All the very best with your move Jack.

Hugh

Flocks of Peacocks!!! At least 30+ fresh Peacocks on the Buddlijas in my garden over the weekend - many years since I can remember these numbers in the garden :) - only 1 Small Tortoiseshell however in comparision :( . A couple of weeks ago we noted large numbers of Peacock caterpillars in the loca...

A pleasant afternoon in the Lincolnshire Limewoods. Highlight was a silver-washed fritillary - a species which is scarce in the county. Although reported I saw no marbled whites or white admirals. No purple hairstreaks reported either. Lots of ringlets and small skippers, several meadow browns and a...

Gibster, I think there was a move to have a social up here but there didn't seem to be much interest sadly.
There is the Birdfair and the BC conference where some of us could hopefully meet up. I would certainly appreciate it.

Hugh

At last a decent day. Twitched the White rumped Sandpiper at Frampton Marsh RSPB then toured the Limewoods. Highlights were two Marbled White and a single White Admiral. Silver Washed Fritillary reorted yesterday and today. These are very scarce in Lincolnshire - I was fortunate to see one last year...

Got back yesterday. Weather was bad travelling up on the Friday so didn't even try for the Black Grouse in the north Pennines. Had a wedding near Hexham on the Saturday so on the Friday afternoon went for the Small Pearl Bordered Frits at Sweethorpe. Unfortuantely the road was blocked for wind turbi...

Jack Harrison wrote:Lens hood is usually included in a camera purchase.



Jack

It isn't included with the 'cheaper' canon lenses. Got a decent deal from my local shop yesterday and also an invite to a free macro afternoon tomorrow.

Hugh

Thanks all. I have hoods on all my lens except 50 mm which is deeply recessed and have the rubber one on my zoom. Use them not just for flare but for protection as I don't like skylights/filters. I started this thread as a remark on a thread I was searching said most macro photographers didn't use t...

I am seriously cosidering buying the canon EF 100mm f2.8 USM macro lens. There seems to be some debate about the usefulness of a lens hood for this. Some seem to suggest that most macro photographers dont use one. I would be interested in your views especially as the hood isnt cheap. Many thanks Hugh

Oh I so love Thornham. Spend hours there when in Norfolk especially in the winter scanning the gulls as they come into roost.

Thanks so much. I am especially interested in the small pearl-bordered frits so your advice is most welcome

Hugh

Hi all,

Am hoping to be in Bamburgh for the first week of July.
Any tips for sites and species would be much appreciated. Easy walking preferred due to arthritis
Can travel in the area. Understand Dark Green Fritillaries are about and rumours of Small PB

Many thanks,

Hugh

Yes its a bit dire at the moment. Visited yesterday morning but bones hurt too much to go to the meadow. Spent 30 minutes in the Butterfly Garden for nothing! Marsh and Dingys can be difficult to spot in the meadow. Rightly folk are asked not to trample all over - but there are a few well defined tr...

Yes they were plentiful today and several Dingy Skippers too. Have you been to the meadow before - if not pm me or e mail - hughcmiddleton@gmail.com Given decent weather they should be about early evening. I am at a conference next week so wont be visiting so cant update you but hope you are success...

What a difference a few days make. The Lincs Limewoods were alive this afternoon with Marsh Fritillaries - saw 23 in an hour plus several Dingy Skippers. Hope you got there yesterday selbypaul. Several Orange Tips and Brimstone and though Speckled Wood were reported have still to see one this year. ...

Paul,

I don't know what will be out in the Limewoods this weekend. Everything is much later than last year which of course was very early. Doubt if I wil have chance to go again this week but with the weather set fair its worth a look.

Best wishes

Hugh

At last I have had a full days butterflying for well over a month. Visits to the Lincolnshire Limewoods and environs gave reasonable numbers and species, namely: Orange Tip, Brimstone, Peacock, Green Veined White and Small Copper. No Dingy Skippers or Marsh Fritllary yet. Still to see my first Speck...

A few years since I visited that butterfly place at Long Sutton - back in the days when my in laws lived at Wisbech. Had some good days there.
Is it true it is about to close in the near future?

Hugh

Well what a month! Here we are in drought ridden Lincolnshire with a hosepipe ban and all the rivers in flood. Heard my first cuckoo on Saturday. This morning while listening to seven different nightingales and despite seeing five of them never got a decent picture saw a male orange tip.Back at the ...

That is extremely good. Can't wait for your butterfly pictures.

Hugh