Large Blue - Favourite Photo of 2024

[Wurzel]

Large Blue - Favourite Photo of 2024

Week 8

So with the Social passed and the weather really turning wintry (for now at any rate) what better time to snuggle up with the warmth of the laptop and continue selecting your Favourite shots from 2023?

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

[millerd]

I made my annual visit to Collard Hill for Large Blues this year on 19th June. With the absence of any reliable SPBF anywhere nearer home, I have started combining this trip with one to Priddy Minories for the latter species.

In common with everywhere I've been this year, the grass at Collard was very long, and it was difficult to spot the thyme plants which this butterfly relies on. The first thing I noticed was how few Meadow Browns and Marbled Whites there were compared to the previous year, but at least the Large Blues did make an appearance - though I felt their numbers were also lower than usual. I managed to get a few shots, mainly by forcing myself to stay in one spot and wait for them to pass by (rather than my usual restless wandering and following likely individual butterflies!).

Dave

[Wurzel]

Large Blue

I tried Green Down for the first time this year and what a cracker of a site, despite the odd bit of race course across the middle , lol. Phizloid and I had been debating whether to go for Small Pearls or Large Blue but there were scant reports of either species apart from LBs at Green Down. Thanks to some excellent directions and annotated maps from fellow butterfliers we were soon onto our quarry, which in the heat, were bombing about like anybody’s business. We pressed on snapping away wherever possible and hoped for the best and fortuitously several of my shots came out much better than expected. This was great apart from then inducing the headache of having to decide which one to pick. I got it down to two but no further so a little cheat-like but here are my two Faves…

The first was from early in the day and was a bit of a corker of an underside. The second came later and I chose it as it was the best topside I got and also a total fluke. I clicked away as it pootled about in the foliage and this one shots just happened to be in focus and unobstructed.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Didn't get chance to see these in the UK this year, but as ever I saw quite a few abroad, including this one in the French Alps in late July:

[bugboy]

Although I got a few open wing shots at Daneway, it was quite a warm day so underside shots were much easier and this freshly emerged female was easy to get close to

[David Simcox]

As with many other species, the inclement weather in June/July meant that it was a relatively poor season for egg laying and, as importantly, to see and photograph the butterfly. The very wet conditions also meant that grass growth was incredible creating the impression that some sites were being neglected. 2024 reminded me of 1978 which was the first year I worked professionally on butterflies and in both years we spent many days sitting in the car waiting and hoping for the rain to stop falling.
2023 was the Large blue's best year in the UK so declines in numbers for density dependent factors were inevitable, notwithstanding I am confident that numbers of Large blues and many other species will bounce back over the course of the next couple of seasons. The photo I have posted is from a site where we introduced the butterfly in 2023 and where they emerged well in 2024 - always an exciting and rewarding experience.
Huge thanks to the dedicated team of site managers and volunteers who help to make the the Large blue project tick!