Swallowtail - Favourite Photo of 2012

[Vince Massimo]

Here is the opportunity to post your favourite photo(s) of a particular species taken in 2012 (or the last time you saw one!).

This is part of a series of topics which will grow over 20 weeks throughout the winter until all 59 UK species have been covered. The intention is to showcase three species per week (in alphabetical order), so please wait until a topic has been opened by me for a particular species before posting photos. Our overseas friends are very welcome to fill in the obvious gaps relating to rare UK migrants.

Details of locations, dates, times and circumstances would be welcome and please feel free to contribute observations of behaviour, stories of personal encounters, anecdotes or other interesting points.

Vince

[Neil Freeman]

It is easy for me to pick my favourite Swallowtail photos of 2012, I only took 2 shots of the first one that I have ever seen.

I was in Norfolk last year for a family holiday in the last week of May, staying at a caravan site a couple of miles inland from Great Yarmouth. Given the weather last year, I thought that it would be a bit early for Swallowtails but had noticed that the first one had been recorded from Strumpshaw Fen so decided to try a visit. As it turned out we saw at least 4 individuals but they were very flighty and only 1 of them settled briefly giving me the chance of the shots below.
We also saw a single individual at How Hill a few days later, again busy flying and not settling.

Swallowtail - Strumpshaw Fen 28.05.2012

Swallowtail - Strumpshaw Fen 28.05.2012

Neil.

[nomad]

Here are some images of Swallowtails in their natural habitat that I took around Hickling Broad in early June, 2012. Peter.

female resting.

Feeding at Ragged Robin

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Male basking

Visiting Hogweed for nectar

[EricY]

Found in april 2012 @ 4,300ft high on the Harder Kulm above Interlaken Switzerland. The Continental version & in such a different habitat to the UK version from Norfolk broads. Eric

Continental Swallowtail, 4,300ft up on Harder Kulm Switzerland April 2012