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Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary - Favourite Photo of 2021

Week 17

We’re still in the ‘Smalls’ . With the weeks ticking by faster and faster it won’t be long until we might be able to start getting some of our Favourite Shots of 2022 before too long! I can’t wait!

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.

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Priddy Mineries, 12 June. The first time for years I have seen this species, though it flies only 15-20 miles distant, and the first time I've photographed it since 2006. I sat down on the path and let them fly around my head.

Visited my usual haunt at Cambus o May on 27th June and 2nd July and wasn’t disappointed.

My first sighting was in April when the Cornish cliffs were pink with Thrift and at their most beautiful. A second brood in August, resulted in more sightings.

Having spent a lovely sunny and warm late spring day down at Park Corner Heath in Sussex failing to locate a single example of this species, I decided to try my luck at a completely new site for me by making a detour on my way home from seeing the Collard Hill Large Blues. I stopped off at Priddy Mineries on the Mendips, and though I found several of the target species, the constant warm sunshine kept them extremely mobile and none of my shots were really worth keeping except as a bare record.

Luckily, I did still have other options: I was shortly to be up in Yorkshire where I intended to visit Fen Bog up on the North York Moors for Large Heath, and recalled that SPBF were also to be found at the site. Despite cool and cloudy conditions up on the moors on 1st July, I was surprised (and very pleased) to find several reasonably fresh Small Pearls flying. (A single Large Heath, plus a sighting of Philzoid, rather completed the day!)I also found a few of the species a couple of days later at Arnside in a three-fritillary visit I made on my rather circuitous trip home.

Dave

My 2021 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries were seen when we stayed down on the Lizard for a few days in May. The conditions were rather challenging (wet and very windy) but nevertheless I managed to find some flying in the usual spots along the coast path between Kynance cove and Lizard Point and also a few at Poltesco.
Cheers,

Neil.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

The Small Pearls had a dismal year at Bentley and following on from several successive bad years this could be the final image of this species from the site. Mind you I said the same last year and whilst there were fewer reports than in 2020 there were still some multiples so you never know…I chose this one as I love the intent wait that it’s feeding yet still revealing that fabulous underside.
Have a goodun

Wurzel

The awful May weather impacted considerably on this species last year. I saw far fewer than I generally do. They were still relatively easy to locate on the Commons near where I live and one hopes that they will bounce back this year: