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Black Hairstreak - Favourite Photo of 2023

Week 1

Well then let’s get started and before we know it we’ll be into the 2024 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.

Here we go!

Have a goodun

Wurzel
P.S. Just a suggestion but you might want to select your Favourite first so you can save it for the grand finale in 20 weeks time…

Black Hairstreak

We were all standing at the boundary fence in Epsom Common when this shot was taken and we’d just been regaling each other with tales of how butterflies will often turn up when you start talking about them when all of a sudden this female Blackstreak popped up as if from nowhere. She was possibly the best looking butterfly of the day and easily the most approachable but I didn’t just choose this shot for those reasons alone but more as it typified the whole, brilliant day.
Have a goodun

Wurzel

My choice is from the same day and place as Wurzel's, but a different butterfly...I like the way it has tucked itself down into the cup formed of the curling bramble leaves.

That was indeed a good day!

Dave

Monks Wood. 7th June

Black Hairstreak seemed to have a decent season and plenty of photographs. Although I normally like a close up, most sightings are of butterflies fluttering around or perched out of reach and I have chosen a photograph that captures these encounters.

Wolfson wrote: ↑Sat Oct 21, 2023 5:18 pmBlack Hairstreak seemed to have a decent season and plenty of photographs. Although I normally like a close up, most sightings are of butterflies fluttering around or perched out of reach and I have chosen a photograph that captures these encounters.

Indeed so, Wolfson. This species can make life difficult! Nice image which demonstrates this.

The Surrey population, of which the following are examples, seems to be doing pretty well, and even showing some signs of tentative expansion.

One of my shots from Epsom Common

Two visits to the Epsom population, the first on a somewhat over cast day where plenty were seen but catching on camera was tricky, they were very fidgety and more often than not settled above head height, A typical example of photo's from that day:Two days later I left my visit till quite late in the day where I found a fresh bombproof female with her nose in a Bramble blossom. When I left at 6.45, she didn't look like she had any plans to leave!