Fritillary species, but which one?

[RobS]

I am not bad on butterflies, I seen about 44 of the 57(?) residents and photographed most of those too, so I would say I was reasonably confident at identifying them.....until about an hour ago!

I live on the outskirts of Southampton which has oak trees around and some laurel bushes and buddleia but otherwise it's pretty open. This morning I saw some Gatekeepers (a Common Darter, new for the garden) and a Holly Blue. I was just having a general look around when I saw what at first I thought might be a Comma (they are reasonably regular in the garden) then I decided it was too big so thought 'ah Painted Lady' (also common in good years) and much to my surprise when it flew past it was clearly a fritillary. I am guessing it was a Dark Green rather than Silver Washed, but I thought they never went into suburban gardens let alone mine.

It's been something of a vintage week here, I trapped 2 Poplar Hawkmoths, a Buff Ermine, a Common Footman and a Phoenix this week - the garden list for moths is at 66 now!

Any ideas on the fritillary - I am assuming it's not a migrant, it was too big for QoS.

Thanks

Rob S

[Harry Eales]

Rob,

Without a decent picture of your Fritillary, it's just a wild guess as to what species it is. Sorry.

Harry

[RobS]

Yes I realise that, I suppose I was asking whether either or both of DG and SW Frits frequent surburban gardens? I think on colour it had to be a DG - still a great visitor. Found a Small Copper this afternoon on the leaf of a courgette plant, another new one for my personal nature reserve!

Rob S

[Harry Eales]

Hello Rob,

It could be either of the Frits you suggest. The Dark Green Fritillary is a very powerful flyer and can often be found miles from it's known breeding haunts.

In my area it is a moorland and sea shore species yet it has turned up in the middle of Newcastle upon Tyne, 30 + miles from it's nearest known breeding place. Sorry still not much help.

Harry

[GuyF]

For what it's worth I'd say that, in the South, Silver-washed Fritillaries are more likely to be seen in gardens (although it's still fairly unusual). I live close to some woodland and we usually get a few individuals visiting the buddleia in the garden at this time of year, I've heard of a few other similar sightings too.
However, as Harry says, the Dark Green Fritillary is a powerful flyer and it would certainly be possible for a wandering individual to turn up in a suburban garden!
Guy

[RobS]

I saw it again today, very briefly, but I am favouring SW now! I need to get a good look. Funnily enough it was about the same time, perhaps it has its own schedule

Thanks for the comments.

Rob S

[Jason Claxton]

Hi Rob

I agree with Harry that an I.d can't be given with certainty here.
But I can tell you that there are Silver-Washed Fritillaries around Southampton and I've had a few in my garden over the years,from experience there are good numbers in the NW of Southampton near me ,such as Lord's Wood,Toothill,Rownhams Wood,Valley Park ,Chandlers Ford.However I don't really get over the east side much.
There are only occasional records of Dark Green Fritillary in Southampton,so it was most probably a Silver-Washed Fritillary that you saw.

Cheers ,Jason