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Lulworth Skipper – Favourite Photo of 2017

Week 10 – Sorry if this is slightly later than usual I was up to my neck in Xmas decorations. As I was passing them to the girls to hang I realised that Butterfly Conservation are missing a trick – I’d pay good money for Butterfly themed decorations – much better than toy soldiers, garish baubles etc! Anyway back to the Favourites…

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

A trip to Durlston Country Park (after a swim at Studland first) on a decent July day (9th) produced quite a few of the local speciality (as I hoped it would). It all seems a world away from today's snowy cold and wet.

Dave

I spent another glorious day in Dorset again this year, chasing this tiny butterfly around the stunning coast, and there was certainly no shortage with them probably numbering in the three figures.

This Lulworth skipper is from the south of France in mid May. Looking back, I'm surprised at how few I saw this year. Chris

Only saw this species in France in 2017. I didn't really bother with it in the Alps in July, but I took a few images in the Pyrenees in May:

Lulworth Skipper

I’m breaking my own self-imposed rule this time and choosing two. Both are from the same trip which was such a cracker that even if I’d seen this species on numerous occasions across the season I’d still have looked to this trip to make my pick from. The first was actually our first of the day. I’d just parked/abandoned the car in the car park at Corfe Castle, Philzoid and I had got the cameras ready and we’d taken five steps across the car park when I spied a little golden blur. It landed in the grass and as I approached I could see the little crescent moons staring back at me. One of the easiest finds of the season. The second was taken later in the day at Durlston. This male was hanging around just prior to our lunch and it was a stand-out butterfly as it looked like it had been painted – so bright and thick the pigmented scales appeared. Have a goodun

Wurzel