www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Silver-washed Fritillary - 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

I was fortunate enough to see lots of Silver-washed Fritillary at various woodland locations in Essex during 2024. I find them very photogenic and managed to take lots of nice photos. I like this one the best because every time I look at it I want to shout "Behind you!!!" :

Silver-washed fritillaries emerged late in Switzerland last year. This pristine male posed for me on 3rd August:



He was flying at about 1300m near my home town of Leysin.

Guy

Only saw two in the UK in 2024, both of which were fly-bys.

This nice female posed for an image in Hautes Pyrenees in mid-July:

Stour Wood, Wrabness is an excellent place to see the Silver-washed Fritillary and is regularly the first to show in Essex. This is a great Essex Wildlife Trust Reserve, with areas well managed to encourage this species.
This photo was take on the 24th June.

I think my best encounters last year were at Epping Forest, even though they're not especially numerous there. Here's one of each sex

Silver-washed Fritillary

I didn’t have a particularly good season with the Silver-washed Frits. They took a while to come on the scene and when they finally arrived the weather when I was able to get up was less than salubrious. This meant that when it came to choosing my favourite there was the opposite of a multitude of choices. Luckily among the few available there was this one from my only trip to Alners Gorse in early July. A passing cloud had calmed the butterflies down and caught this individual out so that it perched peacefully atop a Bramble flower. While it was restocking its fuel it dropped its wings a little like a tent which meant that when I leant in for a close up it threw a very pleasing shape.
Have a goodun

Wurzel

I saw my first Silver-washed Fritillary in 2024 at Oversley Wood on 10th July, just the one fast flying male that I managed to get a distant record shot of.
It was a week later until I saw any more when a visit to Snitterfield Bushes by Stratford-upon-Avon prodoced around a dozen mostly fresh looking males.
I also saw a couple of mating pairs, one of which flew high up into a tree but the other pair was settled in a better position where I could get a few photos.
Cheers,

Neil.

The Silver-washed Fritillary did not have a very good 2024 locally. I had to go to kingswood, Heath N Reach to guarantee at least a few sightings. This one was the only half decent photo that I managed to take.

I also felt the species had a below-average year - they seemed to arrive late, well after the White Admirals, and never really seemed to get going. I caught up with them at both Bookham and Chiddingfold, so here is a shot from each. Dave