Found it again.

[JohnP]

How did I manage to find the same butterfly I photographed in the Forest of Dean on Monday? I challenged myself this morning to do this thinking I had no chance, I went back to the same area today and within 100 yards of the spot I found it on Monday I was staggered when I spotted it again. It has to be the same one there are so few of these female Valesina form Silver-washed Fratillaries about I'm convinced it's just got to be her. I managed some underwing shots this time.

 

 

[Terry]

Another 2 excellent shots. Beautiful butterfly.

[JohnP]

Another 2 excellent shots. Beautiful butterfly.

 

Terry... I never really thought I'd find it again, it just goes to show that even butterflies are territorial.

[annie]

Excellent. 

 

Looks like someone crafted it from Mother Of Pearl....

[JohnP]

Excellent. 

 

Looks like someone crafted it from Mother Of Pearl....

 

You should have been with me Annie! When I found it a second time I was like a dog with two tails...

[Heather]

oh she is very pretty 

[JohnP]

oh she is very pretty 

 

Heather... I've managed to find about 10 new species this summer, this one has to be my favourite.

[JohnP]

It would be interesting to know if any of you bug folks every come across Silver-washed Fritillaries, not necessarily this unusual form... just the normal ones. Or any other Fritillaries for that matter, I posted shots of it's smaller cousin the Pearl-border Fritillary back in May. I can't recall ever seeing them posted here, only by myself.

[bugmeister]

It would be interesting to know if any of you bug folks every come across Silver-washed Fritillaries, not necessarily this unusual form... just the normal ones. Or any other Fritillaries for that matter, I posted shots of it's smaller cousin the Pearl-border Fritillary back in May. I can't recall ever seeing them posted here, only by myself.

I've been told of a local patch where the silver washed fritillary is to be found but I've not seen it yet.

 

The same patch is home to the white admiral and the purple hairstreak, but again I've only just found out about it so I haven't seen those either. Hopefully at some point I'll be there at the right time.

[JohnP]

There's a wood that I go to often (going tomorrow hopefully) 10 miles away that White Admirals have been spotted over the years, it's one butterfly I would like to see and photograph but no luck so far.

[annie]

You should have been with me Annie! When I found it a second time I was like a dog with two tails...

I think we would both have been jumping around like two kids...

 

So glad you saw it again xxx

[JohnP]

I think we would both have been jumping around like two kids...

 

So glad you saw it again xxx

 

Annie... I spent quite a while today studying images taken on both days and there is a little mark on the left wing in the open wing shots that confirms it is the very same butterfly.

[Denis]

Never seen one like that, you seem to have an abundance of different species near your location!

[JohnP]

Never seen one like that, you seem to have an abundance of different species near your location!

 

It's great for wildlife in my area Denis... I also think I'm really learning where to find things, luck is also involved but knowing where to look is more important.