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Silver-washed Fritillary - Favourite Photo of 2022

Week 15

From incessant rain to freezing temperatures; roll on spring! And whilst we wait let the sights from the 2022 season warm the cockles.

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

The species seemed to make a sluggish start to its season, well behind the White Admirals in 2022 instead of nearly coinciding in emergence - at least at the two spots I visited (Bookham and Chiddingfold). There was nothing particularly outstanding, though this fresh male posed nicely at Bookham on 24th June......as did this one at Chiddingfold on 26th.At Bookham again on 1st July I found a darkish female flying in the shade which despite a markedly green underside did not unfortunately (despite my hopes ) qualify as a valesina. Dave

I had a good season with the Silver-washed Fritillary in 2022. My favourite photograph was of this mating valezina.


http://eastsussexwanderer.blogspot.co.uk

Good numbers, as always, at a site just five minutes from where I live. My favourite photos from 2022 are of a Valezina that I encountered on three separate occasions. Sandridge Common, Melksham, Wiltshire.

downland boy wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 9:25 amI had a good season with the Silver-washed Fritillary in 2022. My favourite photograph was of this mating valezina.

Top notch, DB.

I'm afraid my sighting of the Silver Washed Fritillary was very brief It was on the 23rd of June whilst I was in East Blean Woods that I saw it and just my luck it landed in the bushes

I was filming the Heath's at the time and although I went back on the 25th never saw it again so I'd to be satisfied that I'd seen it, besides, on that day I did see the Purple HS so I was well satisfied Goldie

A disproportionate number of “first sightings” in 2022 were made in Cambridgeshire and when I visited a local wood on 7 June I was surprised to find plenty of Silver-washed Fritillary on the wing. My favourite photograph(s) were of a pair happily feeding by the edge of the ride.

David M wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 11:03 am downland boy wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 9:25 am
I had a good season with the Silver-washed Fritillary in 2022. My favourite photograph was of this mating valezina.

David M wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 11:03 am Top notch, DB.

Thanks David.

Not a vintage year for me this year, I think I was chasing other things when they peaked but I did stumble across an aberrant male getting the cold shoulder from a female

A visit to Oversley Wood on 22nd June produced good numbers of Silver-washed Fritillaries, mostly fresh looking males indicating it was still earlu intheir flight period there. It was a warm morning and they were very active, only touching down for short periods and fidgeting about which made photos a challenge.
I saw similar numbers at Snitterfield Bushes on 16th July, by which time there were more females about and the males were mostly looking worn and faded. This was another warm morning when the butterflies were very active.

Cheers,

Neil.

Silver-washed Fritillary

Three times I’ve tried Alners Gorse for Valesina and three times I’ve been successful! I was pootling around the particular corner of the hedge at the part of the site beyond the main diamond of the reserve (I think it’s known as The Banks) and there were plenty of Silver-washed bombingabout and bustling into each other. A White Admiral sliced its way through the sky making its way deeper into the reserve and a few silvery Purps played in the sun atop the surrounding trees. All of a sudden I spotted a skulking grey looking thing hiding towards the back of the hedge. Luckily it came a little closer and there was my Greenish Silver-washed, a cracking looking Valezina. In the past they’ve sat in such a way as to show off the blueish tinge sometimes in a way to look almost blue/black but this one looked almost black and white – lush! Hopefully the ‘streak’ will continue here as they’re also at Garston but they seldom seem to stop for me there!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Got a small window locally in late July, although by then even the females were past their best:

No adults photographed in 2022, but managed to watch a few eggs being laid on one of the Gatwick transects.
Vince

I have chosen this Silver-washed Fritillary shot because it shows off both sides of this male taking minerals from the ground. Photographed just before the ultra heatwave in July in the Lincolnshire Limewoods.