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Marsh Fritillary - Favourite Photo of 2018

Week 10

So we’ve reached the half way point – time is flying by which is great because that means that we’re that much closer to being able to start collecting images for the 2019 Faves.

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

This one was taken on my annual pilgrimage from Brighton to Cotley Hill in Wiltshire:
Cotley Hill, May 28 2018, 2.55pm

It's well worth the trip as Cotley Hill is a great site with all the spring downland species on view, including Adonis Blue.

Cheers
John W

Though like John W I visited Cotley and saw many of these beauties there, what actually sticks more in the memory is seeing them in the Eastern Clearing at Bentley Wood for the first time in ten years of looking at this location. This happened on both of my trips to Bentley, so clearly more than a happy accident. (25th May and 2nd June). Dave

I'm very lucky to have this species on my doorstep. Here's one taken on Fairwood Common about a mile from my home on 2nd June:

A protected species in France. this one's from the Doubs.
https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com/p68 ... #hbb853741 butterflies of the Doubs and elsewhere in France.2018

If we're throwing them in from the continent, here's a beckeri from the Pyrenees in May:

Here's the remarkable scene from Chambers Farm Wood (Lincs) on 27th May, when the emergence probably numbered into the thousands!

CallumMac wrote:Here's the remarkable scene from Chambers Farm Wood (Lincs) on 27th May, when the emergence probably numbered into the thousands!

Fabulous, Callum! They (along with SPBFs) do seem to find ragged robin irresistible.

Marsh Fritillary

It was hard enough choosing the Favourites longlist for this species this year and so when it came to the final stages of whittling it down I gave in and plumped for two shots…

The first came from an excellent trip to The Hill where Philzoid and I bumped into both Dave Miller and Lee Hurrell and the day was spent in near perfect weather and perfect company. This shot was taken early in the visit at the ‘bowl’ and I chose it because not only does it serve to encapsulate the brilliance of the day but also because it fell really nicely into my ‘stained glass’ collection.
The second came from Bentley Wood which was a bit of a surprise as I’d just stopped in on the off chance for some blessed relief from Ikea and vaguely hopeful of a Small Pearl. So to find that and several Marshies along with a few Pearls and a totally out of place Greenstreak meant that I had to choose a shot from this visit. I went for this one as it’s the most different Marshie shot that I’ve taken and it reminds me of a strange looking deer; antennae for antlers, big white eyes on an orange face and a long nose; or is this a case of too much Christmas spirit?
Have a goodun

Wurzel

So many lovely photos here-above.

In the south of France, not far from Marseilles, on the border with the Var département, our local Marsh Fritillary is Euphydryas aurinia possibly provinicialis.
Here, at 650 metres altitude, their cats have two host plants which can be found immediately side by side, Cephalaria leucantha (White scabious) and Lonicera etrusca (Etruscan honeysuckle).
Here, E. a. provencialis cat on Scabious on 1st April: Here, E. a. provencialis cat on Etruscan honeysuckle on 1st April: This is the unglorious context but with both host plants side by side with re-emerging cats following hibernation, end March / start April: Chris