Grizzled Skipper - Favourite Photo of 2011

[MikeOxon]

This photo of a pair of Grizzled Skippers was one of a number of pairs, which I photographed on the Downs above Aston Upthorpe, Oxon, on 25th April 2011 - a beautiful Spring day.

Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon - April 2011
Nikon D300s with 70-300VR lens - 1/350s@f/9.5 ISO400

A favourite because it was early promise of a good year!

Mike

[marmari]

This pic taken in mid April is one of my favourites because I nearly managed to get the underside in focus.
A handsome skipper like the Dingy which shares the same habitat here.

[Vince Massimo]

This thread is now open again

I am now overseeing the "Favourite Photo of 2011" topic, at least for the time being. Apologies for the slight loss of continuity this week.

This is a thread in which to post your favourite photo(s), of a particular species, taken in 2011.......................or the last time you saw one!

This is part of a series, which will hopefully grow throughout the winter until all 58 British species have been covered. Three new threads will be introduced per week. Our overseas friends are welcome to fill in the obvious gaps relating to our rare migrants, but please try to observe the alphabetical listing

Details of places, dates, times and circumstances would be appreciated and please feel free to contribute observations of behaviour, personal encounters, anecdotes and other interesting points.

Here is my favourite Grizzled Skipper image, taken at my local site on 20th April.

Male Grizzled Skipper - Chaldon, Surrey 20-April-11

Five or six years ago, I was travelling for miles all over the south-east looking for these, only to find them in my local reserve in 2008, just 2 miles from where I presently live

Vince

[dilettante]

Another delight for me. The first Grizzled Skipper I'd seen for a long time (not that I'd looked), found with some help from a local enthusiast at Over Cutting, Cambs, alongside the yet-to-be-opened (at that time) guided busway.


Over Cutting, Cambs. 30-Apr-11. Sony A700, Tamron 180/3.5, 1/640s f/7.1 iso200

[Wurzel]

Last year was my first proper year butterflying and I found my first Grizzled Skipper at Martin Down - and i fell in love with them. This year I saw them all over the place - Hod Hill, both ends of Martin Down and even Bentley Wood - I never believed they were, I though people were writing them down in the report book to wind me up!
My favourite this year came from Martin Down and was taken along the main path from the Sillen Lane end car park - which is a really good spot for them as they seem to like the "verges" on either side of the track when they're not basking in the middle of it. It's my favourite as I had to work really hard to get it - first with the chase, watching them whirl around gave me a headache. And then I ended up laid flat on the chalk with flints in places that flints shouldn't be once it decided to play ball and pose for me. This one seem to have a little yellow make up I also like it as the upper white markings on the hind wing remind me of side-on white lions with a dark mane...perhaps trying to watch them whirl all over the place had a permanent effect

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

This species is a bugger to photograph - tricky even to track in flight. I found them a bit easier when they were just basking rather than nectaring. Either way, they're attractive & intriguing little creatures.

[millerd]

Another species that often pops up when I'm concentrating on something else. I have seen them this year at Denbies, Hod Hill, Martin Down, Totternhoe, Bison Hill, Botany Bay, Rewell Wood... However, my favourite was one from Ryton Meadows near Coventry on a windy May 14th.

Dave

[Neil Freeman]

I took a few photos of Grizzled skippers at Ryton Meadows on a couple of occaisons back in May but most of them were of the butterfly low down in the grass which did not make for a good photo.

My favourite is this one taken at the Warwickshire BC open day at Ryton.

Grizzled Skipper - Ryton Meadows.

Cheers,

Neil F.

[daveh]

This is my best Grizzled Skipper photo to date. Taken at Aston Upthorpe, Oxon on 24th April.

[Reverdin]

My only one from this year...