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Silver-studded Blue – 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

I saw good numbers of this species in France in 2017, but only two in the UK.

However, it was one of my best ever butterflying days out, as it took place on 18th June when skies were clear and the temperature reached 28c in Pembrokeshire!! It was so hot I even took a dip in the sea.

Here's one of the two males seen:

On 1st June I visited two of the Surrey heathland sites for this species. Thursley was first, and on a very warm and sunny morning they were probably right at the start of their emergence.At Fairmile Common later in the day, they were less cooperative, though I did track down a female. Dave

Chobham Common is my regular site for this species and they had a decent year there last year, spread out a fair bit more then I've seen in previous years. This first female is a fave simply because of her stunning set of studs! and a couple of males settled on the same stem during a cloudy spell provided ample opportunity to get down to their level

I found this male and female settled close to each other after the sun had gone in on Ashdown Forest, East Sussex.


http://eastsussexwanderer.blogspot.co.uk

So many photos to choose from.
Here is a cop shot from 1750 m altitude in the Menuires ski resort in July: Chris

Had an early season encounter with Silver-studded Blue in Cornwall on 31 May and again in Norfolk on 20 June.

Silver-studded Blue

This is another species that I only rally encountered at one site, the fantastically named Slop Bog. If I’m honest I don’t think I could visit any other site for this species as when writing about it for (an eventual) posting would feel bland due to a less interesting headline. This one had to be my favourite because of the stunning colours shown by the supposedly ‘boring’ brown female. The purples, greens, blues all iridescent and stunning to see are something I’ve yet to see captured in illustrations.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

A run over to Upton Towans on the first day of June when we were down in Cornwall produced my only Silver-studded Blues. It was a cloudy day with some brief spells of sun during which I found a dozen or so nice fresh males basking in some of the sheltered spots in the dunes.
I only found the one female, a lovely fresh out of the box example,
Cheers,

Neil

Here is one of my favourite pictures from last year of this species Cheers

Andy