www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Chalkhill Blue - Favourite Photo of 2020

Week 2

It feels like only yesterday that I was sitting down to kick off the 2020 Thread. I hope every one made good use of their extra hour today!

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.

Again a quick reminder that it might be a good idea to select your Overall Favourite Butterfly Photo of 2020 first so that you’ve got something to post when the series of threads culminates in 20 weeks time…


Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

This female ab. gets my vote, it's not often you get a female with much male scaling on the upperside with Chalkhills I find

I saw my Chalkhill's on the 17th and 23rd of July at Temple Ewell Kent, it was a lovely day and there was loads of them, they were great to see after being so limited to the traveling we could do this year, that's why I've entered three favourites Goldie

As with Brown Argus, I spent a lot of time with Chalk Hill Blues this year. There are too many photos to choose from, so here are just a few.

One particular Chalkhill Blue sticks in the memory this year, from a trip down to Box Hill on 21st July. I had located a productive little spot at the eastern end of Dukes (the bit of hillside to the east of the viewpoint slopes), but was finding the usual problem that most of the male Chalkhills were not opening up in the sunshine. I then spotted one that was an exception and followed it. It proved to be an aberrant with white marginal markings.The comparison with a "normal" individual seen close by in near-identical pose makes a good contrast!I feel I should a female too - Aston Rowant always seems to provide the best opportunities and the best examples of these, often including those with notable blue scaling. On 1st August I came across such a one, though as it turned out the individual unfortunately wasn't particularly cooperative at showing off her dazzlingly blue hindwings. Dave

Just the one chance to see them in the UK in 2020, on Portland in late July:

Two from July

Most of my Chalkhill Blues encounters were on the nearby downs. For me, this is the most difficult species to chose a favorite of, so I have chosen one because the butterflies are perched on an unusual form of the Clustered Bellflower and one because it is an unusual view of the butterfly.

This was an easy one to pick for me, I only saw one Chalkhill Blue this year, an ageing female along the bridle path up to White Horse Hill at Osmington down in Dorset in early September.
Unlike previous years when there have often been a few still flying on Bindon Hill, there were none there when I looked this year.
Other than that, this is a species that I have to travel to see and I simple didn't go anywhere else where they would be flying this year.
Cheers,

Neil.

Having finally managed to superglue my memory card back together( it holds three -quarters of my 2020 pics !) i.m
able to post a few pics !
I,ve chosen three ,which i like ,all taken at Lydden / Temple Ewell near Dover the first male is close to AB;Signata.
Chalkhills have had an exceptional season at this site ,with many hundreds on the wing ,and many variants amongst them ,i,ve started visiting a slightly different area ,and i,m finding many more ,in this "new" area. Regards Allan.W

Sorry ! meant to say ,love the chalkhill shots Wolfson ,particularly the one peaking over the edge !.................Very envious of
your Clustered Bellflower ,a rare plant in Kent .........................i,ve never seen one ,and a White one ............Very special !
Allan.W.

Chalkhill Blue

This was taken at Martin Down on the cusp of July and August. It would have chosen from this visit above others as the males on offer were splendid. Some were pristine with their fringes intact and dark black margins and blinding white spots. Others faded infinitely through the wings from the standard blue, through to grey and then onto the white fringes. However I went for this slightly more aged gentlemen as he was the best example that I’ve managed to find and photograph in terms of the aberration which leads to the orange spotting near the hind wing margins. So sauve rather than suave…
Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Allan.W. wrote: ↑Sat Oct 31, 2020 8:32 pm...I,ve chosen three ,which i like ,all taken at Lydden / Temple Ewell near Dover the first male is close to AB;Signata.

Definitely an unusual one, Allan. Those wing edges really stand out.

Chalkhills seem to have done reasonably well this year from what little I was able to see - an hour on one site and a brief drive-by of another.

Like the Common Blue picking a favourite Chalkhill is not easy. This one is a nice tidy male with its wing scales that always show up well on Chalkhills. Phil