Green Hairstreak - Favourite Photo of 2024

[Wurzel]

Green Hairstreak - 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]

This year working out that giving a branch a little tug and seeing what flies up and then just as quickly resettles has transformed where I find this little gem.
I found them in the corner of the field behind our cottage, all over Essex Wildlife Trust The Naze and almost ever suitable site i looked in.
This one was taken on the 5th May at 16:45 behind out cottage

Julian

[Bertl]

I discovered a new site for Green Hairstreak in 2024 on a recommendation from Ben Freeman.

So on a warm sunny day on the 10th of May I visited the site at Kinnaber near Montrose.

I spent a wonderful couple of hours photographing these little green gems.

This is the one I liked best.

Cheers

Bert.

[millerd]

Out of all the Green Hairstreaks I saw during 2024, one individual stands out: it was the first I have ever seen on my local patch in over 15 years of looking. Better still, it sat and posed nicely, after initially being seen scuffling with a Holly Blue. It was also the first one I saw this year, on 13th April.

Dave

[David Lazarus]

The first and only one I have ever seen was an unexpected bonus whilst searching for the Grizzled Skipper at One Tree Hill. Not only that, but it was one of very few butterflies I saw within Johnson's Meadow - East all year, and the only sighting in the whole of Langdon Hill Country Park, Basildon recorded by anyone during 2024. So, quite a pleasant surprise making up for the hours searching for the elusive Essex Grizzled Skipper and made my day while feeling heartbroken that the Grizzlies may not have survived [but I found the little colony a few days later, so all good there too]. The Green Hairstreak just popped out from the hedgerow as I was walking past and landed right in front of me where it stayed swirling around a fresh shoot of scrub. I was even given the privilege of seeing it's upperwings but frustratingly missed the opportunity of a happy snap - but still delighted with the sighting of my first Green Hairstreak. Very memorable - one of the best memories from 2024

Green Hairstreak
Johnson's Meadow - East 11/05/2024

[Wolfson]

Until this year, I have not had much success looking for Green Hairstreak in West Cornwall. A friend told me of a reliable site but also the need for patience and suggested waiting until June. I followed his advice and saw c. 20 on a visit in June and saw my last (4) on 15 August. Not the best photographs, but my favourites because I now understand how to see these beauties in West Cornwall.

[Neil Freeman]

In a reflection of what my season was like, this was the only species of Hairstreak that I saw close up and photographed this year.

It is not a common species in Warwickshire although no doubt it is under recorded. This year I missed it in Warwickshire but did see a half a dozen or so at Butser Hill when I went there during a few days visiting our daughter in Emsworth in early May.

Green Hairstreak - Butser Hill 08.05.2024

Green Hairstreak - Butser Hill 08.05.2024

I also saw similar numbers at Prestbury Hill later in May but these were mostly worn and faded and stayed higher up out of reach of decnt photos.

Cheers,

Neil.

[David M]

..This is the one I liked best..

Always a nice contrast when you get them on yellow flowers, Bertl.

[ChrisStamp]

One from Kinnaber links on the Angus coast, 11th May.

[Bertl]

Always a nice contrast when you get them on yellow flowers, Bertl.
[/quote]

Thanks David. They're were a few well behaved individuals that day which helped with the photos .

[essexbutterflyer]

The first and only one I have ever seen was an unexpected bonus whilst searching for the Grizzled Skipper at One Tree Hill. Not only that, but it was one of very few butterflies I saw within Johnson's Meadow - East all year, and the only sighting in the whole of Langdon Hill Country Park, Basildon recorded by anyone during 2024. So, quite a pleasant surprise making up for the hours searching for the elusive Essex Grizzled Skipper and made my day while feeling heartbroken that the Grizzlies may not have survived [but I found the little colony a few days later, so all good there too]. The Green Hairstreak just popped out from the hedgerow as I was walking past and landed right in front of me where it stayed swirling around a fresh shoot of scrub. I was even given the privilege of seeing it's upperwings but frustratingly missed the opportunity of a happy snap - but still delighted with the sighting of my first Green Hairstreak. Very memorable - one of the best memories from 2024

