Brown Argus - Favourite Photo of 2013

[Vince Massimo]

Week 2.

Here is the opportunity to post your favourite photo(s) of a particular species taken in 2013 (or the last time you saw one!).

This is part of a series of topics which will grow over 20 weeks throughout the winter, eventually covering all 59 species which are regularly found in the British Isles. The intention is to showcase three species per week (in alphabetical order), so please wait until a topic has been opened by me for a particular species before posting photos. Our overseas members are very welcome to fill in the obvious gaps relating to rare UK migrants.

Details of locations, dates, times and circumstances would be welcome and please feel free to contribute observations of behaviour, stories of personal encounters, anecdotes or other interesting points.

Vince

[Wurzel]

Brown Argus
This was taken at The Devenish on the same day as my favourite Adonis Blue. It’s my favourite as it clearly shows the defining features on the under wing; the infinity rather than the “8” of the second and third spots on the hind wing giving a “lumpy circle” of spots, the more rounded apex and the absence of the cell spot on the fore wing. Also it was feeding on a clump of Hemp Agrimony along with Adonis, Chalkhills and Common Blues and I could have guessed at its identity by size alone so diminutive it was.
As well as serving as a useful identification tool it’s also my favourite for two other reasons. First it reminds me of that cracking afternoon in August. Second it revealed to me a different side tot eh Brown Argus. On this day it was peacefully feeding, not bothering or being bothered by anyone which is a million miles away from the psychotic feistiness that I normally see and think “That’s a Brown Argus”!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[CJB]

Also taken on the mobile ( ) at Ashton Rowant on that great day.

BA

Flutter on!

CJB

[David M]

This is a delightful butterfly when fresh. I too saw plenty at Aston Rowant on a day (08.08.13) where overall butterfly numbers hit epidemic proportions.

[andy brown]

Taken at Shipton Bellinger while looking for Brown Hairstreaks.

Thanks

Andy

[Neil Freeman]

This year I saw quite a few more Brown Argus at various sites than I did last year but didn't get any photos that I was particularly happy with so I have not got any particular favourites. Instead, I am posting a couple of shots of individuals that I found interesting, both taken on the same day on Bindon Hill when I was in Dorset in early September.

The first one has some of the orange markings missing on its right hand forewing,

Brown Argus - Bindon Hill 02.09.2013

and this second example has well developed white spots on its forewings, more reminiscent of those that may be found on Northern Brown Argus. I did get shots showing both wings but with them being held only partially open this shot shows the spot the best.

Brown Argus - Bindon Hill 02.09.2013

Cheers,

Neil.

[millerd]

I didn't see many on my local patch this year, which was disappointing, but this was made up for by the amazing numbers I saw on the slopes of Aston Rowant in August. On a visit on 23rd, they were everywhere. A nice fresh male...

Dave

[Goldie M]

I took my photo of a BA at Temple Ewell in Kent on the 28th of August, the weather was great and it was like being in Butterfly heaven there was so many different BF on the wing. Goldie

[badgerbob]

Greenway Bank is a walk of about 2 miles from home. Brown Argus are quite numerous there and I was lucky this year to find several fresh individuals. These two pictures are of the same butterfly on the bank.

[mud-puddling]

Like others I only really truly caught up with this species this year and I have to say I think it might be my favourite. Good numbers in Sussex too, such as at Kithurst Hill where the following images were taken one early am.

[nomad]

This is my fave Brown Argus photograph, which was taken in Bernwood Forest, Oxon, showing a female basking.

[Chris Jackson]

Another French cousin here I'm afraid! I quite like this shot because of the full underwing view. All the other piccies above are great - Bravo!!

[Matsukaze]

I saw very few Brown Argus this year - only a handful on the Mendips and very few in France, including this freshly-emerged example along an anonymous-seeming field margin near Beaune.