Speckled Wood - Favourite Photo of 2014

[Wurzel]

Week 18
Almost there!

So continues sequence of posts giving one and all the opportunity to showcase their favourite shots of 2014 (or the last time you saw one)!

Please could I ask that everyone waits until a topic has been opened by me for a particular species before posting photos? Of course our overseas members are very welcome to fill in the obvious gaps relating to rare UK migrants. As like last year 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

[bugboy]

Walthamstow Marshes, 21st September.

[David M]

I guess the best image I took of this species was the first - 11th April near to my workplace when I was out specifically looking for them:

This one seen on Kilvey Hill on 19th April was probably the prettiest:

[MikeOxon]

This is one of several flight shots I took of a sparring pair. I had great fun practising chasing these two, as they careered around me on the Roman Road at Otmoor, Oxon.

Otmoor, Oxon - 13th April 2014
Nikon D300s with 300/f4 lens - 1/3,000s@f/4 ISO 800

Mike

[millerd]

This is a very common species on my local patch, and it particularly excelled itself later in the year in 2014, with high numbers in September and its season extended well into October. There is a contrast between the spring and summer broods, with the former being brighter and the latter more dusky. A selection, all local to me:

10th April

10th September

14th September

Dave

[Goldie M]

My favourite photo of the Speckled Wood has got to be the Female who pretended to be dead, completely fooling the Male SW, love it
I took the photo at Gaits Barrow on the 16th of June.
The second photo I took in my Back Garden on the 8th of Sept I like this one because the Butterfly looks so proud also cheeky
Goldie

[Vince Massimo]

I was lucky enough to see a Speckled Wood laying an egg in my garden in July, so took the opportunity of rearing the resultant larva through to adulthood.

Speckled Wood pupa - Crawley, Sussex 14-Sept-2014

I just missed the emergence of the adult, but fortunately had better luck with some others earlier in the year.

Speckled Wood emerging - Crawley, Sussex 29-July-2014

Vince

[David M]

Great effort, Vince. That's a beautiful pupa by the way.

[Vince Massimo]

Thanks David

For those people wanting to see more, it can be found here:
http://www.dispar.org/reference.php?id=84

Vince

[Chris Jackson]

Nice one Vince. Makes a change from the adults.
Chris

[Neil Freeman]

Ah yes, Specklies

This is the one species that I take more photos of than any other due to the fact that I usually have them in the garden from early April until October each year. last year I saw my first one in the garden on April 11th, slightly later than usual, and they then continued on until early October without the slight gap in June for a couple of weeks that I sometimes get.

Loads of photos below, all from the garden,

First one photographed on 11th April.

Numbers built steadily through April...

21.04.2014

A nice female - 21.04.2014

24.04.2014

28.04.2014

A slightly darker looking early brood male with reduced spots - 29.04.2014

29.04.2014

and into May,

02.05.2014

June,

06.06.2014

Flash used to light up the underside which was in shadow - 06.06.2014

07.06.2014

21.06.2014

July,

11.07.2014

August,

05.08.2014

September,

21.09.2014

and the last one that I photographed in the garden in early October,

03.10.2014

There were still a few faded examples hanging in there through October with the last one seen in the garden on 18th.

I also saw plenty of Specklies around my local patch, especially through August and into September when there were really good numbers about but I think I have posted enough photos for one thread.

Cheers,

Neil.

[David M]

Wow! You really filled you boots there, Neil.

I suppose I should add another image taken in 2014, which was unusual in that it involved a mating pair on the ridiculously late date of 31st October:

[bugboy]

Great set Nick, you can see them becoming less specklie as the year went by! And a Lovely cop shot David.

[Chris Jackson]

Here is one from Bradgate park in June when I was back in Leicestershire last summer:

And then for comparison, one of its Southern cousins a few days earlier from the Marseilles area:

Chris

[Wurzel]

Speckled Wood

This was taken on another family visit to my Outlaws but this time to the Worcester contingent. The Specklie was taken on a quick trip to the local Country Park. It’s my favourite as it incorporated lots of things into the one image:
•With the wings partially open the wing pattern on both upper and underside is revealed,
• I like the detail of the head end with hairs standing out,
• I like the composition revealing both habitat and the shadow,
• Finally I like the memories it evokes as just after this I watched some Purps circling high in the trees and then both my girls went crazy on the climbing frame!

Have a goodun

Wurzel