2024.05.11 Green Hairstreak Johnson's Meadow - East 001.jpg
2024.05.11 Green Hairstreak Johnson's Meadow - East 002.jpg

The Green Hairstreak seems to be pretty elusive in Essex David (aside from well known sites). In Sussex I casually found a couple in a relatively uncared for patch behind a university building! I had the delight of finding a Green Hairstreak at EWT Bedford's Park, however, and it was a very worn individual but one that potentially warrants a better search next year. EWT Bedford's Park as a whole has presented a variety of things I did not expect (perhaps most significantly SWFs) and I'm surprised this site is not more visited.

Green Hairstreak, University of Sussex

P.S. I'm going to steal "Grizzlies" from you

[David Lazarus]

The Green Hairstreak seems to be pretty elusive in Essex David (aside from well known sites).

You are right there. I do not think it is a species that is actively searched for by many in Essex. I am definitely going to search for them at Canvey Wick, Willow Park & One Tree Hill during April/May next year especially when I will be searching for the elusive Essex "Grizzlies" at Langdon Hills Country Park.

P.S. I'm going to steal "Grizzlies" from you

I stole it from Wurzel, I think

[Wurzel]

No worries Dave at least that's a couple of people I won't need to explain it too 'Smessex', for when you can't tell if it's an Esssex or Small Skipper is the one I'm most proud of

Green Hairstreak

I thought the choice for the favourite for this species was a slam dunk! A visit to Brown’s Folly near Bath at the end of April saw me watching and photographing my first ever Green Hairstreak pairing. As I drove home I remember thinking “that’s that favourite sorted then”…

Then I went to Priddy Pools for Small Pearls and found the most pristine Greenstreak I can recall. It was stunning with silver fringes along the termen and vivid orange along the costa contrasting with the metallic emerald green of the ground colour. Not a scale out of place and the hair around the body made it look like it was wearing a sheepskin gillet ala Antony Quinn in ‘The Guns of Navarone’.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David Lazarus]

No worries Dave at least that's a couple of people I won't need to explain it too 'Smessex', for when you can't tell if it's an Esssex or Small Skipper is the one I'm most proud of

And that’s one hell of a butterfly WOW Congratulations, Wurzel

[David M]

Only photographed them once in 2024, at Welshmoor on the Gower Heaths:

[bugboy]

Cant choose between the two, my first mating pair (shame the female had a few emergence issues)

but a week early whilst assessing the newly discovered colony on my local patch I found this pristine female

[Allan.W.]

Green Hairstreaks were around in pretty good numbers here in mid-Kent in 24' ,one of very few species that were ! saw them 3 areas of the North Downs .But my best records came from a section of Orlestone forest where I've not noticed them in previous years .Up until 24' season I only had one sighting , about 5 years back ,so very pleased to have two counts of 3......I'll give it a better look in 25' !

[Padfield]

My favourite green hairstreak picture of 2024 is pretty rubbish, but it remains the best picture I have to date of the upperside of the butterfly. It was a female and I was trying to photograph her laying - but she never seemed to find the right plant and kept flying off. On one occasion, she flew just as I pressed the shutter ...



This was on 26th May, near Brig in Valais. Green hairstreaks are very common in Switzerland, from the valley to the mountaintops, but I never tire of seeing them.

Guy

[David T]

The Green Hairstreak had a very poor season in my part of country. Despite very low numbers I have selected three favourites. The reason I have choosen the first two, is because they are photos from two previously un-recorded 1k square grid locations. I had a total of three single sightings in three individual new un-recorded areas. The last photo is my favourite from my local patch.

Green Hairstreak - Houghton Regis 27th May @ 14:07pm

Green Hairstreak - Blows Downs, Dunstable 17th May @ 11:22am

Green Hairstreak - Houghton Regis 9th May @ 11:21am

[Stevieb]

A decent year here with fair numbers at both Battlesbury and Cotley Hills.

I too was fortunate to bump into a couple in cop. Always nice to see.

30th April Cotley Hill, Wiltshire