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Week 3

So continues sequence of posts giving one and all the opportunity to showcase their favourite shots of 2014!

Please could I ask that everyone waits until a topic has been opened by me for a particular species before posting photos? Of course our overseas members are very welcome to fill in the obvious gaps relating to rare UK migrants. As like last year 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

Every year Commas come in three distinct batches: the ones that welcome in the spring and always surprise with the amount of energy they have left after the long winter; the midsummer brood, more graceful and less-intensely marked and often reminiscent of a fritillary; the autumn hibernators, gorging on blackberries, beautifully patterned with deep and subtle undersides for hiding away. Here is one of each, all from my local patch near Heathrow. Overall, I would say they didn't have as good a year as usual - my best day had a count of just over a dozen, as opposed to 20+ in previous years.

Dave

What could be better than suddenly spotting a grounded, basking Comma in early March?

Not the best image, but one that promises much for future months.

Taken near my workplace on an abnormally warm early afternoon (13c) in Swansea on 5th March:

Comma

I was lucky enough to find plenty of accommodating Commas when they came out of hibernation at Five Rivers and there were one or two shots that could have easily ended up as the favourite. The shot below however trumped all. It was taken in the grounds of Llanachearon in mid April. The day had been cool and showery and despite the very briefest of grab shots of my first OT for 2014 it was a bit disappointing.

After sheltering in the kitchens a break in the rain meant I could have a look around the Bramble bush at the rear of the house. Things perked up with my first Holly Blue of 2014 and also this Comma which fluttered down and tried to bask in the weak spring sun. It’s my favourite as I caught it having a bit of a spruce up, something I’d not witnessed in this species before. It used its fore legs (not the brush feet) to wipe over its eyes and down its palps before repeating the action on the other side.
Have a goodun

Wurzel

I like this photo for its colour.

It's quite a surprise for me that I have chosen this shot, since it was taken during a family visit, when I only had my small Lumix TZ25 with me and was not planning to take butterfly photos!
Mike

Ok, so it is not exactly a photo but rather a "snapshot" taken from video footage. I will give you a few details in case anyone else would like to try this for the first time or disqualify me from the local photographic competition !
My "Bridge" cameras do approx. 20-30 frames a second. (by the way, I am told that for really good slow motion I need 1000 frames a second). So it is a case of scrolling through my video clip on camera, frame by frame and then exporting the desired frame.
The other way of doing it is to put ones video clip into the movie making software and select "create snapshot" when the video is paused. This is the way I did it in this case.
The file size is small but for getting good compositions, I think this method is a winner !

The Commas are fresh summer brood on faeces (2nd July) acting a bit like Purple Emperors (now why did I have to bring them into it ? ) A lot of wing flicking kept the on looking flies away!
Best Wishes.
Philip

I always feel a slight tinge of disappointment when that large orange butterfly you spot in the woodland turns out to be just a Comma rather than one of the summer fritillaries... but I shouldn't really - they are such beautiful butterflies.

I have taken several photos of the Comma this year - the one below is my favourite - I love the 'redness' of it

Peter

Commas seemed to start off well around most of my local spots with good numbers coming out of hibernation, including the one below at Castle Hills Solihull in late March.
There seemed to be fewer around in the summer emergence although they did show up at most places that I went to during July and into August. The photo below, taken at Bickenhill near Solihull is probably my overall favourite Comma shot taken this year.
I also quite like the shot below of a hutchinsoni female, again taken near Solihull,
The Autumn appearance also seemed down in numbers compared with previous years but as with those earlier in the summer they still showed up at most places. Another favourite photo is the typical pose on blackberries below with the butterfly seeming to glow in the September afternoon sun.
Cheers,

Neil.

The Comma is very photogenic with blackberries Neil.
Here is one of its Mediterranean cousins from June : Chris

I've got two photo's I really like and I can't decide between them both so I'll put both in

The first one was taken at Hall-Lee-Brook near where I live on March 29th , the other one I took in the New Forest July 10th , I think they represent to me the beginning of Spring and the Summer. Goldie

My favourite Comma pic for this year, not sure where taken, got no records for that day (my wife does all the diary keeping but often forgets), I think I have better pics but this is my favourite.

I just love Comma butterflies. I dont know quite why. I tend to get very excitable whenever I see one. They have become quite common place in the Scottish Borders this past few years...and Amen to that. There does now seem to be an emergence from hibernation that can happen as early as Februray and into March, followed by a summer brood in late June. followed up finally by a partial second brood in October. This one was quite a sight...as they always are. I was walking down the banks of the Whiteadder in Berwickshire. In a few places you have to perform some high jinks stepping stones to continue downstream. An overhanging Elm branch was in my way, I was just about to sweep it aside when I saw this little beauty sunning itself on one of the now bright yellow leaves.

Iain

My favourite is this little Comma larva 1st instar, thats just hatched..

Have lots of Comma pictures but this one is my favourite. Primed and ready to blast off and do battle with any passing Peacock foolish enough to stray in his territory Phil

The best I could do and there is a tiny bit of wing damage: Regards,
Philip

As being my traditional Spring butterfly to shoot, I prefer this one from date I still had only one or two used lenses.

This one on Box Hill on 22nd July was just asking to be framed by the forground plantlife

Nick Broomer wrote:My favourite is this little Comma larva 1st instar, thats just hatched..

Comma larva, 1st instar 058-2.jpg

That's an incredible image, Nick! I love the fact that it's "in context" and not just a closeup.

Cheers,

- Pete

Thanks Pete. Appreciated.

All the best, Nick.