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Wednesday 18 March 2020

Large Tortoiseshell Butterfly

My number one Butterfly target for this year 'was' the Large Tortoiseshell.

My nature watching colleagues of mainland Europe are likely to say
"Large Tortoiseshell - so whats the big deal - they are quite common"

In all the butterfly books it will inform that this species is extinct in UK. 
In fact it was last abundant back in the 1940's.  However some have more recently been released from captive bred stock by Entomologists in an effort to re-introduce and as a result of this, small numbers can be found in a few locations in the south coast areas.

One such location is the Isle of Portland where this week I was fortunate to be able to photograph a male and female of the species.

Male

Female











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12 comments:

  1. Guy18 March 2020 at 20:24

    Hi Roy

    This was nice to see as we sit in the house watching it snow.

    Guy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Roy Norris19 March 2020 at 18:09

      Thanks Guy, no snow here, but we have had an awful lot of rain.

      Delete
  2. Maria18 March 2020 at 20:39

    Hi Roy,
    Fantastic Butterfly! I saw one in Greece. Here in the Netherlands they are quite rare!
    Great series of pics!
    Regards, Maria

    ReplyDelete
  3. John "By Stargoose And Hanglands"19 March 2020 at 06:39

    Fantastic! Though I'm sure it will be a while before they make their way here, if they ever do.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Roy Norris19 March 2020 at 18:05

      Thanks John, probably not in the near future I'm afraid.

      Delete
  4. Margaret Birding For Pleasure19 March 2020 at 06:57

    How wonderful to see and photograph these beautiful butterflies Roy

    ReplyDelete
  5. The Herald19 March 2020 at 07:38

    Nice to see Roy. Sunshine and rare butterflies....must have been one of those good days?

    Now, if you could just shoo a few (of each!) in this direction please...[;o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Roy Norris19 March 2020 at 18:03

      Thanks Trevor, I think you are more likely to see a Camberwell Beauty than one of these.:))

      Delete
  6. Anne Hagman-Niilola19 March 2020 at 15:54

    Se on niin kaunis perhonen.

    ReplyDelete

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