Silver-studded Blue - Favourite Photo of 2013

[Vince Massimo]

Week 16.

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]

Silver Studded Blue

This is my favourite Silver Studded Blue shot for several reasons. Firstly because of the site it was taken at – Slop Bog – which I think has to be my favourite site name ever!
Secondly it was taken on a baking day at the end of June and I was accompanied by my girls so every time that I see it I’m reminded of us setting up camp, them running towards me as a dog was off its lead and the pleasant afternoon holding hands and bumbling along dusty paths with the scent of Heather and Gorse making us drowsy.
Finally I love the contrast between the bands of colour on the wing margins and how thick and silky they appear. Having grown up on the heaths of Dorset I love Silver Studs as they remind me of home.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Pete Eeles]

Ah - one of my favourite species and I had a lot of enjoyment going around the British Isles last year looking at different races. The 2 most memorable shots for me are below - the colour of a female ssp. caernensis on the Great Orme in North Wales really blew me away and, to be frank, was such powerful evidence of evolution in action, this race being quite clearly geographically separated from other races. The other photo is from Tout Quarry on the Isle of Portland. Such a beautiful view, with a distinctive Silver-studded Blue race flying about 30 yards away!

Cheers,

- Pete

[William]

Magnificent photos Pete . I must get down to Portland soon, haven't been for a couple of years.

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks William! Yes, Portland is a special place when the SSBs are out!

Cheers,

- Pete

[MikeOxon]

This pair were at Matley Bog in the New Forest. The rather battered male was ardently pursuing the female amongst the grass stems but she eventually evaded him and then settled to rest for a while on her own, in late afternoon sunshine.

Matley Bog, New Forest - 19th July 2013
Nikon D300s with 70-300VR zoom - 1/500s@f/11 ISO800

Mike

[David M]

Another species that I had a mere half day's audience with in 2013.

On a lovely, warm Saturday (6th July to be exact) I travelled to Lulworth Cove and once I'd finished there I made my way to Studland, where I saw low double figure numbers of exclusively male SSBs:

[millerd]

This is another species I am lucky to have within a relatively short drive - and a variety of locations to choose from as well. I saw them in 2013 at Thursley, Fairmile Common and Dawney's Hill, and all of these sites had good numbers. The males are almost invariably out first, so I was very surprised to see a lone female and no males at all on my first visit to Fairmile on 19th June.

Another trip to the same site on 29th June produced a lot more individuals - it was late in the day and they were just starting to roost, but it was hot and they struggled to settle. This partially backlit male was my favourite.

On 4th July, I went down to Dawney's Hill and was rewarded with a variety of lovely new butterflies of both sexes. This particular male posed as if intent on making the pages of a textbook.

Another male gave me a really nice underside view.

Dave

[Debbie]

Newly emerged male with ants and newly emerged female - Prees Heath.

[MikeOxon]

splendid photos and observation, Debbie

Mike

[David M]

splendid photos and observation, Debbie

Mike

Indeed. I've seen a fair few SSBs but never the ant interaction. Here's hoping...

[Chris Jackson]

I like your backlit shot Dave, and your ant shot Debbie is original.
Here is one individual from Marseille in July, giving a topside and underside view.
Chris

argus 21 July

argus 21 July

[Debbie]

Thank you for your kind comments Mike, David and Chris.

It was a wonderful experience to see the ants. I must learn more about this, we never saw them with the females (is this usual ?)

All the photos are so lovely, it is a pleasure to see them.

[David M]

..we never saw them with the females (is this usual ?)..

Not to my knowledge. Surely both sexes are equally attractive to the ants?

[Susie]

The females attract ants in the same way as the males do on emergence.

I went to Iping a couple of times last summer. This photo was taken on my second trip there when the butterflies had been out for a while.

[Debbie]

by Susie » Sat Feb 01, 2014 4:43 pm
The females attract ants in the same way as the males do on emergence. [

Not to my knowledge. Surely both sexes are equally attractive to the ants?

by David M » Wed Jan 29, 2014 4:20 pm [/quote]

Thanks for answering that question David and Susie.

[Goldie M]

I told you Debbie that I thought your Photo was great didn't I,( love it ) Goldie