Dark Green Fritillary on a Thistle head.

[Gottshotz]

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Taken handheld at Murlough Nature Reserve, a coastal area of sand dunes at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, with the Sony a1 and 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 at 241mm ISO 640, 1/3200 Sec., @f5.6 .These medium sized butterflies can be locally quite common, but only in small areas that contain large clumps of their foodplant -- The Dog Violet. With most Fritillary species it's the underside wing patterns which help to identify them.

 

[Bigmo]

Nice capture.

 

[Gottshotz]

Nice capture.

Thanks Bigmo, very happy to get one of these beauties isolated on a flower head !

 

[Bill M]

Great capture. Happy to see another fritillary. Especially a dark green as I do not believe they are in the United States. Great detail on your shot.

 

[Gottshotz]

Great capture. Happy to see another fritillary. Especially a dark green as I do not believe they are in the United States. Great detail on your shot.

Thanks Bill --- Unfortunately we only have 3 species of Fritillaries over here in Ireland, despite there being many more in nearby England. However, with climate change we are getting more southern and continental species visiting, so possibly in a relatively short period of time, they too, will stay and breed over here !

 

[jeffnles1]

nicely done

 

[Gottshotz]

nicely done

Thanks Jeff --- with Fritillaries, the interesting and often diagnostic markings are on the underside, and you have to wait until the butterfly settles to get a good view of them.

 

[Woody Meristem]

Excellent photo.

 

[Gottshotz]

Excellent photo.

Thanks Woody, if the sunlight is in the right place, those white spots show up as reflective silver --- very startling, but hard to capture in the camera !

 

[DRwyoming]

These medium sized butterflies can be locally quite common, but only in small areas that contain large clumps of their foodplant -- The Dog Violet. With most Fritillary species it's the underside wing patterns which help to identify them.

Beautiful image David! I love the wing detail.

...So I'll wait for the wild rose that's waiting for me In the place where the dark Mournes sweep down to the sea.

 

[Gottshotz]

Beautiful image David! I love the wing detail.

...So I'll wait for the wild rose that's waiting for me In the place where the dark Mournes sweep down to the sea.

Thanks David, very impressed by the Percy French "line" --- obviously a chap with some "breeding" !

 

[Bigmo]

Nice capture.

 

[Gottshotz]

Nice capture.

Thanks Bigmo, glad you like it.