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Comma - Favourite Photo of 2022

Week 3

Another week passes and still the butterflies are on the wing but for how much longer who knows? Still the Favourites threads are up and running so the winter should fly by.

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.
Here we got then!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

I saw my Comma in Tankerton on the 19th of June, it was near the top of the beech where the tree's are near to the Castle, I couldn't believe that it hadn't seen me because it stayed for quite a while, mind you, it was windy on the other side of those tree's Goldie

An interesting variant seen near Dorchester 2nd July

An egg I watched being laid at the start of the season.
Vince

As one of my most photographed butterflies, singling out favourites is not an easy task. This is compounded by the variety of markings and colour variation displayed by the beautiful midsummer hutchinsoni form. However, here are a couple of the many splendid examples seen on my local patch in late June this year.Dave

I have selected two photographs both taken in my garden since I am not sure which I prefer. In June the Comma was very active but seemed oblivious to my presence whereas in September the butterfly was content to bask in the sunshine allowing me to photograph it.

I am torn for choice again because the Comma is such a photogenic butterfly! I have opted for these two, firstly one sharing bramble with a Large Skipper. The colours of the two butterflies so compliment each other. Secondly, I rather like this other sharing shot, this time with a bee and showing the intricate underside of the male Comma.

Hmmm, looks a little like devils bit scabious.

Wolfson wrote: ↑Mon Oct 31, 2022 3:34 pmI have selected two photographs both taken in my garden since I am not sure which I prefer...

Definitely the second image, Wolfson. Captures the very essence of this butterfly.

Two from me , the larva was from an egg which i watched being laid along the back dyke nettles on the Royal Military canal at Warehorne ,the first Comma i,ve reared .The other was taken in Orlestone forest.
Allan .W.

Comma

This was taken during mid-June at Grovely Woods (Wiltshire). I chose it as this particular butterfly thought that it had gotten the better of me. I’d finished up hassling DGFs on the terraces (as I call them) and as I followed the track along and down and then back up I came to the next break in the treeline revealing the side of the Down. At the top there was (still is) a large Bramble bush. As I walked over to it to see if anything was basking on it this Comma (Hutchinsonii form) flew at me, circled around and then landed on the other side of the bush, as far away from me as possible and in a position that it thought I wouldn’t be able to get to…Well it did look a little bit foolish when I managed to get round and get it in shot using the Bramble itself as cover allowing me pop up right next to the butterfly and click away at its annoyed and slightly miffed visage .
Have a goodun

Wurzel

Commas had a faily good start to the season around my patch with fairly good numbers coming out of hibernation, not as many as Small Tortoiseshells but more numerous than Peacocks. Despite this I failed to get any good photos with most of the shots I took around this time being against messy backgrounds of grass or twigs
The follow on summer brood provided better opportunities with good numbers continuing through July and August.
I also rather like the way this underside blends in with the faded buddleia flower spike behind it.
Cheers,

Neil

Don't get many undersides of this species, so when this individual posed nicely on a tree trunk at Cwm Ivy, Gower, on 26th March, I couldn't resist:

Simply because it made me smile in March

Lol! That made me smile too, Andy!

This species often ends up as one of my most photographed species so would normally be difficult to choose one, but since I kicked off my season with a mating pair, one of which was also an ab O-album... This gorgeous hutchinsoni does come a close second though

Something a bit different - Comma in the moat at Corfe Castle, 20 June 2022.