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Common Blue - Favourite Photo of 2020

Week 4

Lockdown take 2 So to cheer you up here's the next selection of Favourite Photos

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.

Just a reminder - it might be a good idea to select your Overall Favourite Butterfly Photo of 2020 now 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

So I've been pretty good at sticking to just one image so far but I just can't decide for this one. The stand out encounter for these was the huge mass emergence at Mill Hill in September and it's three images from that day that I've managed to whittle it down too. The first simply for comedic value, the male sneaking up to try his chances on what was a roosting female, he got nowhere and a couple to illustrate the numbers on the day

A first brood mating pair from the Lincolnshire Wolds:

I took my two photos at Brockholes CP Preston on the 20th May, when I arrived there the car park was closed so I'd to park on the lane , lots of cars had done the same but I was lucky as all the people had left their cars so I'd the lane to myself, what a year!!!!! talk about dodging the crowds Goldie

Here is a mixture from north of the border. The photo from fallin Bing on 6th July I thought was worth showing despite the butterfly being a bit tatty as it included burnet moths one of which had very pale spots

A good year on Bewley Common and Beacon Hill in Wiltshire. Some lovely female variations observed.

This species seemed to do pretty well this year and especially so in my garden. I have selected one from my garden, taken early in the morning on 2 June and another from my garden taken in the late evening on 30 July. Both are "blue" females, that I think are possibly the most exotic of our UK butterflies.

After a very poor showing of the first brood locally (mid-Kent ) this season ,the second(and third !) brood performed much better
I actually saw many more Brown Argus ,than Common Blue in the first brood .Some glorious females were found ,with more "brown " specimens than in recent seasons .I was also lucky enough to find 6 pairs and one nice minor abberrant male.
These were all taken within my local "lockdown " circuit. Regards Allan.W.

My first Common Blue, on 9th May, was a female....and a stunning one:
Later that month, I was photographing another very blue specimen when this male suddenly appeared:
I was also delighted with this 3rd brood male (a rarity in south Wales) found on the Gower coast on 27th September:

I didn't see too many Common Blues in 2020 - this female was the pick of them.

Common Blues had a bit of a mixed year around my patch. Below average numbers of spring brood were followed by a better second brood at some, but not all local spots. Unlike more favoured areas down south, I did not find a single third brood locally although I did see one or two reported from elsewhere in Warwickshire.

To my mind a nice fresh male rivals any of the other blues with its attractive metallic turquoise blue sheen.
I saw a good variety of female forms including these seen on the same day,
I also came across at least a dozen pairs in cop including this pair nicely posed on top of an Ox-eye Daisy.
And finally, good numbers were flying down on the Lizard during the week we spent there in early August.
Cheers,

Neil.

Lovely selection, Neil, especially that last female with the delicate blue dusting extending to the abdomen.

The Common Blue had an excellent year on my local patch, with numbers exceeding those for 2019 in all three broods. It was the third commonest butterfly seen in my counts, beaten only by the Meadow Brown and Small White. Elsewhere, Mill Hill in Sussex stood out with an exceptionally numerous third brood. Choosing favourites is not an easy task, but one or two stood out.

There were a huge variety of blue females everywhere, something which I'm sure is becoming commoner. When very fresh, these are among the most attractive butterflies around.I could post many more...

Amongst the slightly more unusual was a nice fresh example of ab. flavescens - with the underside marginal lunules being pale yellow instead of orange-red. This crops up regularly on my local patch.Also seen, curiously in two different places on consecutive days, were these examples lacking the underside cell spot that is diagnostic for the species in European locations where it may be confused with similar blues.Finally, I had to include a stunningly bright and new third brood male from Mill Hill. The depth of colour is unusual, admittedly enhanced a bit by the fact it was later in the day. Dave

Wow - some beautiful Common Blues here.

I had a good year with this species too. There are too many photos to choose from, so I will stick with one of the last ones I saw, a pristine third brood female, in October. My first Common Blues of the year were a mating pair at Magdalen on 26th April, very nearly six months earlier.

Common Blue

This was taken at Middle Street one of my Early haunts and one which came into its own during the restricted access to the outdoors at Lockdown progressed. It was also my first of the year and I chose it as it deemed to take a wander onto my finger when I offered it and so found a place into my ‘Butterflies in the hand collection’ and what a cracking addition it was. The ‘Common’ part of their common name just doesn’t do them justice!
Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

I photographed so many Common Blues in 2020 it is difficult to pick a favourite. Although seemingly more prevalent these days than the brown form, this blue female is a cracker Phil