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Black Hairstreak - Favourite Photo of 2024

Week 1

Here we go on another 20 week journey of recollection and reminiscence.

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.

Off we trot then!

Have a goodun

Wurzel
P.S. Even though the grand finale, the Overall Favourite Butterfly Photo of 2024 is still 20 weeks away you might want to pick that one first so as not to use it up

I had a standout encounter with Black Hairstreaks at their Surrey stronghold on Epsom Common this year during the sunny morning of 7th June. It pays to be early for this species as they often start their day nectaring, and of course this is when you are most likely to find newly emerged examples before they set about their active lives. When the day gets underway they tend to head higher up...

There were good (and worn) examples of both sexes, including this male......but a brand new female was the best of the bunch. She appeared behind me (as hairstreaks are wont to do) and as I carefully turned round she stayed put and allowed excellent views from close range.I could even relax a bit and try a context shot.Eventually, I thought I'd disturbed her, but all she did was move a short distance over the brambles and then posed again.I doubt I'll ever better the views I had of this species today...

Dave

millerd wrote: ↑Mon Oct 14, 2024 1:39 pm...I doubt I'll ever better the views I had of this species today...

Hard to see how that can be improved upon, Dave.

Didn't see any in the UK this year, but there were plenty in Romania in late May:

My favourite photo of 2024 must be this image of a Black Hairstreak and a Hoverfly (I think its a Hoverfly ! ).
This is my Favourite Photo of the year for two reasons.Firstly its the first Black Hairstreak I've ever seen and I had to travel up from Devon to Oxfordshire in June to search for them.It was an expensive trip with two nights hotel bill and petrol, but I was determined to find at least one.
Even though it rained on and of over the two days searching I actually found five in total.Secondly its my favourite photo as both the Hairstreak and the Hoverfly seem to be eyeing each other up as a precaution prior to a pending battle over the blossom pollen.
What a pleasant reward for excepting the miserable June weather this year and taking a long shot chance of travelling so far in the hope of seeing my first Black Hairstreak.

I was going to choose a nicely posed one but this one probably better represents how I found them to be this year, awkward little buggers!

I did my annual trip to Bernwood Meadows but rather than park in the forest and walk to the usual meadow site I was told to park in the small car park off Mill St and check the hedgerow that runs along the road. Here I found 20+ Black Hairstreak.