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Silver-spotted Skipper - Favourite Photo of 2024

Week 15

So we’re three quarters of the way through – might be time to just check that you’ve selected your Overall Fave and if you haven’t get your thinking heads on.

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.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Had to be this one - seen in the Arctic Circle in early July:

This butterfly was taking advantage of a strategically placed snail shell for a rest.

(Provence, Sept '24).

They certainly took some tracking down last year but here's a female ensuring they'll be some this year when I fully expect them to bounce back as long as we get a decent summer!

Not a great season for Silver -Spots in my part of Kent ,at the best local site Lydden/Temple Ewell downs (near Dover) I found only odd ones and twos at the TE end of the downs ,but there were more showing on the old Kent trust reserve end of the downs ......hope its just a "blip"

Silver-spotted Skipper

This came from my first trip to Perham. I’d finished work and tried my luck at my Silver-spotted Skipper site. Having walked across to the shallow foot of the down I started scanning. Within about 4 seconds I’d seen my first one, almost stepping on it actually and then I spotted the familiar lime with white spots again although this time it was far too big…and this was because it was my second ever pair in cop. Not only that there was a third skipper, another male, trying his best to get in on the action. It felt a little odd that my favourite should be one of the first that I saw but some seasons that’s just the way it goes.
Have a goodun

Wurzel

I managed to track the species down at all three of the sites I usually visit: Aston Rowant, Box Hill and Denbies. The first of these always used to be the best of these by far, with many dozens flying on a good day, but lack of sunshine and over-long grass definitely diminished their numbers in 2024. They were a bit harder than usual to track down at the other two spots as well, but not to the same extent. Like all skippers, they are very photogenic, and possibly just pipping Essex as the cutest of the bunch. Here's one from Denbies. Dave