I forgot to mention that it was only discovered in 1992! It is seriously tiny - only about 18 mm wingspan - and VERY difficult to follow in flight.

Tony M.

Hi and a Happy new Year to you all. You may be interested in this photograph of the Black Grass-dart ( Ocybadistes knightorum ), which I recently saw in Australia. It only occurs in a very specific habitat in the region of Coffs Harbour NSW. Its foodplant Alexfloydia repens (itself threatened), is o...

For personal reasons, I no longer usually post on this site, and limit my activities to the photo comps. However, having finally scraped onto the 'podium' after 3 years of trying, it would be churlish not to thank those who kindly voted for me, and to congratulate the 1st and 2nd winners. I thought ...

Gibster wrote:Hey, if the topic's going to be 'Butterfly Tattoos' I reckon my girlfriend is in with a winning chance - anatomically correct Glanville Frit on her chest. C'mon guys, you KNOW you want to see THAT!!

Take pity and make an old man happy.... Pleeeeese!

In the 1950s, I caught a male CHB at Shirley, near Bimingham. None had been recorded anywhere near there before.

Tony M.

I have been asked to promulgate the link below concerning the bestial practice of 'shark finning' ( live sharks are caught and the fins hacked off to supply the Chinese restaurant trade. The animals are then thrown back into the sea to die slowly in agony). A massive petition is being organised to p...

Hi Em,

If you decide to go, DO let me know - I might be able to join you....

T.

Dozens of Green Hairstreaks on Cannock Chase (SJ 982 180) this afternoon. .

I only came down on Mouse and Antonym.... Lest I be considered inconsistent, I have thought long and hard before writing this post :D . I'm not sure that it should be within the remit of any member of staff to 'come down on' anyone, without a VERY compelling reason. It is totally inappropriate on w...

now you think you are an expert enough photographer to distinguish which DSLR can turn out the better quality image, you have come a long way in a short time. :!: Gruditch That's a little unkind :oops: . I was in no way suggesting that I might be able to separate the images. I just thought it would...

Mouse, doesn't your great idea sound a bit like the monthly comps we already run. Not at all!! No one would know which image was taken by which camera :twisted: :twisted: Come to think of it, why not extend the voting to all members except the chief protagonists. Undoctored stuff and preferably usi...

Thank God you've all calmed down a little bit - you sounded like a bunch of delinquent seven-year-olds :evil: . Who the f*** cares what camera you use - it's the results that count. Judging by the 'Dipper' shot, there's not a lot wrong with the Sony workings - ISO3200 and cropped down - awesome! AND...

Hi Matsukase,

Thanks for that. I guess, in my ignorance, I just assumed it was a HF. So much to learn

Tony.

Looks exactly like Fox moth to me. Surely the velvety black rings on the top pic are unmistakeable, and the time is right. Happy to be shot down by those with greater experience than me

Denise wrote:There is nothing wrong with having a pair of 40D's

Sounds like a photo opportunity

Gruditch, 1 - Eccles, 0.

Had a very pleasant afternoon at Aqualate Park. Managed to find 10 Purple Hairstreak eggs and then saw this beauty on the way back. I chased it for about thirty yards when it settled and was very cooperative :D . http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m436/Antonymoo/Butterflies/DSC00808.jpg . Only the t...

Brilliant, Malcolm,

Just the sort of advice I needed. Hope to show some results ere long.

Tony.

http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m436/Antonymoo/Butterflies/Hoverfly.jpg Hi All, Any 'Flymen' out there who could ID this for me. I saw it this afternoon while looking for PH eggs ( found two, quite quickly, since you ask :D ). A handsome beastie, I thought :) . Actually, I seem to be developing ...

Hi Malcolm, Sorry to be so long in replying, but I've only just seen your post. I was thinking of the Sigma RF on a Sigma 105mm - I'm now not so sure, especially as the newly announced Sony version is unlikely to be available until well into next year. Certainly, a normal flashgun would be more gene...