www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Small White - Favourite Photo of 2022

Week 18

And so the end is near and winter faces its final curtain…let’s just hope that it doesn’t come back for an encore! AS the grand finale is now only two weeks away it’s time to check back and make sure that you’re happy with your choice for the Overall Favourite (Butterfly) Photo of 2022.

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 rather generous wing tip markings of this one had me hoping for a miracle before more experienced eye's told me it was just a rapae

This species is rarely easy to photograph, but there were so many of them at Cosmeston Lakes Park in Cardiff on 19th August that sooner or later one was bound to settle in an inviting pose:
A month later, at the Botanic Gardens near Cross Hands, this individual displayed its underside rather nicely:

I didn’t take many photographs of Small White but this individual caught my attention back in April.

I saw loads of Small White's last year in my new Garden, I also have loads of Small Birds in the Garden, needless to say they chased most of the Butterflies before they could settle This year I plan to sit and wait for a few Butterflies to arrive, ( that should scare the birds off)

I was at Reculver on the 4th of August when this Small White appeared , it's spots seemed unusually large , else, it was just me

On the 30th May also at Reculver I saw this SW it seemed to have splits on both wings which looked even, not sure if was pecked at or not

My big surprise happened on the the 3rd of March when this Small White entered my Daughter's garden on what was a cold day and my first Butterfly of the year. Goldie

One particular encounter with this butterfly (on 4th July) does stick in the 2022 memory banks. For once, this was not on my local patch (where I did see a good few hundred over the season), but down the road at Staines Moor. I managed a series of shots of what I took to be typical pierid female rejection behaviour, but then without any further ado, the pair joined. It may of course have been her second mating - which might explain the behaviour pattern. Dave

In early April I found a freshly emerged female in the garden.
Vince

Small White

Most years we visit my Outlaws in August and I’m able to tramp the Lane looking for Hedgies. The hedges along the Lane also produce other butterflies as well of course and this Small White was one of them. I chose it as I liked the arrow like way it was holding its wings. I also noticed that the black wing tip extended slightly further down the termen than usual.
Have a goodun

Wurzel

Vince Massimo wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 11:50 amIn early April I found a freshly emerged female in the garden.

Lovely individual, Vince.

I must admit that, after seeing the first few Small Whites in the spring, I didn't really take that much notice of them until much later in the season when they were the most numerous species that I saw whilst visiting our daughter down in Emsworth in early September.

I quite like this shot of a spring brood male on a dandelion in my garden.
Also this male seen at the local park by my moms house in early May.
Cheers,

Neil.