Grayling - Favourite Photo of 2024

[Wurzel]

Grayling - Favourite Photo of 2024

Week 6

Another week has passed and with various forecasts predicting dropping temperatures it could soon be the close of the season. At least there’s the Favourites to warm the cockles…

Please could I ask that everyone waits until a topic has been opened by me for a particular species before posting photos as then it will be easier to keep track of things? 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

[Butterfly_Julian]

Very disappointed that we went to Rendlesham Forest on the 4th July which was 3 weeks earlier then last years visit. Last year was absolutely stunning, to see so many, hundreds of them. So many would just land on my wife and asked to be photographed. This year i was very luck to find one, and my only one of the year.

[Padfield]

Very disappointed that we went to Rendlesham Forest on the 4th July which was 3 weeks earlier then last years visit. Last year was absolutely stunning, to see so many, hundreds of them. So many would just land on my wife and asked to be photographed. This year i was very luck to find one, and my only one of the year.

Hi Julian. I come originally from Woodbridge and have spent many thousands of hours in and around Rendlesham. From 2018-2022 I lived again in Suffolk, looking after my father in his dying years. My records show my first grayling on 2nd July in two of those years, 4th July in a third, and a little later in the fourth as I was in Switzerland at the beginning of July (in 2018 I didn't return to the UK until August). In short, 4th July is the very beginning of the season. They continue to fly in the Suffolk Sandlings until well into September.

Guy

[Butterfly_Julian]

Hi Julian. I come originally from Woodbridge and have spent many thousands of hours in and around Rendlesham. From 2018-2022 I lived again in Suffolk, looking after my father in his dying years. My records show my first grayling on 2nd July in two of those years, 4th July in a third, and a little later in the fourth as I was in Switzerland at the beginning of July (in 2018 I didn't return to the UK until August). In short, 4th July is the very beginning of the season. They continue to fly in the Suffolk Sandlings until well into September.

Guy
[/quote]

Hi Guy, our trip was to see the Silver Studded Blue a couple of miles away at Upper Hollesley Common, the timing for this was good, and a lovely area to visit as you will know. Took a chance on seeing the Grayling early, will leave it a bit later next year.

Julian

[millerd]

I found Graylings this year on Chobham Common. I was earlier in their season than usual, and didn't find any females, but there were reasonable numbers of fresh males seeking out bare patches of ground on which to bask - and disappear. Their task was a bit more difficult this year because the wet spring and early summer had (like everywhere else) generated extra grass growth.

However, there were some creditable attempts at invisibility...

Dave

[Bertl]

I visited St Cyrus NNR near Montrose on 19th July, a little later than I normally see my first graylings.

There were alot fewer on the wing than previous years.

Best photos attached.

Cheers

Bert.

[David Lazarus]

…there were some creditable attempts at invisibility...

I love that last photo Dave - so much so, that it is tempting me to make a sneaky trip over the border into Suffolk next year to catch up with one myself. Surely, there must be somewhere in Essex that would suit them .

Maybe they are all invisible around here

[Wolfson]

I had a few encounters with Grayling in west Cornwall this summer, including my first ever sighting at a site I was visiting to look for Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary. However, I have chosen a photograph I took on a sunny calm day at Chapel Carn Brea. A very exposed site that usually takes everything the Atlantic has to offer.

[Neil Freeman]

As far as I am aware, Grayling has never been a Warwickshire species although it can be found further afield in the midlands, most notably in a few spots on the Malvern Hills and in Shropshire. For me it is a a species that I usually only get to see when we spend a few days somewhere further away.

This year I caught up with Graylings in Cornwall when we were down on the Lizard in early August with good numbers seen along the cliff tops by Kynance Cove and also around Enys Head to the south of Poltescu.

Grayling pair - Kynance Cove 06.08.2024

Grayling - Enys Head 07.08.2024

A month later, during a few days in Dorset, I found them scattered along the grassy slopes above the beach at Durdle Door.

Grayling - Durdle Door 04.09.2024

Cheers,

Neil.

[David M]

Saw just a handful of home-grown Graylings in 2024. The only ones I photographed were from Rhossili Head on 25th July:

[Butterfly_Julian]

[quote="David Lazarus" post_id=188760

I love that last photo Dave - so much so, that it is tempting me to make a sneaky trip over the border into Suffolk next year to catch up with one myself. Surely, there must be somewhere in Essex that would suit them .

Maybe they are all invisible around here


[/quote]

I photographed one on the sea walk path at The Naze a couple of years ago, so they do travel which always leads to some hope

Julian

[Wurzel]

Grayling

I always struggle to answer the age old question; “What’s your favourite butterfly?” I feel a tug of regionalism for the Lulworth Skipper (plus they’re very cute), the beauty of the Brown Hairstreak, the character of the Duke and the variation from the Hedgie and Marshie. All of these factors play through my mind but the Grayling is always in the ceaselessly shuffling top 3. Hence this is one of the most enjoyable species to pick a favourite image for. This year was quite tricky as I had a brilliant session with them, finding a wide variety of tones and shades. This one however eventually won through due to the glimpse of the top side of the fore wing and also because it’s actually feeding on heather, something I don’t often catch.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[bugboy]

A very enjoyable few days exploring Great Orme gave me oodles of Silver-studded Blues but I also caught up with the other endemic race of butterfly and this individual really caught my eye, impossible to catch properly on camera but the underside really did look like it had been sprinkled with gold as it sparkled in the afternoon sun.

That would have been an easy standout had it not been for the Chobham lot putting on a good show later in the season!

[Pete Eeles]

That last photo is incredible, Paul, nicely showing that the Grayling often lays on dead vegetation near the foodplant, but not on the foodplant itself.

Cheers,

- Pete

[David Lazarus]

Agreed. Super photograph Paul, not just for the image but as Pete says, for the information it provides. I’m loving the upperside image too - so

[bugboy]

Thanks guys. I've watched Grayling egg laying several times now at Chobham and I've never seen them lay on anything other than dead vegetation.