Speckled Wood - Favourite Photo of 2011

[Vince Massimo]

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 throughout the winter 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

[Wurzel]

It is a strange coincidence that the first species that I took for my first ever personal diary post was a Speckled Wood, and the very same species was my last butterfly shot of 2011. This is my favourite shot as the butterfly looks old and wizened, as befitting an individual at the (literal) autumn of it's life...

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[marmari]

Another regular in my back garden usually seen fluttering in a south facing dappled corner.
Taken on the 2nd August.

[MikeOxon]

I like the classic 'edge of a leaf' pose. Does the blurred flower in the background set the context or just a distraction?

Otmoor Roman Road, Oxon - 1st September 2011
Nikon D300s with 70-300VR - 1/350s@f/5.6 ISO400

Mike

[millerd]

A couple from me - the first and last of a Speckled Wood season locally spanning 3rd April to 22nd October. The two photos were taken within a few yards of each other.

Dave

[John W]

One of my favourite butterflies, I love the way the markings resemble dappled sunlight through the trees.

This one was taken at Strumpshaw Fen on 17th August 2011:

[johnv]

Ballard Down 22/07/2011

Private Estate, Meon Valley 02/09/2011

Couldn't decide, so two attachments.
Ballard Down shot is interesting as this specimen was most definitely taking nectar.

[ChrisC]

is it that unusual for speckled woods to be found nectaring? i have pictures this year of them feeding on buddliea (july)and vibernum tinus (april) in the garden this year.

anyway, my favourite this year is this one.

[Neil Freeman]

I can always rely on seeing Speckled Wood, or 'Speckledy Woods' as my Dad calls them, in my back garden, usually from sometime in early April through to October.
As they are a constant pesence there, I have taken loads of photos of them, to the point that I usually ignore them when I see them elsewhere which is a shame really. This is in marked contrast to when I was growing up in the same area in the midlands during the 1970s when I don't remember ever seeing one locally.

Not being able to pin myself down to one favourite shot, I particularly like the ones below, all taken in my back garden during April.

Speckled Wood - April 9th 2011

Speckled Wood - April 27th 2011

Speckled Wood - 30th April 2011

Cheers,

Neil F.

[ChrisC]

looks like we can add berberis to the nectaring list to. lovely markings on that last one Neil.

[Neil Freeman]

Thanks Chris, that one is a female on the berberis.
Now that I think about it, I don't recall seeing any males nectaring at flowers. In my garden at least the males seem to spend all their time perched on favourite spots and chasing anything away that comes close. In fact, that behaviour can become a a bit of a pain when I am trying to get a photo of something else and a Speckled Wood chases it off just as I am about to get the shot

[Goldie M]

This is a favourite of mine because the SPW looks so fresh and full of life. I took the photo on the 4th Sept at Fleetwood CP. We did get a few nice days then Goldie M

[dilettante]

Two for the price of one, taken on my Black Hairstreak day at Monk's Wood.


Monk's Wood, 5-Jun-11. Sony A700, Tamron 180/3.5 macro

[Michaeljf]

Speckled Woods are probably the butterfly I see the most of locally, considering that apart from the real winter months, they often fly through the garden as well are always about in the scrubland behind my house. So they're also easy to overlook and not pay enough attention too. A single individual will often sit on a stone-water bird table we have...and it always brightens my day when they do so.



My favourite picture of 2011 of a Speckled Wood was the one above taken in Oxfordshire (near Bernwood Meadows) on the 21st May. There were quite a few Speckled Woods on one of the forest rides that day by the meadow, and although many of the species I was hoping to see were yet to emerge, these lovely little SW's were a great alternative.

Michael