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High Brown Fritillary - Favourite Photo 2019

Week 8

Happy Advent everyone and we are now on the countdown until the obese man in the red suit makes his annual visit!

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

Almost every year I make my way to the top of Arnside Knott at least once, hoping to see one of this increasingly rare butterflies. Numbers here seem to have dwindled (I'm told that colonies fairly nearby are doing OK, which is reassuring though), but I am usually lucky enough to find one - usually only the one, mind.

2019 was no exception. Having drawn a blank on 12th July, on the following day with the Knott sitting as it so often does in a pool of sunshine, I found this nice example amenably nectaring on some brambles in a small clearing not far from the trig point.On the comparatively rare occasions when I manage to see this species, I always find it far easier to approach than its close relative the DGF.

Dave

A few years ago, I would spend several days at the Welsh site studying this species, but lately I'm restricted to just one or two.

I only got one chance in 2019, but still managed to track a couple down. By all accounts (having seen the transect figures) they've fared rather well this year, thankfully.

My High Browns are from when we stayed down in the Heddon Valley for a couple of days in late June.

Most of those I saw were fresh looking males which made me think that it was still fairly early in their flight period this year.
I did find one fresh female late on the second day,
Cheers,

Neil