Hi Mike - you can either send me, or bring, JPEGs. We can load them onto a laptop for display. An alternative is to bring hard copy - although this didn't work so well last year since not all could see the photos. If you do bring hard copy, the larger the better :) Pete Pete, does this mean that yo...

Nice photos Pauline

How did you manage with your lens not steaming up? There must be a knack...

I am hoping to also pay a visit there after reading all these positive comments; unfortunately it would have to be at the weekend when there will be lots more people.

Polly

Thank you FISHiEE and Chris for taking so much time to give your very constructive and helpful comments. This must be THE place to learn all about butterfly photography! Much of what pleases us will always be subjective but it is how to make the improvements to camera techniques and composition that...

I enjoyed this year's event so much that I would definitely want to come again!

Agree with Gruditch that a talk on flash photography would be good, please.

Susie: maybe we could car share?

Polly

Hullo Dave and welcome to UK Butterflies!

Your photos definitely show it to be Hemp Agrimony. There is the wild species and also some cultivated ones. As you have observed, they can be a magnet for butterflies and bees.

Polly

Hi Fiona I watched this Gardener's World Special - what she was trying to do, with creating wildlife corridors (via the country lanes), is admirable. Sarah Raven isn't my favourite presenter; presenting just doesn't come very easily to her, though she certainly knows her subject. I hope we see anoth...

Wow! I really see what you mean Susie...

Brown Hairstreaks are a real pest at the moment; they are everywhere in Sussex!!

At one time today there were two egg-laying only 3 feet apart in the same blackthorn bush. Saw this one as she relaxed between bouts of egg-laying (thanks Sussex Kipper ):

Susie

I am simply with envy!!!!!!!!!!!!

You lucky person you.

Polly

Hi Roger Sorry not to meet you (but glad we were busy on the stand). You sound like you had a great time spending your pennies! I bought far too many books but realise that I always spend more than I plan to when I go there. Where were the Brown Hairstreaks...? It's a species I have yet to see. I am...

Hi Polly, The nearest site i can recomend is Ketton Quarry. You will not beat it for peace and quiet after the bedlam of birdfair. Regards, Brian Brian - thanks so much for this recommendation; it is a great site. Undisturbed meadow-type habitat, just full of wildflowers, butterflies (12 species in...

At last... a butterfly nectaring on the Lantana in my front garden today! I never saw it on the colourful flowers, only on the whitish ones.

Thanks Brian and Trev for your replies.

I am not expected to spend all day, every day on the stand so I shall be taking you up on your suggestions. I have borrowed the O.S. maps from my local library, so hopefully will be able to follow your directions.

Thanks again.

Polly

A female (or immature male) Black Darter has more extensive and bolder black markings on the sides of both the thorax and abdomen, giving an overall darker appearance. The orange hue at the base of the wings is also more pronounced in the Ruddy Darter. Can see what you're thinking though - easy the...

Hi Roger

I will be on Halcyon Gambia, stand 5 in Marquee 6, and look forward to meeting anyone coming to the Birdfair (unless I have slunk out looking for birds, butterflies and dragonflies )

Lucky you going to the Attenborough lecture on Saturday - I was too late to get tickets

Polly

Looking at the colour of the darter's pterostigma (which look black to me, or is it the light?) I was wondering what the reasons are for it not being a Black Darter, which also has totally black legs and orange patches at the wing bases
Polly

Hi everyone

I will be spending 5 days at Rutland Water next week (as I am helping on a stand at the Birdfair) and wondered about nearby sites, not only butterflies but also for a bit of peace and quiet !!

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Polly

My first 'dip in the water' as far as this monthly competition is concerned...

Taken on Saturday 12th July at Southwater Woods, near Horsham, West Sussex using a Canon 40D and Canon 180mm Macro lens plus monopod.

I saw my first ever White Admiral yesterday and was lucky enough to grab just this one shot of it whilst it paused briefly on a silver birch at the BC reserve at Park Corner Heath, East Sussex:

Has anyone had any luck yet with their Lantana?

Mine are flowering well but the only thing that they have attracted are slugs

Polly

Hi Susie - only just found your message. I guess you will have decided by now where you are heading for today. You have certainly chosen a bright, sunny day for it. Let us know how you get on (some of us have got to work )

Polly