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Silver-washed Fritillary – 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

On 30th June, despite not a great deal of sunshine, plenty of male SWF were around in Fermyn Woods.A week later, a really hot day down at Bookham produced more females. Dave

I took a fair few pictures of these but most, now I've looked through them are decidedly average. I suspect my attention was focused on getting White Admiral pictures of which there were LOTS at Bookham this year, as well as those Purple ones that did so well this year. Anyway here's one of each sex that stood out from the crowd:

It has been wonderful to see Silver-washed Fritillaries return to suitable woodland in Essex and Suffolk over the last 5 years or so.

These photos of a male and a female were taken on midsummer's day this year at Bradfield Woods, Suffolk.

I have already posted several photos in this 'Favourite Photo' thread from a splendid afternoon at Bucknell Wood, Northants., but this post goes to the heart of my excitement on that day I am very grateful to 'Art Frames', who drew my attention to this wood.

Before my visit, I had only seen single examples of the Valesina form of the Silver-washed Fritillary, on just a few occasions. To see several in a small area and to photograph two together was a truly memorable experience.
Mike

I came across this mating pair in a local wood in East Sussex. I particularly liked the first image as it shows just how well the pair blended into a leafy background.


http://eastsussexwanderer.blogspot.co.uk

As many people, I have a particularly soft spot for form valesina.
These two shots are of the same female valesina in the west Var, south of France, in mid August, on Cephalaria leucantha: Chris

these were near Pomas, Aude, France in August

I'm afraid my trip to Fermyn Woods on the 14th of July , earlier than last year, was not as successful because of the early appearance of the Butterflies, I did see both White Admiral and Silver Washed Fritillary but the Emperor was high in the sky, so no shots for me of him this year
The SWF's were not at their best with bits out of their wings and one Female with a very torn wing but since it was only the first Female I'd ever seen ( not including the Valesina which I saw a couple of years a go too briefly to get a good shot of) I still took a photo which I'll keep until I can improve on the photo

I must admit our visit was shorter this time just calling on our way to Kent so I was happy to get the shots I did especially the one of a White Letter HS which landed in front of me at ground level. Goldie

downland boy wrote:I came across this mating pair in a local wood in East Sussex. I particularly liked the first image as it shows just how well the pair blended into a leafy background.

Great image those, DB. Yes, the first shows off the camouflage, but it's the second that's particularly striking. They posed very nicely, that's for sure. Well done.

Didn't see too many of these in the UK. I was away for the start of their flight period but a handful kept popping up at the Brown Hairstreak site in Pembrokeshire during August.

However, this species was around in near-pestilent numbers in the French Alps in July. I must have seen 500+, including several valezinas. Here's a rather poor shot of one with a nominative form adjacent:

Silver-washed Fritillary have done well in Cambridgeshire. I remember the first In Monks Wood 2011 which I was lucky enough to photograph to confirm their presence there. I recorded a top count of 27 in my local wood, Aversley on the 24th June 2017. I had seen the odd one or two there in recent years but it was good to see the increase in numbers. Monks Wood was awash with them if you will pardon the pun

Thanks David...glad you liked. DB.

Silver-washed Fritillary were very numerous in my local wood, where I took these photographs. 2017 was the first year that I encountered valesina in this wood and I saw several but they were always close to the shadows and on the wrong side of brambles so close approach was impossible. The courting couple were more approachable.

Some superb images posted folks,love the Valesina females posted, an AB I,d really like to see ,seems to have been a good year for them ,didn,t take to many Silver-Wash shots in,i must admit I enjoy just sitting and watching them !
Regards Allan.W.

Silver-washed Fritillary

This was taken during my family holiday to Devon and became my choice for three reasons:
1. It was totally unexpected being on Buddleia, at a Farm Park on the edge of Dartmoor and also during the back end of August.
2. It was the only normal female I managed to capture on film in 2017
3. It was taken surreptitiously; “I’ll just go and find out what time the pony rides are…”
Have a goodun

Wurzel

My first Silver-washed Fritillaries this year were seen in the Heddon Valley in late June when I saw a number of both males and females scattered about the area.
A month later there were good numbers at Snitterfield Bushes in Warwickshire,
Cheers,

Neil