The Silver-washed Fritillary is always a target species for me to find each year. This has been so since I found it in a large woodland area (Fineshade) some years ago.
According to all the butterfly books and internet information I read about it, it is supposed to be very rare in this part of England. It has certainly been seen in two locations within a few miles of each other over the last few years to my knowledge and that of other local bloggers.
See John's excellent recently obtained images at the other location that I am aware of.
It was uncertain how this species would fair this year due to the extreme inclement weather we have had this Spring/Summer. Although I found some in the same location as previous years, I didn't find as many. This may be due to the season for this species being late or they have suffered greater losses due to the weather.
The few that I did find certainly gave me the run-around as they rarely pitched, when they did it was always in a difficult location either up high or deep in large bushy areas. So these few images are the sum total of my present efforts.
This is mainly a woodland species that can be observed along the edge of sunny woodland tracks.
It is the largest of our Fritillary species, the male has a wingspan of 72mm and the female 76mm.
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Roy, what a pretty species. I looks especially nice on that blue flower. In spite of the difficulty, you got some nice shots!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathie.
Deletesuch wonderful butterflies; I'll have to keep my eyes closer to ground come summer
ReplyDeleteThey are special Carole.
DeleteA stunning butterfly Roy, and one I've never seen.
ReplyDeleteI went out with Trevor on Monday, and saw my first Dark Green Fritillary. An equally stunning butterfly.
Thanks Keith, I have yet to see a Dark Green.
DeleteHey Roy...It looks like velvet in the first photo...very pretty!!
ReplyDeleteI like the next to the last one with that slant, couldn't get much flatter then that !!
I would live to see you chasing butterflies : }} lol!!
Grace
Thanks GG.
DeleteIt's a rare sight.{:))
Well done Roy for getting these images of the Silver-washed Fritillary. I saw a few at Martin Down NR, they were flighty, none of them landed anywhere within reach:-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Lyn, they seem more flighty this year,
DeleteWhat lovely photos of this beautiful creature. I am so very aware of the lessening numbers of bees and butterflies visiting the flowers in my garden this year compared to previous years. I find this most concerning.
ReplyDeleteThanks Claire, yes hopefully they will recover next year. One things for sure the females that are here will lay a lot of eggs as usual.
DeleteHi Roy, I'm struggling to keep up with your great posts! I hope you don't mind me commenting here on previous posts. Well done with the Swallow photos , I find them very difficult to photograph!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the Chalkhill Blue post. Really superb photos! I thoroughly enjoyed the post. I hope to get to Watlington Hill to see them this year.
Congrats of course on this post. A magnificent butterfly which I have tried to find myself this week. I went somewhere on Tuesday where they were but they were so fast and flighty it was just a case of seeing them zipping past at high speed :-)
Thanks Jan, no I don't mind about how you comment.
DeleteNice shots Roy! Puts mine to shame! ( Thanks for the link by the way! ) The second shot with him on the thistle is stunning!
ReplyDeleteJ
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Thanks John. That shot was the only one I was pleased with.
DeleteA real beauty, and some great shots. I saw these in the New Forest last year, but they rarely stayed still!
ReplyDeleteThanks Alison.
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