every year at the start of the 3rd week of March, I go to a sunny spot in my local woods and that is when I usually get my first Speckled Wood of the season.

: Speckled Wood - Crawley, Sussex 22-March-2022

Vince

Allan.W. · Post by **Allan.W.** » Wed Feb 15, 2023 9:23 pm

Two from me ,both from my local circular walk in mid-Kent. Allan.W.

downland boy · Post by **downland boy** » Sat Feb 18, 2023 10:29 am

I think this is my favourite Speckled Wood photograph of 2022. I could see that it was a fresh male but on a hot sunny day, it seemed to take ages to settle long enough for a picture.

http://eastsussexwanderer.blogspot.co.uk

Neil Freeman · Post by **Neil Freeman** » Sun Feb 19, 2023 8:54 am

Speckled Wood seemed to have a pretty average year around my way, nearly always appearing from April onwards but a species that did not like the hot dry weather we had in the summer. This seemed to effect the numbers towards the end of the season and I did not see the high numbers in August and into September that we sometimes get here.

: Speckled Wood male - Coverdale 23.04.2022

: Speckled Wood female - Coverdale 29.04.2022

: Speckled Wood male - Coverdale 06.05.2022

: Speckled Wood male - Coverdale 07.05.2022

: Speckled Wood female - Coverdale 08.05.2022

: Speckled Wood female - Castle Hills 28.05.2022

: Speckled Wood male - Langley Hall 19.08.2022

: Speckled Wood female - Langley Hall 19.08.2022

This is a species that shows variation in all broods and I don't see many actual aberrations. This year the only one that I saw was this pathelogical ab. probably caused by temperature fluctuations in the pupa.

: Speckled Wood male - Langley Hall 19.08.2022

Cheers,

Neil.

Phil Bowler · Post by **Phil Bowler** » Sun Feb 19, 2023 3:34 pm

I rather like this photo of a male Speckled Wood in our butterfly garden, perched in a beech hedge above the path, ready to lurch at any potential females passing by.

Wurzel · Post by **Wurzel** » Sun Feb 19, 2023 7:26 pm

Speckled Wood

I thought that I’d already chosen my Favourite Specklie back in April and so it turned out. Despite various others vying for my attention I kept coming back to this particular shot. There was something about the way that it was clinging to the bark of the tree at about head height that reminded me of various Graylings in Portugal. Plus the underside was immaculate and so subtly beautiful compared to the flashy topside.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

David M · Post by **David M** » Sun Feb 19, 2023 8:53 pm

Neil Freeman wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 8:54 am...Speckled Wood seemed to have a pretty average year around my way, nearly always appearing from April onwards but a species that did not like the hot dry weather we had in the summer...

Excellent selection of individuals, Neil.

That last one is especially odd, and as you say, has probably suffered from temperature fluctuations whilst pupating.

David M · Post by **David M** » Sun Feb 19, 2023 8:58 pm

Actually managed to get a decent underside in 2022, when this one dropped to the floor in a sudden cool spell on 3rd April at Cwm Ivy:

This fresh male at the back end of July was my favourite upperside:

...and this mating pair on 2nd October had to be included just for rarity value:

millerd · Post by **millerd** » Mon Feb 20, 2023 7:44 pm

The initial spring brood are always the favourites for me, with brighter colours and bigger spots. My first good shot of a Speckled Wood in 2022 was on my local patch back on 26th March - a splendid underside in late afternoon sunlight.