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Green-veined White - Favourite Photo of 2020

Week 7

So here we are, the first day of Advent and not long now until the obese man commits break and entering and reverse burglary Mind you certain retailers had the Xmas Decorations out 6 weeks ago

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

The spring brood often has to play second fiddle to the Orange-tips, but in my opinion are no less photogenic. Here's a particularly fresh female from back in April, helping to lift my spirits in the middle of lockdown

I agree with bugboy that this is a highly photogenic species. I couldn't choose between the mating pair and the solitary shot below, summer brood examples from central Lincolnshire.

It was 31st of May in my back garden when quite a few GVW's flew in, the Butterflies seemed to come in stages this year, one day Large Whites the next day Peacocks etc, in the garden every day, even the dark days you'd find the Small Whites Goldie

Good numbers of Green-veined Whites here in Wiltshire this year. Always a favourite to photograph.

Plenty of Green-veined White visited my garden and made the most of the Spring flowers. Later, on 22 June, I came across a group of Green-veined White feeding on a rotten tree stump in my local woods. Something I have not come across in the UK before.

Stevieb wrote: ↑Tue Dec 01, 2020 10:36 amGood numbers of Green-veined Whites here in Wiltshire this year. Always a favourite to photograph.

Lovely bold forewing spot on that male, Stevie. This is a much underrated butterfly.

David M wrote: ↑Tue Dec 01, 2020 11:40 am Lovely bold forewing spot on that male, Stevie. This is a much underrated butterfly.

Indeed they are David. I must say I do have a soft spot for all the whites.

Me too, and increasingly as I get older!

Must be something to do with how common they were when we were young....plus how tricky they often are to approach.

During April, I was impressed by how many good images of this species were being posted, so I made a special effort in amongst the Commas, Orange Tips, etc..

There weren't too many about this spring but I managed to finally get both male and female:

As many have said previously, a species with an understated beauty of it's own. They first appeared around my patch in early April and numbers of spring brood built up nicely.
The follow on summer brood was not that numerous and I believe they had suffered a bit during the very dry weather we had during late spring.
My overall favourite shot is probable the pair below, taken as were those above in my garden.
Cheers,

Neil.

Green-veined White

I didn’t have much luck with the Green-veined one this year…there seemed to be fewer around than in 2019 particularly early in the season while the first brood flew. Those that were about proved difficult to capture with the unusually warm weather making them much more active and lass ‘flappy’ than usual. When they did flop down somewhere it was often in inaccessible spots or for very short periods of time. That’s why this one was my Fave – it actually played ball and sat still for long enough to get a selection of shots, of which this one came out on top because of the proboscis action on show!
Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

I do love Green-veined Whites. This was a second brood individual, taken in Crab Wood near Winchester in June.

This species did reasonably well on my local patch, though was very much overshadowed by Small Whites this year.

The first brood start off very pale, with understated black markings:However, even just ten days later, I found this somewhat darker female.Come July, the summer brood was out, and they are significantly darker.By the end of the summer, darker still.And the underside is really worth looking at too.As others have said, very much an underrated butterfly (and quite variable too!).

Dave

millerd wrote: ↑Wed Dec 16, 2020 7:44 pm...by the end of the summer, darker still.

Wow! Those apical patches are huge!

Difficult to pick a favourite but this spring male butterfly just tips it. Perhaps it was the release from just getting out for exercise during lockdown . Sheerwater, Woking Phil