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Dark Green Fritillary - Favourite Photo of 2018

Week 4

Another week passes and still the butterflies fly…just in some cases. Still only another 20 weeks or so and we’ll be back in the butterflies. In the mean time…

Please could I ask that everyone waits until a topic has been opened by me for a particular species before posting photos as then it will be easier to keep track of things? Of course our overseas members are very welcome to fill in the obvious gaps relating to rare UK migrants. As in previous years 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

Strangely enough I have more chance of seeing a Dark Green Fritillary close to my parent's place in Leicester than I have in the south of France.
I was back in Leicester in June this year and in Ketton Quarry they were all over the place. Their fast wing beat gives them away compared to other Argynnis sp..
Chris

Having watched this candidate for High Brown-ness for a good 15 minutes as it zipped around Dunsford Meadow, Devon, in 30-degree heat on the afternoon of 24th June, it finally paused for just a moment to refuel. I moved into position and fired off a single frame before it resumed its patrol - and in one of those serendipitous moments, that first frame was perfect!

A couple of favourites from me. Despite the scorching summer I managed to find a male who settled long enough to get a run of shots off at Box Hill and whilst looking for High Browns at Arnside this female also posed for a good amount of time

I took my favourite photograph on Therfield Heath, Hertfordshire in early July. There were several about and they made a nice but very active side show to the Chalkhill Blues.

I never have much luck with this species. Normally I just see them zooming past at 90mph. I stumbled across this nice fresh one hiding in the grass on a cool and windy day. Next year I must try harder, maybe get up early (not my strong point!) and look for some at roost.
Friston Gallops, 17th June 2018, 12.52pm

Cheers
John W

Apart from my usual sightings at Box Hill in mid-June......I saw this species at a variety of other locations: Denbies, Aston Rowant, Arnside, Dunstable Downs and Fen Bog up on the North York Moors. The Yorkshire ones (3rd July) were perhaps most memorable, a significant sideshow to Large Heaths and SPBF.However, my encounter with a unusually sluggish female on the Downs near Whipsnade while walking with a friend (17th July) produced an interesting close-up shot.I was also very happy with this photo of an egg which Bugboy managed to find at Denbies on 12th July......and with this very fresh female from the same location on 21st July. Dave

Photographed at the Tourbière de Prénovel, Jura, France. 27-06-2018, a scenically beautiful location, regrettably not enough time to fully explore the walk across the meadows.

Interesting to see DGFs were out in the Jura when they remained scarce much further south during the first half of July.

2018 was a terrible year for the medium sized Frits in southern France. I saw more in Wales prior to travelling abroad than I did during the entire period I was in the Alps.

I do assure you David the D-g-Frits were in short supply in the Doubs/Jura in contrast to other Fritillary species seen, this is the only other one that I recall seeing, near Chenalotte 20-06-2018

Dark Green Fritillary

My favourite Dark Green Fritiilary came from Lulworth Cove and was chosen mainly due to the fact that it was a cracking day with a pair of Lulworths sitting side by side just ready for an Identification Field Guide, my first mating Lulworths, fantastic weather, paddling with the girls and just being back in Dorset. To cap it all I also saw a smattering of Dark Greens and this one was just immaculate and allowed me to get in quite close well it fed.
Have a goodun

Wurzel

The only one I saw around these parts this year was in my garden, a fresh-looking male enjoying the chives on June 11th...

My favourite Dark Green Fritillary photos come from Fineshade Woods this year. The species over the years has been slowly colonising from the north and some of our country grassland sites have had sightings over the last few years. This year they expanded their range though and were seen in more numbers. Although I didn't see it myself egg laying was observed at Fineshade so fingers crossed this species becomes a regular addition to the Northants species list in the future