#silver-washed fritillary

[zegalba]

Silver-washed fritillary, Japanese Map Butterfly

[wildlifegermany]

[madbirdwoman]

[dansnaturepictures]

Some of my favourite photos I took in July 2024 and month summary post 1 of 3: Butterflies, moths and birds

The photos in this set are of; Comma at Martin Down, Large White at Lakeside Country Park, Lulworth Skipper at Durlston, Scalloped Oak at home, juvenile Cuckoo at Lyndon, Rutland Water, Great Crested Grebe and chicks and Lakeside and Peregrine in flight at Durlston.

July was another fantastic wildlife month for me. Butterflies played a big role as I did so many Big Butterfly Counts this month, a pleasure to take part in this important survey so much once again. I have thoroughly enjoyed spotting the likes of Ringlet in nice numbers, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Marbled White, Green-veined White, Small and Large White, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma, Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue and Common Blue. Elsewhere Common Grayling, Silver-washed Fritillary and Lulworth Skipper were quintessential summer species that I was ecstatic to see to get into my year; with Dark Green Fritillary, Wall Brown, Silver-studded Blue, Large Skipper, Small Skipper and Purple Hairstreak also a delight to see.

It was a magical moth month as Silver Y, Six-spot Burnet and exhilarating glimpses of Jersey Tiger moth at Lakeside also starred in my Big Butterfly Counts three day flying species included in the survey. I also very much enjoyed doing a moth trap a fascinating activity as I continue to learn more and more moths with Scalloped Oak, Lackey, Common Footman and Riband Wave great to see and Large Tabby coming into this house and Scarlet Tiger moth and beautiful Magpie moths a new species seen twice this month which was a treat enjoyed in the day. Yarrow Plume and Mint moth other highlights. Cinnabar moth and Emperor moth caterpillars were colourful and wonderful to see this month.

I also had a top birdwatching month with one I treasure a Green Sandpiper becoming my 200th species of the year at one of my key moments in my month and year at Rutland Water whilst up for the Global Bird Fair. On that trip juvenile Cuckoo the first I'd ever seen, Pochard ducklings, an evening Barn Owl encounter, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, excellent views of endearing Ospreys, Little and Great White Egret and Green Woodpecker and Treecreeper seen ringed at BTO demonstration were other key species of my month. It was a pleasure to see the Lakeside Great Crested Grebe pair raise another brood of youngsters this year and seen Peregrines well in Winchester, at Durlston and Corfe Castle. Other standout species this month included astonishing Kingfisher and Spotted Flycatcher views including young of the latter at Puttles Bridge in the New Forest, Kestrel, Yellowhammer, Skylark, Stonechat, Chiffchaff, Wren, House Martin, Swift, Bullfinch, Red Kite and Grey Heron, Moorhen, Greylag Geese, Lesser Black-backed Gull and young Black-headed Gull at Lakeside.

[unkn0wnvariable]

Feeding Fritillary

A silver-washed fritillary butterfly feeding on sunlit bramble flowers, in Short Wood.

[colorsoutofearth]

Silver-washed fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

Photo by Jussi Murtosaari

[rabbitcruiser]

Learn About Butterflies Day

In keeping with the spirit of Learn About Butterflies Day, celebrate by learning a little more about the wide range of butterflies. With over 20,000 types of butterflies worldwide today is the perfect day to learn about butterflies. Their wing spans can range from ½ inch to 11 inches. Did you know that in their adult stage butterflies can live from a week up to a year, depending on the species? Many butterflies migrate over long distances the most famous migrations are those of the Monarch butterfly from Mexico to the northern USA and southern Canada, a distance of about 2500 to 3000 miles. That’s a lot of air miles!

If you need some inspiration about how to celebrate, here are five ideas for you to try:

1. Start a butterfly garden.

One of the best ways to attract butterflies to your yard is to plant nectar-producing flowers that have red, yellow, orange, pink, or purple blossoms. Plant them in a sunny spot in a group so they grow in clusters.

2. Make a butterfly snack.

Fresh fruit is the perfect springtime snack, so use your imagination to whip up a fruity butterfly treat. You can also put a bit of fruit out in your garden for the butterflies to enjoy.

3. Learn something you didn’t know about butterflies.

Did you know that a butterfly can’t fly if its body temperature falls below 86°F? Or that they drink the tears of turtles? And they use their feet to taste?

4. Get crafty.

Grab some card, pipe cleaners and clothes peg and some pom-poms and here’s how you create your own butterfly:

Decorate some card with markers and then spray it with water to create its wings.

Once it dries, wrap a pipe cleaner around the middle of the card.

Glue pom-poms onto the clothespin and clip the clothespin to the cards.

Bend the pipe cleaner to make the antennae.

5. Visit your local zoo.

If in doubt learn from the experts. Heading to your local zoo and talking to the keepers that look after these amazing creatures from caterpillar to larvae and then to butterfly. They will be able to show you just how amazing these creatures are.

Source

Observed annually, March 14th is National Learn About Butterflies Day.  Spring and summer are just right around the corner, so it is a good time to take a few minutes and learn something new about butterflies and appreciate their beauty.

Butterflies need our help to survive as they rely on flowers and other natural sources for survival.  We can help them by planting more flowers.

There are more than 20,000 types of butterflies worldwide

Their wing spans can range from ½ inch to 11 inches.

Butterflies in their adult stage can live from a week to nearly a year, depending on the species.

Many butterflies migrate over long distances.  Particularly famous migrations are those of the Monarch butterfly from Mexico to the northern USA and southern Canada, a distance of about 2500 to 3000 miles.

Source

[postmanpetecoluk]

Silver-washed Fritillary by pete beard Via Flickr: Underwing

[michaelnordeman]

Common brimstone/citronfjäril, Peacock butterfly/påfågelöga, Silver-washed fritillary/silverstreckad pärlemorfjäril, White-tailed bumblebee/ljus jordhumla and Sun fly (Helophilus pendulus)/pendelblomfluga. Värmland, Sweden (July 24, 2020).

[thewolfnessphotography]

Silver-washed fritillary

[theyoungwaldschrat]

Argynnis paphia - silver-washed fritillary Kaisermantel (emperor's cloak)

[wildlifegermany]

[i-eat-butterflies-when-im-alone]

SILVER WASHED FRITILLARY

a lovely, grainy picture of a silver washed fritillary!!!!!!!!!!!!! remember it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dansnaturepictures]

Photos from this year so far of a summer view at Lakeside Country Park, Silver-washed Fritillary, Small Skipper and White Stork at Knepp on an incredible day in July, Stonechat on another wonderful day at Thursley in September and Winchester Cathedral last week.

[petec9099]

Butterflies galore in between the rain.

[miyrumiyru]

(M) Spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) ;)

some nice bugs ive seen this summer! (red admiral, silver-washed fritillary, great green bush-cricket, unidentified moth (any ideas?) & european peacock caterpillars)