Hi I found a green Veined white yesterday by the river Dee at Aldford while looking for Club Tailed Dragonflies.
Really pleased to see the first one of the year
I went to Eyarth Rocks this morning to look for PB Frits nothing yet but I think I,m a bit early
Pete

Just noticed the The Sigma 150-500mm is available on pre order from warehouse express for £749
Thats quite a bit less than Canon's 100-400 it will be interesting to see what the image quality is like and whether the minimum focus distance is usable for butterflies
Pete

sounds like a dream job for someone with the experience
We are members of Chester zoo and go there in the winter a lot . It looks like we will be going in the summer too

Hi Eccles thats a superb shot really sharp.
I have read that IS is supposed to be better in lens rather than in camera, but I recon in camera is more practical as IS lenses are expensive and not all lense types are avialable with IS. For example you cant get an IS macro lens for a Canon.
Pete

Happy new year everyone Sorry for late message we was at in laws down south
Pete

Thats a very good point Martin and Peter it would be easy to just rush around trying to see everything too quickly. I will start with a few local species. I would be happy to see fritillaries and anything else would be a bonus I am also trying to get photos of the butterflies and as you know there i...

I splashed out on a 40D recently really pleased with it Bit late for the butterflies but cant wait to next year. At the mo using it at Chester zoo . The handling and high ISO performance are why I got it
Pete

Thanks very much everyone
I'm glad I found this site and its nice to know that there are other people similar to me that that have recently got into butterflies.
I think I'm already obsessed as I'm already planning next summer
Pete

Just noticed this introduction section so thought I'd say Hi. I've only recently noticed the site but will be a regular as I have found it to be really helpful and friendly. I live in North Wales. Even though I'm in my 40's I've only recently got into butterflies. In sept 2006 I bought an Digital SL...

I've just ordered my copy can't wait
Pete

Hi I,m trying to see and photograph each of the species in our area(North Wales) Its easy for me to decide what to look for as I only started chasing after butterflies this Summer. So have lots to see yet. I would love to get a nice shot of a Fritillary any one :D I missed them this year. I will try...

Hi dave well done on the new camera
I use the sigma 105 too its great as you can hand hold it easily as I dont get on with a tripod.
Sometimes for dragonflies I cant get near enough with the 105 but for butterflies its great.
Pete

Thanks Pete and Roger :D thats brilliant We will take your advice and go in the beginning of July I cant wait already as many of the species you've listed will be new to me. Even though I'm in my 40's I've only recently got into butterflies. From last summer from seeing them while I was after dragon...

Hi we are going to the Heddon Valley and staying at the Hunters Inn for a few days next July Hopefully to see fritillaries. It looks like the Hunters Inn is a nice place for the missus and I to spend 2 or 3 days and hopefully see some butterflies. I thought that the second or third week in July woul...

Thanks everyone :D it looks like the size I'm thinking of will be OK Going to make a start with it this week. I've got another pond with fish in so will have somewhere for the frogs to go while I remove the existing pond. we have had about 5 frogs living in the pond for quite a few years now so hope...

Hi I am going to enlarge our existing pond and make it more suitable for wildlife Would a 11 foot by 4 foot pond in a sunny site be large enough to attract dragonflies? We already have Large red Damselflies breeding in our pond and would like to attract dragonflies such as Hawkers to our garden too....

Thanks Eccles Ive only just found this forum. Im making plans for next years butterflies already!
Pete

I mainly use auto focus for most things just find it easier to focus on the head then reframe.
But for close up stuff like small butterflies at about 1:1 I manual focus.
Pete

Hi Pete the Dust pump is undoubtedly a great lens, I had a brief go with one a while back and was very impressed. However with a minimum focus distance of 1.8m, some shots/angles would be unattainable. Take a look at mike Youngs breeding Glanville Frits pic ( June comp ) and too get Gwenhwyfars win...

Hi Eccles really nice shots well done finding the bargains
Pete