This has got me stumped

[RobinP]

It's about the size of a large skipper and nectaring on bramble but I've no idea what it was, I could only get this one blurry photo before it flew off into an oak tree.



Any ideas?

Cheers

Robin

[Johnny Redgate]

Where did you see it? It looks like a skipper. That sort of wing patterning strongly suggest Silver-spotted but that would breed in short chalk grassland. There isn't a Large Skipper variation with v pale wing panels is there? Looks like Silver-spotted. Good find - I've never seen one.

[Deb London]

The Silver-spotted hasn't been recorded yet this year, so it would be a first.

[GuyF]

It does look very strange, but I'd say that it's a female Large Skipper, perhaps quite well worn. Although the upperside does look odd, I think if it were a Silver-spotted Skipper the underside markings would be much more obvious.
Guy

[Johnny Redgate]

Originally Posted by GuyF

It does look very strange, but I'd say that it's a female Large Skipper, perhaps quite well worn. Although the upperside does look odd, I think if it were a Silver-spotted Skipper the underside markings would be much more obvious.
Guy

Interestung one though. I'm unconvinced. Shame Robin hasn't said where he saw it. If he saw it in a wood in the UK it couldn't really be Silver-spotted unless someone had released some captive bred stock (and if they knew anything about S-s Skipper, why let them go in a wood?

You must be right Guy, but my those spots look silvery!

[andy brown]

Hi,

Suspect a female large skipper

Cheers

Andy

[RobinP]

Yes, the local experts agree on female large skipper too, the sun must have caught the wing at a funny angle giving the appearance of underside spots, very unlikely to find SSS in a field of long grass and feeding on brambles.

Robin