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Silver-spotted Skipper – Favourite Photo of 2017

Week 15 – This week must be the second placed week of the thread in 2018 because they're all 'Silvers' And after that very tenuous link let's crack on...

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

Quite possibly the most unusual sighting of my year, the bilateral gynandromorph from Aston Rowant in September certainly will always stick in the mind.Splitting the photo down the middle makes the phenomenon that much clearer.
Left side: maleRight side: femaleComing 24 hours after seeing the QoS in Sussex, it made quite a week.

However, my actual favourite photo of this charming species was taken at Denbies on the way back from seeing the Queens. The second skipper arrived just as I was lining up a shot with a bit of view in the background. It's great when things happen by chance like that.

Dave

Fantastic, Dave. That was certainly a memorable few days.

I always find the challenge of getting them as they sway atop one of their favoured nectar sources, Scabious, frustratingly enjoyable, making the ones that turn out in focus all the more satisfying

I am lucky to have found this photo from last year. I must have spent more time making notes than taking photos.
Mid August, south of France: Chris

My only encounter with Silver-spotted Skipper in 2017 was at Aston Rowant on 1 August, very windy and quite hot so very active.

Normally, I take a 'fix' of this species in the UK, but such was the warm summer in the French Alps in 2017 that for the first time I saw considerable numbers in a continental environment.

Here's one of many, many dozens seen:

Silver-spotted Skipper

This was taken on m only trip to Broughton Down. I don’t know what happened this year but I just didn’t seem to be able to make the same number of trips out as previous years. So I really only had one site’s worth to select from. I chose this one as I like the way the butterfly’s posed, almost as if standing tip-toe on the leaf.
Have a goodun

Wurzel