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Peacock - Favourite Photo 2019

Week 12

As Christmas is now over – I know this because I have already seen Cadbury’s Crème and Mini Eggs on the shelves at Waitrose (they were putting them out on Christmas Eve!) – the next seasonal greeting is to wish everyone at UKB a prosperous and butterfly rich New Year!

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 Peacock provided me with one of those heart-lifting moments. I hadn't seen a butterfly for over a month before I came across this one basking on dead bracken on a mild and sunny day at the end of November.


http://eastsussexwanderer.blogspot.co.uk

I always enjoy my first visit of the year to Dry Sandford Pit reserve, in the village of Cothill, not far from my home. The butterflies love the sun-soaked 'cliff face' of the old quarry, there.

The butterflies were out early in 2019, so I got my first 'fix' before the end of February. I shall hope that 2020 doesn't keep me waiting too long ...
Mike

This year instead of buying the painted lady caterpillars for my granddaughter I collected some caterpillars from the patch of nettles by my office. Six in total, two turned out to be parasitised, one was a small tortoiseshell. We had both green and brown chrysalis, the green being on the sunnier side of the cage, the brown behind foliage.

Great photos, guys.
Would you believe this species is soooooh exotic for me ??
It flies absolutely nowhere near Marseilles in the south of France .
Chris

Chris Jackson wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 6:28 pm
Would you believe this species is soooooh exotic for me ??
It flies absolutely nowhere near Marseilles in the south of France .

Yes!

I've seen just ONE in about a dozen whole weeks in late June/early July in the French Alps these last few years.....and that cost me a bloody pint as I'd promised anyone who pointed out one to me a drink!

I found a nice fresh one fattening up for the winter (or perhaps for making a second brood) posed for me at Bookham in July but I also like this one where I maanged a Peacock and Orange-tip in the same picture

Here's a fresh summer brood individual taken in Abergavenny on 21st July:

I've posted two Butterflies, one from March the 28th and one from September 13th both shots are from my garden , It was a great year for the Peacock around our area, I got so many shots, it was great to see so many lovely Butterflies Goldie

After a poor showing for the summer brood locally in 2018, good numbers of Peacocks appeared this spring which would appear to confirm the suspicions that they had disappeared into hibernation early due to the previous summer heatwave.
The following summer brood were also around in much higher numbers this year, probably due to flying for longer due to the cooler summer before going into hibernation.
Cheers,

Neil.

Peacock

My Fave Peacock came from Shipton Bellinger and it stood out for a number of reasons:

First and foremost it seemed to quite literally stand out from the screen as it was so fresh and I found it on a slightly overcast afternoon. Secondly it was a summer emerger and as they have just come from a chrysalis rather than the corner of someone’s shed they always look cleaner and more intact. Finally it was consolation for missing out on the Brostreaks which were playing hard to get in 2019.
Have a goodun

Wurzel

In 2019, as in most years, the selection of Peacocks to be found in my sister's Yorkshire garden in July always stands out. However, 2019 was notable for a few of what was probably a second brood appearing on my local patch in September and October. The last one of the year was on 16th October. Dave

A photo (which doesn't do it justice) of a recent drawing done for me at Christmas by my rather talented niece-in-law, Jenny Sari...
Jen did this in pencil. The detail and work she puts in is phenomenal.

KeithS wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2020 6:14 pm..a recent drawing done for me at Christmas by my rather talented niece-in-law, Jenny Sari...

Very talented I'd say, Keith. Almost Lewingtonesque!

You can see Jen’s work on her webpage if you are interested. Jen normally works from photos but was the first time she had tried doing a butterfly. I will certainly be asking her to draw up some more of my insect photos in the near future.

https://www.jennysariart.co.uk/