View allAll Photos Tagged Gatekeepers
Many thanks to you ALL for the views, faves and comments you make on my shots it is very appreciated.
Many thanks to you ALL for the views, faves and comments you make on my shots it is very appreciated
A single Dartmoor Pony, picked out by the setting sun, stands guard over the winding path to St Michael’s Chapel at Rame Head in Cornwall.
Gatekeeper. It has the reputation for being the friendliest butterfly in the uk. That is my experience too. They come and greet me when I go outside and fly along in front of me whilst I chat away to them!. They're also happy to stay still whilst I photograph and sometimes stay there until they see me about to move away, then they go too.
Due to chronic poor health I'm unable to take on new contacts but do my best to reply to comments. Thank you so much for your interest, comments and favours on my photostream. Also for your good wishes. I send you joy and peace.
As the butterfly season comes to a close I’m just checking and clearing my spare SD cards. Thought this Gatekeeper shot was worth saving.
As its English names suggest, the Gatekeeper (also known as the Hedge Brown) is often encountered where clumps of flowers grow in gateways and along hedgerows and field edges. It is often seen together with the Meadow Brown and Ringlet, from which it is easily distinguished when basking or nectaring with open wings.
The colour and patterning of the wings are very variable and about a dozen aberrations have been named. Favourite nectar sources include Wild Marjoram, Common Fleabane, ragworts, and Bramble.
It is widespread in southern Britain and its range has extended northwards in recent years. Its range is far more localized in southern Ireland.
Taken Summer 2020.
Thank you so much for sharing your quality photos which is a great way to see and keep in touch with the world from home. Also for your kind comments and favours which are much valued.
I am not able to take on any more members to follow or to post to groups. I prefer not to receive invites.
Thank you everyone so much for sharing your quality photos which is a great way to see and keep in touch with the world from home. Also for your kind comments and favours which are much valued. I am not able to take on any more members to follow or to post to groups. I prefer not to receive invites to groups
Gatekeeper / pyronia tithonus. Minsmere, Suffolk. 23/07/20.
It's been an exceptionally good year for Gatekeeper butterflies and I've seen them in good numbers wherever I've been this summer.
Colour tones and wing patterns on this species can be variable and at least 12 aberrations have been discovered over the years. Since aberrations can result from temperature extremes, (and considering the exceptionally hot Spring we had), I've been hopeful of finding some 'different' looking individuals ... sadly, no luck there!
BEST VIEWED LARGE.
Yes, they're there somewhere! I was trying to create more of an atmosphere here, an impression of the beautiful field with the long grass and wild flowers.
This is the Gatekeeper that frequents the front garden, just near our front door. The butterfly got it's common name 'Gatekeeper' because they are usually seen at the gates or entries of houses. This one stayed still for a long time, unperturbed even when my nose was a few inches from it. I'm convinced that they are very territorial and it is always this same one that I see in the front garden whilst the 3 that I see in the back are a different lot.
Due to chronic poor health I'm unable to take on new contacts but do my best to reply to comments. Thank you so much for your interest, comments and favours on my photostream. Also for your good wishes. I send you joy and peace.
WWT Slimbridge. Summer Walkway.
As its English names suggest, the Gatekeeper (also known as the Hedge Brown) is often encountered where clumps of flowers grow in gateways and along hedgerows and field edges. It is often seen together with the Meadow Brown and Ringlet, from which it is easily distinguished when basking or nectaring with open wings.
The colour and patterning of the wings are very variable and about a dozen aberrations have been named. Favourite nectar sources include Wild Marjoram, Common Fleabane, ragworts, and Bramble.
It is widespread in southern Britain and its range has extended northwards in recent years. Its range is far more localized in southern Ireland. (Butterfly Conservation).
My thanks to anyone who clicks or comments on this photo. It is much appreciated.
It was lovely to see so many Gatekeepers feeding along the path when we walked a stretch of the River Gipping yesterday!
The Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) is a common and resident butterfly in the UK especially southern England
It is found mainly on grasses in woodland clearings, heathland, and hedgerows favouring sheltered sunny situations. It becomes scarcer in areas where excessive verge mowing, hedge removal and "tidying" of the countryside has occurred.
Also known as the Hedge Brown, it is similar to the Meadow Brown, and the two species can be difficult to distinguish with closed wings as the underwing markings are similar. However, the smaller and more orange Gatekeeper tends to rest with its wings open, whereas the Meadow Brown usually rests with its wings closed. The Gatekeeper also has double pupils in its eye spots.
The Gatekeeper has light Brown to brown wings. It has a wingspan of 40mm with orange markings and thin white or dark edging. It has a brown body and wing roots, a black "eye" at the tips of the orange wing marking with tiny double white spots to the "eye". The Gatekeeper is sexually dimorphic with the male having a dark patch of scent–producing scales known as the androconia on the upper side of the forewing.
The Gatekeeper lays pale yellow eggs are singly on grass sheltered by Hawthorn, Bramble and Blackthorn bushes protected from grazing by rabbits, sheep, deer etc. The eggs are spherical with roughly 16 vertical ridges when first laid, developing small brown spots within a couple of days, and hatching after about 14 days. The larvae feed on various Grasses including Common Meadow Grass. They enter hibernation in September emerging in March or April to pupate. Adults feed on Bramble, Devil's–bit Scabious, Fleabane, Hemp Agrimony, Wild Privet, Common Ragwort, Red Clover, various Thistles, and Water Mint.