Wood White - Favourite Photo 2019

[Wurzel]

Wood White - Favourite Photo 2019

Week 20

So we have finally reached the end of the Favourites threads for another year! So this thread is for the final of the ‘official’ UK species. Hopefully the weather will start to improve and we can start getting shots ready to enter in the Favourite 2020 threads in 8 months time…

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

[Wurzel]

Wood White

My Favourite shot for this species comes from Botany Bay from the first week of June. It was a memorable day as it was a double header with Philzoid and we’d already bagged some Glannies and bumped into Dave and Ernie. So we were itching to find some Wood Whites, possibly the most fairy like and ethereal of butterflies. We didn’t have to wait long as we started seeing them after the first bend in the track when normally we have to get much further in and cross the bridge. They were around in good numbers an so picking my Fave was a bit difficult but in the end I went for this one as it shows the courtship behaviour, the tentative and tender touching of tarsi which is a total contrast compared to the wham, bang of certain species.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[millerd]

May saw my first vist to Chiddingfold of the year, to seek out the first brood Wood Whites. As ever, I tried to get a few shots of this species with its wings open, which can be possible when it undertakes its curious face-to-face ritual. On this occasion, having found a suitably posed couple, my efforts were disturbed by the arrival of a second male. The final result was a curious "menage-a-trois"...

a flash from the female...

...then the male as the second male appears

the second male caught in flight

he muscles in

another flash of wings before settling down

the happy threesome

Dave

[David M]

Fabulous sequence of images, Dave. You did particularly well to get those open wing shots.

[bugboy]

Not much competition for me this year. I left it a bit late to see these at Chiddingfold and of the few that were seen in July only one settled so I have just 6 images to sift through... and tbh they're all rather similar to this one

[Chris Jackson]

My photo is an early one from March 17th in the south of France.

Chris

[Lee Hurrell]

I visited Chiddingfold in May and counted 27 Wood Whites between Botany Bay and Oaken Wood.

Wood White, female left, male right, Chiddingfold Forest, Surrey, 24th May 2020

[bugboy]

I visited Chiddingfold in May and counted 27 Wood Whites between Botany Bay and Oaken Wood.

IMG_7502.JPG

Getting a bit ahead of yourself here Lee, this is last years thread. Wood White's 2020 hasn't been started yet

[Andy02]

My only trip to Northampton resulted in a speeding ticket , from Silverstone of all places , and these special butterflies. Worth it I suppose

[Lee Hurrell]

Getting a bit ahead of yourself here Lee, this is last years thread. Wood White's 2020 hasn't been started yet

Oh no! Whoops... sorry Wurze

[Stevieb]

Getting a bit ahead of yourself here Lee, this is last years thread. Wood White's 2020 hasn't been started yet

Oh no! Whoops... sorry Wurze