Gatekeeper - Favourite Photo of 2011

[celery]

A thread in which to post your favourite photo(s) taken in 2011 of Gatekeeper.

Details of places, dates, times and circumstances also appreciated. Feel free to contribute observations of behaviour, personal encounters, anecdotes, anything really... you know the score by now

[Wurzel]

My wife got a bit concerned about me and Gatekeepers this year - she seemed to think that I was a little obsessed with them. It all started when I noticed that some had extra spots, some had extra eyes, some had one eye and a spot on the other hind wing etc etc. I spent a week at my in-laws in Wales where this shot was taken and pretty much the only butterflies I photograped were Gatekeepers in the hope of finding different variations . Still at least I was occupied and therefore not bugging everyone else
I think this female is multiocellato if that's how how you spell it?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

PS why Gatekeeper? I can understand Hedge Brown, they're brown and live by hedges, but Gatekeeper? Isn't that the dog/demon thingy that invaded Sigourney Weaver in Ghostbusters?

[MikeOxon]

Inspired by discussions on this site, I too went in search of 'spotty-dotties' this year. I thought this was a good one (carefully avoiding Wurzel's catch-phrase), seen on the Roman Road on Otmoor, Oxon on 28th July 2011.

Roman road,Otmoor, Oxon - 28th July 2011
Nikon D300s with 70-300VR - 1/250s@f/8, ISO400

Mike

[Nick Broomer]

I`m going to submit two pictures, one with wings closed, one with wings open. I really like the way the late afternoon sun hits the wings of the butterfly and totally changes the colouration of the background in the first photo.In the second photo i like the way the colour of the leafy background shows of the butterfly.

Nick

[millerd]

My favourite has to be an out-of-the-ordinary one: made particularly memorable as it turned up only five minutes walk from home. This is ab. subalbida. The photo does not bring out the pale golden colouration properly, unfortunately. This was taken on 9th July by the River Colne at Stanwell Moor.

Dave

[ChrisC]

an under-rated butterfly for me but some lovely photos coming. mine's not the normal gatekeeper shot and i actually like the flower hiding part of the wing.

[Neil Freeman]

I also remember Wurzels discussions on Gatekeeper spots earlier in the year and posted a couple of photos including the one below in the thread he started at the time.

Gatekeeper - male with extra spots.

Another favourite shot of mine below taken on the same day as the one above.
I remember that there had been a mass emergence of Gatekeepers when I visited this local spot back in July.

Gatekeeper - female

Cheers,

Neil F.

[celery]

I have a fondness for gatekeepers - largely because unlike a lot of the less common species I don't have to travel far to see them. These are from my own garden on what seemed like the only day in July we had any decent weather.





...lemon balm and tansy in case you were wondering.

[Vince Massimo]

Every year I set myself the challenge of getting an image of a fresh Gatekeeper. Here is the best from the past season, taken at my local site, albeit in dull weather conditions.

Male Gatekeeper - Chaldon, Surrey 19-July-11

Good underside images are another matter .

Vince

[Nick Broomer]

Hi Celery,

your Gatekeeper on the Lemon Balm is an absolute beauty.

Really impressed with all the pictures.

Nick.

[Goldie M]

This photo was taken in Blean Woods Kent 1st August this year. The weather was very hot and brought out the colour in both the flowers and the Butterfly thats why I like the photo so Much Goldie M

[marmari]

This one I was very happy with as both are in focus.
Pic from the Isle of Wight on 2nd August

[John W]

PS why Gatekeeper? I can understand Hedge Brown, they're brown and live by hedges, but Gatekeeper? Isn't that the dog/demon thingy that invaded Sigourney Weaver in Ghostbusters?

I too prefer to call them Hedge Browns - what do other people think?
(Apologies if this topic has been done to death elsewhere!)

Cheers
John

[David M]

I prefer the name Hedge Brown. I suppose that's because as a child my book of reference named them so, and just added in the text that they were "also known as Gatekeeper".

[daveh]

I took this very fresh male at Keyhaven in Hampshire on 17th July. Always such a cheerful butterfly!

[MrSp0ck]

Here are a few photos of our Hutchinsons Bank ab. seen on 28th July 2011

and the female seen in 1993