www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

shot at arnside knot, while hunting for high browns!

phil

salmacis shot in Wensleydale on 27th May 2011...
and artaxerxes in the Alps a month later...

This thread is now officially open . I have changed the title to accord with the present "Favourite Photo" format and included the earlier photos.

This is a thread in which to post your favourite photo(s) of a particular species taken in 2011.......................or the last time you saw one!

This is part of a series which will hopefully grow until all 58 British species have been covered. Three new threads will be introduced per week. Our overseas friends are welcome to fill in the obvious gaps relating to our rare migrants, but please try to observe the alphabetical listing

Details of places, dates, times and circumstances would be appreciated and please feel free to contribute observations of behaviour, personal encounters, anecdotes and other interesting points.

Vince

I took this photo at Lydden whilst on holiday there. The clarity could be better but the BF was very quick. I think it's a Northern Brown Argus because of the White spot on the wing but with it being in Lydden Kent and not knowing too much about them i'm not sure. I have photo's taken last year of the NBA, taken at GaitsB lake District Park, anybody think this is one Goldie M

Hi - that's a regular Brown Argus that seems to have lost some scales on the forewing, given the appearance of a white spot.

One fairly reliable diagnostic, as you say, is location.

Cheers,

- Pete

Thanks Pete, I thought it couldn't be but thought I'd ask in case Goldie M

Anyone got any artaxerxes shots from this year?

I guess I have some Artax photos. Northern Brown Argus artax had a reasonable season in South East Scotland...nothing spectacular..due to the weather...all colonies suppressed. However if you had patience by the truck load it was possible to find good numbers. In all throughout the season from June 2nd too the 5th August I had 21 sightings of the butterfly with a total number of 117 individuals. Compared to other years that number is pretty poor.... Other observers were seeing NBA well into September suggesting the weather did as I said suppress a larger more seasonal emergence.

Iain.

Lovely little butterfly Iain...
NBA is the last true British species I have left to see and I would love it to be artaxerxes if at all possible (I just have to see those white spots )
Eastern Scotland would seem to be the most likely spot, but living in East Anglia it will involve a long drive. Without giving away any trade secrets, I am wondering if anyone knows any likely areas slightly further south where the true artaxerxes could "reliably" be found?

Trev

Trev Sawyer wrote:Lovely little butterfly Iain...
NBA is the last true British species I have left to see and I would love it to be artaxerxes if at all possible (I just have to see those white spots)

Me too, otherwise it's just a Brown Argus seen in the north of England.

I fully intend to get round to seeing this species in 2012.

David M wrote:

Trev Sawyer wrote:Lovely little butterfly Iain...
NBA is the last true British species I have left to see and I would love it to be artaxerxes if at all possible (I just have to see those white spots)

Me too, otherwise it's just a Brown Argus seen in the north of England.

Hilarious!

Cheers,

- Pete

I wouldn't say 'reliable' but Bishop Middleham Quarry,County Durham,is the furthest south i have seen NBA with white spots.
I have been there twice and both times i have seen just one, along with small numbers of plain ones. But the flight times can be variable,and this year i was supprised to see NBA were going over at Durham when they were only starting in Cumbria,indicating spring had been warmer in the N.E. than in the N.W.
But how can we tell this from here in East Anglia?
Mark.

Wensleydale

I do have to query whether in Wensleydale it might not be "ordinary" Brown Argus. I don't know.

Jack

According to the books,NBA always lay their eggs on the upper surface of the caterpillar foodplant,whereas BA lay on the under side. So this could be a way to tell which species is present-if a laying female is seen.
Can anyone confirm if this is true?
Regards, Mark.