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Glanville Fritillary - Favourite Photo of 2020

Week 6

Where have the weeks gone? We're already on week 6 and almost through Lockdown 2.0

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

Our Local Glanvilles were on 3 sites in 2020, although visitors from afar couldnt get to visit as usual, but i saw them at 3 Surrey sites and the Kent site. I didnt get to the Wrecclesham colony this year. The first sighting was 2nd May with this male. They had a good year too, and 21 larval webs have been found at Hutchinsons Bank and 6 at another Surrey site. All looks good for 2021 if we dont get a beast from the east again. More cliff creation is to be done around the big scrape at hutchinsons this winter.

The larvae were awake in January 2020 here photographed on 29th Unlike 2019 they were only single brooded this year, the drought probably delayed development at the critical point, but all webs got through to spin hibernation webs in July.

Saw a few in 2020....though not in the UK.

There are usually some to be seen at altitude in France in early July and this one was looking in decent nick:

Glanville Fritillary

I thought that what with everything that was going on during the Lockdown 1.0 and the various restrictions on travel this was one species that I would miss out on in 2020. However when I saw reports of Glanvilles nearby actually in Wiltshire things were looking good. A few messages over Instagram later a mate had furnished me with some of the most accurate directions to a species that I’ve ever had barring the previous set he’d given me for Dukes at Fovant Badges!

I only managed to locate one of the several that had been flying when on site but it was a cracking individual and it duly when through the full repertoire of poses. From the collection of images this was my favourite as I was pleased with the shape flower and butterfly combined created as well as it being a welcome addition to the Stained Glass gallery.
Have a goodun

Wurzel

Great the WIltshire colony is still going, hopefully there were a few females there.

Its 5 sites in Surrey, one or 2 in Kent, and the Wiltshire one so its doing well on the mainland again, hopefully it will follow the Jersey Tigers in expansion.