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Speckled Wood - 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

Seen this species early season on 15th May at cambus o may on deeside. Best photos attached.

Two males enjoying a short truce

My favourite was from an early October stay on St Mary’s, IOS. Speckled Wood are a bit different here and have an interesting history. They were easily the most numerous of the five butterfly species on the wing in contrast to the relative abundance of species on the mainland, I guess 20+ miles of Atlantic makes a difference.

I took this photo on the 9th of April in my Daughter's garden, the weather was sunny and a really nice Spring day

My next shot was taken in Tankerton Park ( Castle Park ) on the 13th of April in a sheltered spot a way from the wind Goldie

Every year at the start of the 3rd week of March, I go to a sunny spot in my local woods and that is when I usually get my first Speckled Wood of the season.
Vince

Two from me ,both from my local circular walk in mid-Kent. Allan.W.

I think this is my favourite Speckled Wood photograph of 2022. I could see that it was a fresh male but on a hot sunny day, it seemed to take ages to settle long enough for a picture.



http://eastsussexwanderer.blogspot.co.uk

Speckled Wood seemed to have a pretty average year around my way, nearly always appearing from April onwards but a species that did not like the hot dry weather we had in the summer. This seemed to effect the numbers towards the end of the season and I did not see the high numbers in August and into September that we sometimes get here.
This is a species that shows variation in all broods and I don't see many actual aberrations. This year the only one that I saw was this pathelogical ab. probably caused by temperature fluctuations in the pupa.
Cheers,

Neil.

I rather like this photo of a male Speckled Wood in our butterfly garden, perched in a beech hedge above the path, ready to lurch at any potential females passing by.

Speckled Wood

I thought that I’d already chosen my Favourite Specklie back in April and so it turned out. Despite various others vying for my attention I kept coming back to this particular shot. There was something about the way that it was clinging to the bark of the tree at about head height that reminded me of various Graylings in Portugal. Plus the underside was immaculate and so subtly beautiful compared to the flashy topside.
Have a goodun

Wurzel

Neil Freeman wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 8:54 am...Speckled Wood seemed to have a pretty average year around my way, nearly always appearing from April onwards but a species that did not like the hot dry weather we had in the summer...

Excellent selection of individuals, Neil.

That last one is especially odd, and as you say, has probably suffered from temperature fluctuations whilst pupating.

Actually managed to get a decent underside in 2022, when this one dropped to the floor in a sudden cool spell on 3rd April at Cwm Ivy:
This fresh male at the back end of July was my favourite upperside:
...and this mating pair on 2nd October had to be included just for rarity value:

The initial spring brood are always the favourites for me, with brighter colours and bigger spots. My first good shot of a Speckled Wood in 2022 was on my local patch back on 26th March - a splendid underside in late afternoon sunlight.A selection of great uppersides followed in April......and then this very dark example appeared as a contrast on 16th September. Dave