www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Gatekeeper/Hedge Brown - Favourite Photo of 2017

I still prefer the 'proper' name for this species

Week 5 - The clocks have gone back, Fireworks night is upon us and the outside temperature is as though someone's turned the heating off so hopefully this thread will bring solace to those of us who are starting to go days without a butterfly sighting

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

This species really did bounce back locally after the dreadful 2016 they had (although they seemed to do better up north, they were rather numerous on Arnside Knott last year). They were particularly numerous at Bookham where most of my shots this year were taken including a few eye catching abs: I also rather like this, at first glance innocent looking image. The odd angle he was sat at made me look twice and it was then I noticed the sinister 'claw' of a hidden Crab Spider clutching at the recently deceased male.

It's always nice to get two for the price of one, so my favourite photo shows both the underside and uppersides of two Gatekeepers, nectaring on the same flower.
These were taken during a visit to a relative's wildlife garden, which attracts many nectaring insects, including bees as well as butterflies. You might like to visit their blog, which highlights concerns over [mis-]management of the countryside.

Mike

I've picked three photo's of Gate Keepers because my very first encounter this year was a shot of an ab in the Dunes at Southport on the 5th July which I like and a Female GK taken in my Back Garden on the 7th of August, it's the first GK i'd seen in the Garden for a year or two. My third is a distance shot which I took at Hall-Lee-Brook on the 16th of August I just like the photo Goldie

My male open wing shot was of a very fresh individual from Orlestone forest (Kent) ,Gatekeepers didn,t do quite as well locally this year,and I never managed too many pictures . The closed wing shot is from my back garden perched on a relative of Sea Holly ,think this is Blue Eyringo ,what I do know is that it stinks to high heaven !! and flies (and some butterflies !) love it. Regards Allan.W.

I have picked a mating pair from my local patch on 8th July, as despite their abundance for a while I hardly ever find them paired. Curiously, Gatekeepers appeared at their normal time here this year when most species were early. Dave

Gatekeepers were another species that seemed to have a good year with good numbers seen at most places I visited during their flight period.
They were one of the commonest butterflies that I saw at Arnside Knott where these two individuals with white patches were seen, strangely enough both within a few feet of each other in the same meadow.
I also had more in my garden than I usually do with half a dozen at a time on some days instead of the usual one or two,
Cheers,

Neil

No doubt about my favourite Gatekeeper photograph. Badger Bob and I were out walking in a Wealden wood in East Sussex when he spotted this male (ab.obscurior) sitting in the undergrowth. It was in no hurry to go anywhere and we 'filled our boots'.


http://eastsussexwanderer.blogspot.co.uk

That's an absolute stunner, DB. Never seen anything like it.

Given the early nature to the season as well as my time spent in France in July, I didn't really see too many Hedge Browns in 2017.

There WAS one occasion when they came to my attention though; in Abergavenny at the back end of July when I saw this individual:
This aberrant individual was also eye-catching on 10th August at West Williamston in Pembrokeshire:

Hi David,

I would venture to suggest that your female Gatekeeper (last entry) would also fit into the category of ab. obscurior or ab. semi-obscura.

Take a look at the Cockayne collection website where you will see a very similar example to yours.

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/cockayne-collection

All the best, DB.

Thanks for that information, DB. However, the link takes me to a 'dead' page!

Try this one David

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/b ... utterflies

Gatekeeper

This was taken on the last day of July ‘Up The Lane’ whilst visiting my in-laws. This year was another good one for aberrants with many excessa (are they getting more common?) one with one pupil, one with three pupils, some with a multitude of spots and one really striking one with streaks and not spots on the underside. However this female topped the bill for me as she was so fresh and so well marked, a joy to behold.
Have a goodun

Wurzel

The Gatekeepers in our garden are fond of nectaring on two plants in particular - fleabane and small scabious. Here is a female on the former.