59: BROWNS AND NYMPHALIDS

59.002 Wall basking at the southern edge of Midgley moor on June 7th 2022.

59.002 Wall nectaring on buttercups at Brearley meadows below Midgley on June 2nd 2022. This species is seen much more frequently at elevated sites these days.

59.003 Speckled Wood basking in the sunshine at Bankhouse wood, May 4th 2014. 

59.003 Speckled Wood on the Scout Rock Trail, Mytholmroyd on June 2nd 2024.

59.003 Speckled Wood, same butterfly as above soaking up the warmth from the sun.

59.005 Small Heath at Cromwell Bottom on June 29th 2025. Calmy posing on a knapweed seed head in the relative coolness of early morning.

59.005 Small Heath on moorland above Hollins Road, Walsden on July 18th 2024.

Usually quite unapproachable this one was much more cooperative.

59.009 Ringlet at a bridle path near Norland village, July 3rd 2014.

59.009 Ringlet (ab. caeca?), All Saints' graveyard, Skircoat Green on June 26th 2014. A common butterfly here on warm, sunny days with good numbers gently fluttering about the grassy areas.

59.009 Ringlet by the towpath at Elland By-pass, June 30th 2013.

59.010 Meadow Brown at Cromwell Bottom on Aug. 31st 2004. Photo taken with my first digital camera, a Nikon Coolpix SQ. It wasn't the greatest camera ever produced but it was the one that got me interested in macro photography and then in to moths so it was pretty special to me.

59.010 Meadow Brown at North Loop, Cromwell Bottom on June 21st 2018.

59.011 Gatekeeper at the small meadow opposite the visitor centre at Cromwell Bottom on July 9th 2023. It was very approachable possibly due to its deformed left wing.

59.011 Gatekeepers feeding on Ragwort at All Saints' graveyard, Skircoat Green, July 30th 2017.

59.011 Gatekeeper in the steady drizzle at Tag Loop, July 28th 2010. My first ever sighting of this species. 

59.019 Dark Green Fritillary nectaring on the garden Buddleia at Skircoat Green along with a Painted Lady (left), Aug. 2nd 2019. It was a fantastic year for Painted Lady immigration so I wasn't at all surprised when no less than six were present at one time on the Buddleia bush below my bedroom window. What did make me give it a second look however was when this scarce Calderdale visitor turned up. It stayed to feed for a minute or so allowing me to grab a few photos - great stuff! 

59.019 Dark Green Fritillary details above.

59.019 Dark Green Fritillary details above.