Small Tortoiseshell - Favourite Photo of 2011

[Vince Massimo]

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.

Vince

[ChrisC]

only got pictures of these 2 this year. on the left a windy day on martin down and i couldn't believe how well this one stood out amoungst the scabious, it really was obvious. and it was only putting these 2 side by side that it became obvious how well the one on the right was marked in comparison. 2nd one taken at southwater.

[millerd]

This is the one that shared the 2011 prize for First Butterfly of the Year with a Peacock and a Red Admiral. Taken locally on 23rd March - a date which is now only two months away!

Dave

[Nick Broomer]

This is the only photo i have of a Small Tortoiseshell, it was taken in the
meadow on the right, just before you enter Oaken Wood,on 20th June 2011.

20.6,2011 023_1.jpg

Nick.

[Wurzel]

This was my favourite Small Tortoiseshell photo of the year as it was quite an intimate moment and shows of the blue hair quite nicely. It was taken in my in-laws garden near Llanaeron during the first week of August and during a brief break from photographing endless Hedge Browns during my Gatekeeper obsession.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Goldie M]

I like this one best because it was taken in my Back garden 29th Sept when I was sat in my chair having a nice cool drink, thinking, " you can't beat this it's bliss" Goldie M

[marmari]

It is always a pleasure to see this butterfly on a warm sunny summer day or at any time really.
My pic was taken on the 10th June by the banks of an Isle of Wight stream on such a summers day while keeping a lookout for Beautiful Demoiselles.

[John W]

I've seen a few more Small Tortoiseshells in the past couple of years but still nothing like the amount I used to see.
Here are my two favourites from 2011, one upperside and one underside.

Steyning Rifle Range, 21/08/2011

High And Over, 23/04/2011

[Nick Broomer]

Do you have a time machine John, if so, can i borrow it.

Nick.

[walpolec]

I know it doesn't really count, but here's my first sighting of a Small Tortoishell in 2012. Spotted him/her in the shed on Sunday...



Chris

[John W]

Do you have a time machine John, if so, can i borrow it.

Whoops - thanks for spotting that Nick! I've edited my post.

[Susie]

Taken back in the summer this individual must have been getting on a bit or been through some bad weather because it was becoming quite translucent.

[MikeOxon]

Unusual and lovely images, Susie. I can see why they are favourites!
Mike

[MikeOxon]

While it was nice to get two together, some blades of grass got in the way and, by the time I manouevred to a better position, they had closed their wings.

Otmoor, Oxon - 24th March 2011
Nikon D300s with 70-300VR - 1/750s@f/5.6 ISO400

Mike

[Reddog]

These two Small Tortoiseshells were the first butterflies I saw last year.

[Vince Massimo]

Here is mine. I liked this one because of its striking colours and strong dark border around the edges of the wings.
Taken at my local reserve.

Small Tortoiseshell (Dark Border ab. ) Chaldon, Surrey 14-June-11

Vince

[Neil Freeman]

A couple from me, one from early in the year and one from late season. I did not see that many in 2011, but one or two did show up at most of the places that I visited.

This one was taken in April when I went to have a look around Sutton Park in Birmingham. I remember it as being a bright sunny day but with a strong wind. I found this individual basking in a sheltered spot out of the wind.

Small Tortoiseshell - Sutton Park.

At the end of August I went to Grafton Wood to look for Brown Hairstreaks. Unfortunatly the weather was too cool and gloomy for BH. Nevertheless there were a few other butterflies out and about including a couple of Small Tortoiseshells. The photo below was about the best that I managed.

Small Tortoiseshell - Grafton Wood

Cheers,

Neil F.