Green Hairstreak - Favourite Photo of 2013

[David M]

It actually took me some time to work out how to photograph green hairstreaks.

You've clearly mastered it!

[Susie]

After a poor year last year I was so pleased to see Green Hairstreak back at Denbies

[IAC]

This one, was one of dozen or more spotted on a heathery hillside overlooking Galashiels in the Scottish Borders in late May 2013. In my own vice county of Berwickshire to the east, they have never been recorded...ever!!! Despite the county having the Lammermuirs on its Northern edge, there just seems to be something missing. Naturally, they may still be found one day tucked away in a seldom visited cleugh...I do hope so anyway. The upside is in the Scottish Borders as whole this past few years, with increased awareness and recording effort, new colonies are being discovered at a good rate. The latest colony was discovered on a much explored lowland moss near Kelso...surprising everyone. So there is hope yet that I may one day see them spinning around the Berwickshire Hills.

Iain.