www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Chalkhill Blue - Favourite Photo of 2015

Continuing to build the Favourite Species Shots we enter into week 2.

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

This species has a long season, spanning late June to the end of September in good years. I see them at Denbies and Aston Rowant every year, with the numbers at the former sometimes very high. Not really so this year, but there were still plenty to see throughout the summer. A selection of fresh males: Dave

I took my photos at Temple Ewell in Kent on the 28th and 30th of July, the weather was windy but not cold, I was pleased to get shots of both Male and Female Chalkhill Blue Goldie

Barnack Hills and Holes is my nearest reliable site for Chalkhills - 40 minutes south down the A1. A compact and very undulating site (as the name suggests) which is also noted for its many types of UK-native orchids.

A couple of shots: a male amongst the thistles in soft light and high winds, and a nice aberrant female on a brighter day a couple of weeks later.

So dogged was I in pursuit of Brown Hairstreaks during August, that I didn't see Chalkhill Blue at all in the UK in 2015!!

A handful popped up in the French Alps in early July though. Here's one imbibing from a dung heap:

Hmmmm, favourite Chalkhill Blue picture, thats a toughy with over 300 to go though best stop there......

Loads of Chalkhill Blues at Aston Rowant when I went there on August 12th.

These two from the north side...
...and this slightly worn but attractive male from the south side with a white diffusion around the edges of his wings,
A few weeks later I was down in Dorset and there were still loads of Chalkhills up on Bindon Hill at Lulworth Cove.
where I particularly liked the variation on some of the females I saw there, including this one with blue scales on her hindwings...
...and this one showing some white markings,
cheers,

Neil.

Good array of images of both male and female, Neil.

Makes me even more ashamed at how little attention I paid to this species in 2015.

Stockbridge Down on the 21st July.

I'm not sure what it was, at first I thought it was a dead bird but on closer inspection it looked like something a dog had barfed up.

I do know I wouldn't have made lunch out of it.

Chalkhill Blue

This was taken at Laverstock Down in the last week of July whilst my daughter was in one of her tutoring sessions. I had been luckily enough to encounter several Chalkhills at different sites but this was my favourite as it felt more intimate than the usual upper or under wing shots, when the males seem like they’re showing off or the females look flustered and hassled after yet another advance form a male. Instead here was a male relaxing, supping a little nectar in the balmy afternoon sunshine. Have a goodun

Wurzel

It wax a very cool day at Aston Rowant, when I spotted this individual warming himself on the stones. I like this photo for the subtle blue and grey tones on the wings.
Mike

It was nice to find these two fresh males together.