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Green Hairstreak - 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

When this species started to appear, lockdown restrictions kept me to local haunts. The confirmation in 2019 that there was a tiny population here meant I spent every sunny day in April and May (and there were a lot of those!) looking in likely areas for Green Hairstreaks - but with no luck. I shall try again in 2021... However, looser interpretations of strict lockdown rules emerged, and on 23rd April I decided to try a walk in the southern portion of Bedfont Lakes Country Park (the north side was closed). I was rewarded with a few sightings, but only one posed well for me.Restrictions did ease after that of course, and I then encountered the species in several of their (and my) usual haunts, but that first one stands out as at the time it felt as if it might be the only chance I'd have to see them.

Dave

Lockdown didn't change a lot for me, as I only ever go within cycling distance of my house (in Woodbridge, Suffolk). I was happy to find several colonies of green hairstreak on the sandling heaths around here. One of my favourite spots is on the edge of woodland, next to the golf course, where broom and gorse grows beneath hawthorn (I've noticed a very strong association between green hairstreak and hawthorn here - something I never noticed in Switzerland). Here's a sunny, spring piccie (24th April) from deep among the gorse:



Guy

I saw Green Hairstreak at several sites in 2020 and took some decent photographs. However, on 5 May I was delighted to see one in my front garden, a garden first, bringing the list total to 25. Unfortunately, I was unable to take a decent photograph, but it is certainly my favourite. On 27 May and 1 June I, had further encounters, this time in the meadow area of my back garden. Although much worn, I suspect it is the same individual. I will be keeping a close eye on the garden in 2021, fingers crossed.

I missed these at my usual sites for obvious reasons, but I was very surprised to find one on my local patch

This is one species that I think many managed to find closer to home than anticipated due to the restrictions earlier in the year.

With the wide range of foodplants used, this butterfly could be present in plenty of places that are easily overlooked.

This species emerged quite early round my way, no doubt due to the prolonged mild spell in early April. Although 2019 saw my earliest ever record (18th April), this year wasn't far behind, with this male being spotted on 21st:

Another easy one for me, I only saw two individuals this year, both at Bishops Hill in Warwickshire when we went there in mid-May after the travel restrictions were lifted. The first one was a worn and faded individual but the second was in better condition.
As far as I know they are restricted in Warwickshire to clusters of colonies further south and west in the county and are also hanging on in Sutton Park in the north-east corner. I keep hoping that, being an easily overlooked species, they may crop up nearer home but despite looking every spring, I have not found any around my local patch.
Cheers,

Neil.

Green Hairstreak

Whilst taking some family exercise at Martin Down I was able to capture my favourite Green Hairstreak photo of 2020. There were several reasons for this being my choice. Firstly it was on Gorse and the contrasting yellow and green complement each other so well. Also the butterfly was sitting nicely and was lovely and fresh with the dark hairs along the tails and the orange border showing well against the emerald green ground colour. Another reason was that it was taken whilst I was showing the butterfly off to my girls and Little L promptly decided that it was her favourite butterfly.
Have a goodun

Wurzel

Another nailed on species for Cotley Hill, Wiltshire

I saw lots of Green Hairstreaks this year; Magdalen Hill Down holds a good colony.

I watched this female lay an egg just before this photo was taken.

Green Hairstreak can be so difficult to photograph when they're on the wrong side of the light. Thankfully this one came out quite nice straight out of the can
Photo taken at Denbies Phil