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Heath Fritillary - Favourite Photo of 2022

Week 7

Here we are at Lucky Week 7! With the Winter Social been and gone hopefully these threads will help keep us going until the next season.

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

On my way back from seeing Swallowtails at Strumpshaw, I detoured a bit to Hockley Woods in Essex for Heath Fritillaries. The sun was a bit in-and-out, but this meant that on every appearance, the butterflies would magically emerge from hiding in numbers. The species demonstrates a great deal of variety, and it's a good thing that in the UK there is only one thing it could possibly be. This also means that selection of a favourite from amongst the hundreds of photos I took (and the dozens I ended up keeping) is hugely difficult. Dave

I saw my Heath Fritillary in Blean Woods on the 10th and 23rd of June, it was an exciting time for me having moved down to the South to stay, the fact I could go and see these lovely Butterflies when I wanted was a real treat and one I didn't intend to miss out on. Goldie

Not the best year in the two Essex colonies I visited but I don't think anything to worry about. I do like it when a butterfly poses on its LHP

millerd wrote: ↑Sun Nov 27, 2022 7:11 pm...The species demonstrates a great deal of variety, and it's a good thing that in the UK there is only one thing it could possibly be.

It's certainly helpful that there are no Provençal, Meadow, Nickerl's, Knapweed or False Heath Fritillaries in the UK, Dave.

That two-tone female is a real nice specimen and the male in the second image has quite a pattern on it.

Didn't see this species on home soil this year, but as ever there were plenty on my travels, including this fresh example from north Greece in early June:

David M wrote: ↑Sun Dec 04, 2022 6:43 pm

millerd wrote: ↑Sun Nov 27, 2022 7:11 pm...The species demonstrates a great deal of variety, and it's a good thing that in the UK there is only one thing it could possibly be.

It's certainly helpful that there are no Provençal, Meadow, Nickerl's, Knapweed or False Heath Fritillaries in the UK, Dave.

That two-tone female is a real nice specimen and the male in the second image has quite a pattern on it.

Are we certain of this? The Exmoor populations' habitat is different enough to give me pause for thought. I take it someone has done the necessary checks

Matsukaze wrote: ↑Mon Dec 05, 2022 10:41 amAre we certain of this? The Exmoor populations' habitat is different enough to give me pause for thought. I take it someone has done the necessary checks

Are you thinking that the putative athalia populations in that area might contain another member of this group, Chris?

David M wrote: ↑Mon Dec 05, 2022 10:53 am

Matsukaze wrote: ↑Mon Dec 05, 2022 10:41 amAre we certain of this? The Exmoor populations' habitat is different enough to give me pause for thought. I take it someone has done the necessary checks

Are you thinking that the putative athalia populations in that area might contain another member of this group, Chris?

I very much doubt they are, but the possibility had crossed my mind.