Brown Hairstreak - Favourite Photo of 2017

[Wurzel]

Brown Hairstreak - Favourite Photo of 2017

So the Favourite Photo enters round 2!

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.
Here we go then!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Chris Jackson]

This year I went from the stage of thinking I would never see a Brown Hairstreak in my life, as they do not fly anywhere near Marseilles, to getting the uppers and unders of a female in mid September in a place where no sightings have been made for over 16 years. Then, one month later (yesterday), I found 3 eggs on blackthorn in the same spot. Youpee !!
Probably my most noteworthy sightings of 2017.
Chris

[millerd]

I managed my first photos of a male butterfly this year down at Bookham (11th August), so that has to come high on the list.

I also saw some nice new females at the same spot on two different days...(1st and 11th August)

...and then a worn but very cooperative female down at Noar Hill (19th August).

A good year for them from my point of view I'd say!

Dave

[bugboy]

A very noteworthy sighting Chris, well done!

And Dave, I do believe that female on the Hogweed looks rather familiar, in fact she may well feature again just below

My battle with the Bookham Brown Hairstreaks this year was rather enjoyable, a battle I eventually won by a 15 - 2 landslide

This was the first one I saw on the 25th July, one of 4 males eventually seen at low level

Several fresh females were also seen including this one, in the company of Dave (Millerd)

But I can't forget my first ever sighting of a larvae (who sadly died for reasons unknown but possibly parasitism). I located it on an isolated sprig of Blackthorn as an egg during the winter.

[David M]

This year I went from the stage of thinking I would never see a Brown Hairstreak in my life, as they do not fly anywhere near Marseilles, to getting the uppers and unders of a female in mid September in a place where no sightings have been made for over 16 years. Then, one month later (yesterday), I found 3 eggs on blackthorn in the same spot.

Good for you, Chris. This is a very elusive butterfly so I suspect that having found it, there may well be more than you think in that area.

[Chris Jackson]

Thanks for you comments, Bugboy and David.
I'll be back out there egg spotting this winter and trying to judge the extent of the laying domain.
Chris

[David M]

I'll be back out there egg spotting this winter and trying to judge the extent of the laying domain.

Excellent idea. Few butterflies provide as much winter enjoyment as late summer, but betulae egg hunting is almost on a par with tracking down the adults. A great winter pastime!

[peterc]

On 4 August at Bookham Common, I found a male and a female feeding in the same spot.

ATB

Peter

[David M]

Dire weather throughout most of August put paid to me seeing very many Brown Hairstreaks, but I persevered and was rewarded with a dozen or so females during my 4 visits to the Pembrokeshire site:

[Wurzel]

Brown Hairstreak

This was taken at Shipton Bellinger and is my favourite as the photo was obtained in the strangest of situations. Not only was it the easiest butterfly find, literally a case of turning it up and there it was but also this shot was taken after reaching the front of a queue!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[andy brown]

Here is one from Shipton last Aug, not the best flower/perch to be on but a nice fresh specimen of the butterfly non the less