Your top 10 favourite UK butterflies- for fun

[Ian Pratt]

Having seen my first and very fresh Peacock this morning , it made me think about my top ten UK butterflies.
My list was as follows, in no particular order:
Peacock
Small tortoiseshell
Marsh fritillary
Brown Argus
Grizzled skipper
Painted lady
Purple emperor
Green hairstreak
Swallowtail
Clouded yellow

Sadly no room for small copper, marbled white, Adonis blue, chalkhill blue etc.

Any alternative lists would be appreciated.

[ChrisC]

most of mine are sentimental or characteristics rather than asthetic in no particular order
orange-tip just a great butterfly
large skipper feisty little things. 20 minutes every day this week one of these tussles with a comma and will take on all comers
ringlet when fresh I think they are stunning butterfly
red admiral one of the only butterflies you're likely to see all year round
gatekeeper purely because in my old garden seeing them erupt from the marjoram patch as I walked past never ceased to enthral
Chalkhill blue again for sentimental reasons their display last year at denbies will stay with me forever
Brown argus as large skipper a feisty little beggar
pearl bordered fritillary I've only seen 3 only because it was a great day being shown them
Wall. again only ever seen one at pagham harbour but my dad and I chased it along the beach trying to identify it.
small copper simply gorgeous

[Vince Massimo]

My top 5 "common species" in descending order:
1. Orange-tip
2. Red Admiral
3. Brimstone
4. Marbled White
5. Small Tortoiseshell

Then the next 5 in no particular order:
Purple Emperor
Brown Hairstreak
Adonis Blue
White Admiral
Clouded Yellow...................................plus Painted Lady

That's only three lists so far and not one species appears in all three.

Vince

[Wurzel]

I can never decide but here goes

1. The one I've just photographed
2. The one before the one I've just photographed.
3. And so on...

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Susie]

You missed out the one that you are hoping to photograph next!

[MikeOxon]

I'll go for:

1. Adonis Blue - wow - what colour
2. Silver-spotted Skipper - almost makes one look forward to the end of the season
3. Green-veined White - very beautiful when strongly marked
4. High Brown Fritillary - a 'red-letter' day when a presumed DGF turns into one of these
5. Orange Tip - brilliant start to the season
6. Silver-washed Fritillary - real high-summer butterfly
7. Purple Emperor - can't omit or would be lynched
8. Small Tortoiseshell - the 'perfect' butterfly
9. Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary - much 'classier' on the underside than the larger one
10. Swallowtail - so exotic looking

and a special mention to Large Tortoiseshell, because I've never seen one.

Mike

[essexbuzzard]

What a great idea for a topic!

1. Orange Tip
2. Adonis Blue
3. Grizzled Skipper
4. Silver Spotted Skipper
5. Green Hairstreak
6. Chalkhill Blue
7. Speckled Wood
8. Marsh Fritillary
9. Marbled White
10.Comma

[Wurzel]

Cheers Susie I definitely missed a trick there It was just too difficult a task.

After a long hard think all afternoon I gave up thinking about it so with Beer on the flow here goes...

1. Lulworth Skipper (as a Dorsetian it had to be really)
2. Marsh Fritillary
3. Duke of Burgundy
4. Green Hairstreak (a year ago it would have been a different story! )
5. Silver-studded Blue
6. Grayling
7. Brown Argus
8. Hedge Brown
9. Brown Hairstreak
10. Orange-tip

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Neil Freeman]

Right then, lets see...

1 - Speckled Wood...I think some may have guessed this one from some of my posts.
2 - Orange Tip...Spring in winged form.
3 - Green-veined White...Understated and often overlooked subtle beauty.
4 - Small Copper...Flashy and Feisty.
5 - White Admiral...For its graceful flight and contrast between simple but beautiful upper side and outstanding underside.

6 to 10 - I cannot make my mind up so that must mean that they are all favourites in some way.

This thinking lark is too hard at this time of night....back to the whiskey

Neil F.

[Susie]

1. Brown hairstreak

Beautiful flame tailed heralds of high summer and a wonderful finale to the season.

2. Green hairstreak

I just love the green/iridescent gold when these catch the sun. They are packed full of character and sitting on the steps at Denbies (invariably texting) watching male green hairstreaks sparring is a highlight of my butterfly year each year. I felt a real sense of loss when it didn't happen last year but was overjoyed to see them back in their usual spot this year.

3. Chalkhill blue

Lovely pastel colours, fluffy as a teddy bear when fresh, what is there not to like? Plus they are easy to photograph when roosting and at Denbies there are so many to choose from. Great memories of the chalkhill explosion last year too.

4. Duke of burgundy

Feisty little critters. Very happy memories of seeing my first ones at a sunny Noar Hill.

5. Painted lady

This butterfly has the most beautiful underside which is very underrated. Again great memories of the painted lady explosion a few years back; counting them flying over in their dozens and then having them arrive in the garden and smothering my wallflower bowles mauve.

6. Silver washed fritillary

A beautiful gliding flight and watching the courting process as the male circles the female never fails to leave me entranced.

