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Brown Hairstreak - Favourite Photo of 2017
Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 5:23 pm
by Wurzel
Brown Hairstreak - Favourite Photo of 2017
So the Favourite Photo enters round 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.
Here we go then!
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Brown Hairstreak - Favourite Photo of 2017
Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 7:16 am
by Chris Jackson
This year I went from the stage of thinking I would never see a Brown Hairstreak in my life, as they do not fly anywhere near Marseilles, to getting the uppers and unders of a female in mid September in a place where no sightings have been made for over 16 years. Then, one month later (yesterday), I found 3 eggs on blackthorn in the same spot. Youpee !!
Probably my most noteworthy sightings of 2017.
Chris
Re: Brown Hairstreak - Favourite Photo of 2017
Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 12:47 pm
by millerd
I managed my first photos of a male butterfly this year down at Bookham (11th August), so that has to come high on the list.
I also saw some nice new females at the same spot on two different days...(1st and 11th August)
...and then a worn but very cooperative female down at Noar Hill (19th August).
A good year for them from my point of view I'd say!
Dave
Re: Brown Hairstreak - Favourite Photo of 2017
Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 9:00 pm
by bugboy
A very noteworthy sighting
Chris, well done!
And
Dave, I do believe that female on the Hogweed looks rather familiar, in fact she may well feature again just below
My battle with the Bookham Brown Hairstreaks this year was rather enjoyable, a battle I eventually won by a 15 - 2 landslide
This was the first one I saw on the 25th July, one of 4 males eventually seen at low level
Several fresh females were also seen including this one, in the company of Dave (Millerd)
But I can't forget my first ever sighting of a larvae (who sadly died for reasons unknown but possibly parasitism). I located it on an isolated sprig of Blackthorn as an egg during the winter.
Re: Brown Hairstreak - Favourite Photo of 2017
Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 10:17 pm
by David M
Chris Jackson wrote:This year I went from the stage of thinking I would never see a Brown Hairstreak in my life, as they do not fly anywhere near Marseilles, to getting the uppers and unders of a female in mid September in a place where no sightings have been made for over 16 years. Then, one month later (yesterday), I found 3 eggs on blackthorn in the same spot.
Good for you, Chris. This is a very elusive butterfly so I suspect that having found it, there may well be more than you think in that area.
Re: Brown Hairstreak - Favourite Photo of 2017
Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 10:02 am
by Chris Jackson
Thanks for you comments, Bugboy and David.
I'll be back out there egg spotting this winter and trying to judge the extent of the laying domain.
Chris
Re: Brown Hairstreak - Favourite Photo of 2017
Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:34 pm
by David M
Chris Jackson wrote:I'll be back out there egg spotting this winter and trying to judge the extent of the laying domain.
Excellent idea. Few butterflies provide as much winter enjoyment as late summer, but
betulae egg hunting is almost on a par with tracking down the adults. A great winter pastime!
Re: Brown Hairstreak - Favourite Photo of 2017
Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 2:19 pm
by peterc
On 4 August at Bookham Common, I found a male and a female feeding in the same spot.
ATB
Peter
Re: Brown Hairstreak - Favourite Photo of 2017
Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 9:53 pm
by David M
Dire weather throughout most of August put paid to me seeing very many Brown Hairstreaks, but I persevered and was rewarded with a dozen or so females during my 4 visits to the Pembrokeshire site:
Re: Brown Hairstreak - Favourite Photo of 2017
Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 5:33 pm
by Wurzel
Brown Hairstreak
This was taken at Shipton Bellinger and is my favourite as the photo was obtained in the strangest of situations. Not only was it the easiest butterfly find, literally a case of turning it up and there it was but also this shot was taken after reaching the front of a queue!
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Brown Hairstreak - Favourite Photo of 2017
Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2018 10:08 am
by andy brown
Here is one from Shipton last Aug, not the best flower/perch to be on but a nice fresh specimen of the butterfly non the less