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Grizzled Skipper - 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

Cotley Hill, Wiltshire always comes up trumps for Grizzies

Missed out on UK Grizzlies this year due to Covid restrictions. Both the sites where they are common nearest me were closed to visitors, but I at least had recompense with plenty of malvoides in the French Alps in early July:

At the outset of COVID restrictions I did worry that I might miss out on this species. However, things eased and though it was May rather than April when I found them, they were in all their usual haunts. Here's one from Denbies on 17th May. Dave

Woodwalton Marsh, 13.05.20. There are only one or two seen here now. The management of the site has changed in recent years but I think they probably prosper on the railway embankment.

Grizzled Skipper was one of those spring species that I thought I would miss this year due to the travel restrictions. As it happened, they were lifted just in time for me to catch up with a couple during my trip to Bishops Hill in mid May.
Cheers,

Neil.

Grizzled Skipper

It was still early in the season when I chose my fave Grizzlie shot. The Blues were just arriving on the scene, more guidance had come out about ‘Exercise’ and so I’d visited Middle Street just over the ‘meadow’ from me. Whilst at the far end of the site away from the usual Hotspots I found first one and then a second Grizzlie! Getting a few shots I came away thinking that fresh Grizzlies a 10 minute walk away should surely be the ‘Fave of 2020’…

However then I visited my Duke site and at the side of the main track was sitting the even more obvious choice…a Grizzlie sitting atop a Dandelion Clock, a very welcome addition to possibly my smallest ‘collection’.
Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

So many Grizzled Skippers to choose from this year; I spent a lot of time with them. Golden hour in spring was my favourite time of the year

A few pictures of Kentish Grizzled Skippers ,i,ve tried to post pictures that i haven,t posted before .Grizzlies had an average showing
here last season ,and Dungeness was closed (Covid ) during most of their flight season so i never saw any there ,although the locals recorded a few.
I only managed to see one in Orlestone forest ,and only one or two were seen at Orlestone by others ,none at another local site near Shadoxhurst (think that times up for them now at this site ...........sadly ) , my closest site ,is scrubbing over ,badly now ,i had a couple of "guest"
trips with saws and secateurs etc to see if i could help things a bit ,my best visit count last year was only 8 ,down on 15 in 2019 and 18 in 2018 .
But i do still have one fairly good site ,which is still producing .
It will be very interesting to see what occurs in 2021. Regards Allan.W.

A lovely couple of abs at the end there, Allan!

Thanks Lee ! always pleased to find these little beauties ! Regards Allan.W.