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Dark Green Fritillary - Favourite Photo of 2019

Week 4

We seem to be flying through the weeks! It feels like only yesterday that I was launching the Favourites Thread – which is great, not because I condone wishing your life away, but because it means the 2020 season will kick off all the sooner!

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

As usual, my best sightings were at Box Hill at the start of July, though I had also had a good day with this species at Aston Rowant (N) a couple of days earlier. Following this one to where it settled, I noticed it had done what the species commonly does and landed close to another one.This happened at Box Hill as well.There was also a freshly emerged female, but she was shivering to warm up down in the grass, and one wing was constantly in motion.However, there were no such problems with this lovely male, basking at the end of the afternoon prior to roosting for the night. Dave

My picture is from the masses at Chapel Bank in the Fritillary clearing, 123 were seen in 2019 on the site transect.

On 14th July, I found this lovely female pottering around the dunes at Whiteford Burrows on the Gower:

30th June, had a brief evening visit to Arnside Knot. Such a lovely site, I always visit if I'm in the area

From Kitchen Field, Ranscombe Reserve, Cuxton (North Kent), 25th June...

I had a very memorable encounter with an amenable female on Box Hill this year. The males were typically impossible to pin down on the sunniest days but I had a bit of fun catching them in mid air as they patrolled past

I visited Fairmile Bottom in Sussex on 24th June - a grey, drizzly day, and most unpromising for butterflies; my main target was Frog Orchid. However, the conditions meant that the DGFs were a bit slower than usual and, just once or twice, actually halted for photos!

Snap ! "Callumac" I also visited Fairmile Bottom (three times) in June ,also for Frog Orchid ,and my only Dark Green Frit picture
was taken there …………………..An excellent site ! Regards Allan.W.

Snap ! "Callumac" I also visited Fairmile Bottom (three times) in June ,also for Frog Orchid ,and my only Dark Green Frit picture
was taken there …………………..An excellent site ! Regards Allan.W.

Dark Green Fritillary

I don’t know why but I had it in mind that by the time I’d be looking for my first Chalkhill the DGFs would be pale shadows of their former selves. Utter nonsense of course as some can look good right into August but I was still slightly surprised and therefore pleased when this delightful DGF appeared on my walk up to the foot of the down at Martin Down. She was a lovely sultry looking DGF which is why she was my choice for my Favourite.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Having missed this species (along with most other fritillaries apart from SWF) in 2018, I was keen to catch up with them this year.
My favourite photos were mostly taken when we spent a few days in the Heddon Valley in late June where the periods of wet weather alternating with warm sunny spells earlier in the year had resulted in some very tall thistles which made for some nice poses.
One individual stood out with some darker markings than normal,
A nice fresh male in a more normal pose basking on bracken,
A couple of days later another fresh male was amongst the first butterflies seen on a great day at Daneway Banks.
Cheers,

Neil.