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Large Heath - Favourite Photo of 2020

Week 9

Not long to go now! I reckon it'll only be another week and the Easter Eggs will be in the shops!

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

One of the very few benefits of Covid in 2020 was the fact that it enabled me to spend a bit more time hunting down the more localised native species.

I had seen the davus form of Large Heath once before, in 2015, but I fancied another go at it so I drove to Shropshire and saw hundreds at Whixhall Moss, although as is normal very few presented themselves for photos. These two were the best I could muster:

Large Heaths patiently queueing up for their turn at the nectar on 25th June in north-west Lincolnshire, in true British fashion!

Never seen them behave like that before, Pete. In fact, I'm not sure if I've ever seen them on thistles. They seem to have a near-exclusive preference for cross-leaved heath.

David M wrote: ↑Mon Dec 21, 2020 1:21 pm Never seen them behave like that before, Pete. In fact, I'm not sure if I've ever seen them on thistles. They seem to have a near-exclusive preference for cross-leaved heath.

Interesting David - at the site in Lincolnshire where these were photographed, they regularly feed from thistle, lesser knapweed, bramble, buttercup, vetches etc.

Amazing, Pete. I've seen this species plenty of times at Cors Caron in mid-Wales (and three times at Whixhall/Bettisfield Moss) but have never observed them nectaring from anything other than cross-leaved heath.