Speckled Wood - Favourite Photo of 2012

[Vince Massimo]

Here is the opportunity to post your favourite photo(s) of a particular species taken in 2012 (or the last time you saw one!).

This is part of a series of topics which will grow over 20 weeks throughout the winter until all 59 UK species have been covered. 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 friends 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]

Speckled Wood

This was taken at Wrecclesham on my favourite day butterflying so far. My older daughter and I spent the mornings with Philzoid and his daughter and Tuts. Excellent company – tick!

The weather was warm and sunny, a rarity during the late spring/early summer of 2012 – great weather – tick!

There were Glanvilles in all manner of poses, including an aberrant, Peacock, Whites, Blues and even Greenstreaks – great butterflies – tick!

Home-baked bread, cheese and lime pickle sandwiches with salad and olives eaten while chatting peacefully as the girls played in the park – great site, food, amenities – tick!

And finally Mr.Osso (photographed below) to bid us farewell and wish us good luck on our way – excellent company – double tick!

Have a goodun
Wurzel

[Nick Broomer]

The only photo i took this year of a Speckled Wood, on a day trip to the Isle of Wight.

29.3.2012 speckled wood 025-2_1.jpg

[David M]

Guilty (as most of us are) of largely neglecting this attractive species simply due to its ubiquity.

It's generally only in spring I pay much attention to them, and this shot was taken on a mid-April day in Swansea when not much else was flying:



I'm also fascinated at how this butterfly is SO different in France (more Wall Brown than Speckled Wood):

[badgerbob]

That French Speckled Wood is amazingly different David. Anyway, my favourite Specklie of the year was on June 2nd at Offham, near Lewes, where I was hoping for lots of Wall Brown. A few of those as well but this fresh Specklie was a great bonus.

[MikeOxon]

First, a 'straight' portrait, taken in my garden in typical pose, waiting to chase a passer-by

my garden, Oxon - 12th April 2012
Nikon D300s with 90mm Tamron macro - 1/350s@f/9.5 ISO400

I also couldn't resist this quirky head-on shot of the same individual:

my garden, Oxon - 12th April 2012
Nikon D300s with 90mm Tamron macro - 1/350s@f/9.5 ISO400

Mike

[Goldie M]

My favourite Photo of the Speckled Wood was taken in my back garden on 22nd September, it may seem a bit dark but I didn't want to change it, I liked all the colours they seem to meld together good.Goldie

[Nick Broomer]

I agree with you Goldie, no point altering a lovely picture, and yes the colours do blend in well with one another, a splendid photo.

[Goldie M]

Thank you hideandseek I'm always in the market for compliments Goldie

[ChrisC]

taken on April 1st. Ringwood forest. probably only the 4th species seen at that point.

[Neil Freeman]

Ah yes, Speckled Woods

I have mentioned before in my diary that I have these in my garden usually from late May until early October, apart from a gap of a couple of weeks that varies year on year but usually sometime in June.
Last year I saw the first one on 25th March and the last on 7th October.

I took loads of photos of them in my garden, the selection below being my favourites.

Speckled Wood - Coverdale 10.06.2012

Speckled Wood - Coverdale 10.06.2012

Speckled Wood - Coverdale 10.06.2012

Speckled Wood - Coverdale 10.06.2012

Speckled Wood - Coverdale 08.08.2012

Speckled Wood - Coverdale 10.08.2012

Speckled Wood - Coverdale 14.08.2012

Speckled Wood - Coverdale 22.09.2012

Speckled Wood - Coverdale 28.09.2012

And this last one of a pair of males jousting in a patch of October sun which for me captures the essence of the butterfly.

Speckled Wood - Coverdale 07.10.2012

I seem to have posted rather a lot this time, oh well....they do hold a special place in my heart.

Neil.

[millerd]

Impossible to follow Neil's album of beautiful images of a lovely insect.

I didn't see anything like as many as usual this year, more's the pity, just one or two here and there.
However, I like this one from my local patch again.

Dave

[Vince Massimo]

My nearest butterfly site is actually Kenley aerodrome which is a mile from home. It is now only used for gliding and the outer margins are maintained as flowery meadows which sustain species like Essex Skipper, Common Blue and Small Copper. However there is also a lovely piece of woodland directly across the road on the western side which is perfect for Speckled Wood. So on 26th March I set out to beat my earliest ever sighting for the species. Sure enough I found 3 males and a female, which beat my record by one day, but some were showing signs of wear and may have emerged approximately 3 days earlier. One individual however was very fresh and was content to bask in a nice spot.

Speckled Wood male - Kenley, Surrey 26-March-2012

It was also seen to be nectaring on Wood Anemone and Lesser Celandine.

Vince

[Pawpawsaurus]

This individual was flapping about along the Icknield Way near Telegraph Hill in Herts on 26th June. I felt quite sorry for it but despite a missing hindwing and only a partial forewing, it was able to fly surprisingly well.

Paul