7. Red admiral. I had a hard time deciding between this and orange tip but for me the red admiral is the butterfly I hope to see over the long dark winter months and it is invariably the first butterfly I see each year.

8. Marbled white

Watching these gliding over a meadow of wild flowers is such a beautiful sight.

9. Swallowtail. I have only ever seen these abroad but they are fabulous. One day I hope to see them in the UK.

10. Small copper. The sheen on a fresh small copper's wingers is just stunning. I never see enough of these each year.

10a. I am going to include a moth! Hummingbird hawk moth. Love 'em!

I could list so many others, pearl bordered, Glanville, purple hairstreak, and I haven't even included his Imperial Majesty! ....

[RobS]

Here's my list;
1.Swallowtail..First one seen this year.Stunning,large butterfly and great memories of a day out with family.

2.Marsh Fritillary..Spent the day in the ditches of Hod Hill with these flying all around me.Very photogenic and awesome.

3.Purple Hairstreak..The butterfly responsible for my hobby(since the Harley went).Shame i didnt know what it was, as i was photographing it with open wings.

4.Purple Emperor..Gives me a chance to meet the other UKB'ers and lay on the ground next to animal droppings.

5.Clouded Yellow..First one seen recently and only for a short while...but what a lovely soft orange colour flying.Even the name is ethereal.

6.Pearl Bordered Fritillary..Wont forget the day spent with these beauties at Bentley Wood.

7.Silver Washed Fritillary..Summer's here.Brings the woodlands alive.

8.Common Blue..Love a blue butterfly...and its common.

9.Orange Tip..starts the season with a bang.Sorry Brimstone !

10.Small Copper..Bright and unmissable when fresh.Wish it was Larger.

cheers
rob

[kevling]

Here goes for my top ten. Just needs the voice of Alan Freeman and some steerign brass music in the background.

1. Orange Tip (by a country mile)
2. Red Admiral (first butterfly I ever saw. It sparked a lifetime love affair)
3. Comma
4. Speckled Wood
5. Peacock
6. Grizzled Skipper (first one seen this year. Still on a high about it)
7. Heath Fritillary
8. Adonis Blue
9. Small Tortoiseshell
10. Painted Lady

The agonizing decision is which one to bump when I finally track down my first Duke of Burgundy. Can I have a top 11?

Regards Kev

[dilettante]

I'd probably choose a different ten tomorrow, but for now:

Brimstone - lovely shape, and a great first butterfly of Spring often
Orange Tip - a really good effort showing some colour compared to its boring white cousins
Green Hairstreak - such a unique colour
Swallowtail - magnificent beasts
Ringlet - get 'em while they're fresh and they're beautifully chocolatey
Small Copper - always an unexpected pleasure when you find them
Marsh Fritillary - The colour palette on these is just gorgeous. I've only ever seen tatty ones though
Peacock - Such amazing colours when they're fresh
Marbled White - so summery
Common Blue - widespread, but so exotic-looking

[David M]

Brown Hairstreak female - all boxes ticked: rarity, patience required to locate it, beauty both upper and underside, behaviour and the fact that it's so approachable once found.

Brimstone male - particularly in spring as it's a harbinger of things to come and seeing one gives you such a lift.

Purple Emperor male - stunning beauty, accentuated by the way the colours change as you view it from different angles. Behaviour quite unique for a butterfly. Fearless and bold and actively engages with humans.

Peacock - if this species was as rare and elusive as Black Hairstreak, half the country would descend on the M4 compensation area each year!

Orange Tip male - beauty, delicacy and, like Brimstones, a sign that summer's getting ever nearer.

Swallowtail - graceful and stunning to the eye. The British subspecies eclipses the continental one.

Adonis Blue male - when fresh, this has to be the finest shade of blue on earth.

High Brown Fritillary - those undersides are stunning. Powerful flight but with a weakness for thistle heads!

Small Copper - quite unlike anything else in the UK. Pugnacious little beast too with loads of character.

Silver Washed Fritillary - their size and propensity to swoop gracefully is something I never tire of.

[Pete Eeles]

Brown Hairstreak female - all boxes ticked: rarity, patience required to locate it, beauty both upper and underside, behaviour and the fact that it's so approachable once found.

Sounds like an episode of Blind Date

Cheers,

- Pete

[David M]

Brown Hairstreak female - all boxes ticked: rarity, patience required to locate it, beauty both upper and underside, behaviour and the fact that it's so approachable once found.

Sounds like an episode of Blind Date

Showing your age now, Pete.

[sandraandkevin]

Such a difficult decision but in no particular order

1) Brimstone
2) Orange Tip
3) Marsh Fritillary
4) Purple Emperor
5) Silver Spotted Skipper
6) Green Hairstreak
7) Brown Hairstreak
Peacock
9) Large Heath
10) Grizzed Skipper

And

11) The Camberwell Beauty we saw in Norfolk a few years ago.


I am sure I will change my mind, if i was to do again tomorrow....

Kevin

[A_T]

No order

Brimstone
Silver-washed Fritillary
Dark Green Fritillary
Peacock
Speckled Wood
Large White
Ringlet
Gatekeeper
Large Heath
Grayling