Chequered Skipper - Favourite Photo of 2019

[Wurzel]

Chequered Skipper - Favourite Photo of 2019

Week 3

As the clocks have turned back and there are still several months until the Solstice the chances of seeing butterflies are declining quite rapidly – but cheer up as the Favourites thread is only just getting going!

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.
Here we got then!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[downland boy]

This is my favourite photograph of this species by virtue of the fact that it was my only encounter with the Chequered Skipper in 2019. I had timed our visit to coincide with the flight season of other species and I was fully expecting palaemon to be well past its best. Spotting this male was a very pleasant surprise. Downland boy.


http://eastsussexwanderer.blogspot.co.uk

[David M]

Nice one, DB.

Actually got to see this species myself in 2019, during a trip to the French Pyrenees. There were only two at a roadside site in the Aude departement:

[Matsukaze]

I saw this species for the first time this year, and managed to see it in two countries within an hour or two, on both the Swiss and the Italian sides of the Grand St Bernard pass. These ones were on the Italian side, and were not bothered by the vigorous antics of the Swallowtail.

[Rosalyn]

We did have a trip to Scotland with Nick and Jack. The weather on the first day was perfect but it went down hill from then on

Not so far from home one of the first in England for a long time

Great project and lucky it's nearby and we could help with the counts. Looks very promising for next year.

[CallumMac]

Another lifer - a single individual seen at Ariundle Wood on Ardnamurchan, on June 1st. The weather all trip was pretty miserable but there was just enough brightness in the air that morning for it to open its wings. What a stunner!

[David M]

A stunner indeed, Callum. Perfect backdrop as well.