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Speckled Wood - Favourite Photo of 2015

Week 18

We are fast approaching the end of this series so I hope you're getting all of your 'Vagrant' and 'Overall Favourite' shots ready!

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

This photo is from the 7th of November. One of my earliest species of the year, and one of my latest sightings also. Cheers, Chris

There are always a lot of Speckled Wood photos to choose from, and I know that Neil F will post some absolute corkers, so I'll stick to one that I particularly like from 8th August (another local one). Dave

It's always a pleasure to be able to include a photo taken in my own garden, so that is enough to make this a 'favourite':
Mike

My favourite photo was taken at Mere Sands Southport on the 16th August, I've also a second favourite taken in my Garden on the 9th of October, October was a great month in my garden for Butterflies. Goldie

millerd wrote:...and I know that Neil F will post some absolute corkers...

Blimey Dave, here's hoping I don't disappoint

Having already posted a round up of Specklies in my garden in my PD that can be seen at viewtopic.php?f=29&t=5424&start=1620 I won't repeat those here but will just post a few favourites taken whilst out and about.

First off, I like this nice spring female that shows the deeper creamy yellow colour often seen on the first brood.
A couple of underside shots of a summer brood female taken at Shadowbrook Meadows near Solihull,
A couple of days later I saw this nice male at my local spot at Castle Hills.
There were good numbers of Specklies about in Dorset when we were down there at the beginning of September including this female seen at Osmington.
A week or so Later in there was a particularly good showing at most of my local spots including the park just down the road from my Moms house.
Another good year for this species which cropped up at nearly every place I visited between April and late September.

Cheers,

Neil.

Saw these pretty much everywhere I visited last year, which is no real surprise, they seem to be happy with any old patch of shade dappled grass. I came across this male at Bookham whilst searching for Brown Hairstreak. My other favourite was this one of an egg laying female (although not in the same league as Neils one!)

Can't hope to compete with Neil F, who is to Speckled Woods what Hoggers is to Small Coppers!!

I neglected this species in 2015 but this individual was the first I saw, at Kilvey Hill, Swansea, on Easter Monday, 6th April:

Speckled Wod

I visited Shipton Bellinger towards the end of the season but it appeared to be too late for the Brostreaks and it was quiet around the hedges with a strange ‘seasons over’ feel. I consoled myself with some of the many Specklies and this one stood out as he modelled nicely for me – open and closed wings, three quarters open and finally allowing me to get in close enough to see the little bearded face. Have a goodun

Wurzel

Garden visitor...

Plenty of these around in Holmsley Inclosure, (and my garden), a reliable butterfly in the often poor conditions encountered last year.

Two pics taken in Holmsley in September.