www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Green Hairstreak - Favourite Photo 2022

Week 6

It looks like we’re actually getting the winter weather so sightings may start to stall but don’t be down hearted as this week there are three cracking species to choose favourites for and next week, fingers crossed, the Winter Social is on.


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

Wurzel

This species was a first for me this year. Took a visit on 4th may to keiloch Crag near Braemar and was lucky enough to find a few on the wing as the sun appeared. This is best of the bunch.

Another tricky species to single out a favourite... Quite often I find that their habit of persistently returning to the same perch means that you can almost lie in wait, camera posed. Here are four favourites: Dave

My earliest was on 14th Apri, so nice and fresh. Battlesbury Hill, Wiltshire.
Thereafter good numbers both there and Cotley Hill, Wiltshire

I am really struggling to choose an outright favourite Green Hairstreak from my 2022 batch, so I've narrowed it down to these three: Taken on 27th May, this one on hawthorn was quite striking, perched along the twig. Taken at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NR in Lincolnshire, as was the next one. Interesting to see one feeding on this umbellifer, alongside a gruesome looking horse-fly or other such critter. This was quite late in their flight period - 13.6.22 - but looked quite fresh, flying amongst newly emerged Dark Green Fritillaries and Marbled Whites at Bloody Oaks Quarry, Rutland.

Green Hairstreak

These shots came from Martin Down in the second half of April. I chose the first because it caught the light almost perfectly giving it a glittering metallic emerald appearance. I also included the second shot as it’s the same butterfly but taken from the opposite side and so the difference that the direction of lighting can cause is clearly obvious. From almost golden green it becomes more matt and the green takes on a blueish almost turquoise tinge. Have a goodun

Wurzel

Nice to have this species on my doorstep, and I got to see them nectaring from bluebells several times during their flight season, with this one being taken on 21st May by the shrub line on my local Common:

I like the colour, for once it came out about right.

3 from me (thought I'd already posted them, perhaps they're randomly in some other thread )

A couple from Butser Hill/Rake Bottom taken in April when good numbers were seen on my two visits on the 16th and 18th.

Both of these shots were taken on the 18th when a bit more cloud made them a bit less flighty
Cheers,

Neil.