Search found 1116 matches
- Sun Aug 16, 2009 11:21 am
- Forum: Overseas
- Topic: South of France guide
- Replies: 9
- Views: 371
Re: South of France guide
3462 is clearly a Lysandra species, and almost certainly a female, either Adonis Blue ( Lysandra bellargus ) or Chalk-hill Blue ( Lysandra coridon ). They are very hard to differentiate from the underside alone, especially if only the hindwing is visible, as both have slightly chequered fringes. My ...
- Sat Aug 15, 2009 10:28 am
- Forum: Identification
- Topic: Qu'est-ce que c'est que ça ?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 581
Re: Qu'est-ce que c'est que ça ?
Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus).
- Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:46 am
- Forum: Identification
- Topic: Qu'est-ce que c'est que ça ?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 581
Re: Qu'est-ce que c'est que ça ?
It's a Bath White (Pontia daplidice).
My avatar is a female.
De rien.
Roger
My avatar is a female.
De rien.
Roger
- Fri Aug 14, 2009 8:26 pm
- Forum: Identification
- Topic: Blue ID - Nilsia, central Finland
- Replies: 5
- Views: 232
Re: Blue ID - Nilsia, central Finland
If you hadn't said where you had seen it, I would have said female Reverdin's Blue ( Plebejus argyrognomon ) would have been a strong contender, but as this doesn't occur in Finland, Amanda's Blue of the form isias looks most probable. No doubt you will hear from JKT in due course, but I checked his...
- Fri Aug 14, 2009 2:55 pm
- Forum: Books, Articles, Videos, TV
- Topic: Natural History Museum
- Replies: 0
- Views: 190
Natural History Museum
This link re the transfer of the NHM archive might be of interest: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8184270.stm BC European Interest Group organised a trip to the archive earlier this year and are planning to run this as an annual event. No doubt someone will ask, so here is the link to the EIG p...
- Wed Aug 05, 2009 8:47 am
- Forum: Competitions
- Topic: Daily Quiz
- Replies: 755
- Views: 25041
Re: Daily Quiz
Just before leaving Guy's clue, wasn’t the clue that “causes rational girl” is an anagram of celastrina argiolus? “Upset” usually means an anagram in crossword compiler-speak? So the “upset” meant an anagram rather than “blue”?
Roger
Roger
- Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:49 pm
- Forum: General
- Topic: Some sad news
- Replies: 26
- Views: 2335
Re: Some sad news
Guy, we are really sorry to hear that. We know just how much she meant to you. Maybe some people on UKB won’t know that she had suffered under the previous owner, and that Guy had taken her on in the knowledge that she had suffered abuse. Which takes a lot of courage and compassion. So I think you c...
- Fri Jul 24, 2009 7:48 pm
- Forum: Overseas
- Topic: Butterflies of Var, Southern France
- Replies: 449
- Views: 103572
Re: Butterflies of Var, Southern France
The definitive European site already exists and is run by Guy’s mate Matt Rowlings. Take a look at this species list - http://eurobutterflies.com/species_index.htm! As I say on the links page on my site, where else are you going to see an Agenjo's Anomalous Blue? Before I first met Matt last year I ...
- Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:07 am
- Forum: Overseas
- Topic: Butterflies of Var, Southern France
- Replies: 449
- Views: 103572
Re: Butterflies of Var, Southern France
Here are a few of the highlights of my butterfly year so far. I have so far seen 167 species in France, including five life-ticks (i.e. a first-ever sighting) and for four of those I am indebted to a French colleague who provided specific location and flight period information. I have put more highl...
Re: Pyrenees
Re the fritillary, the one thing that bothers me about Knapweed is that the dark margin usually “follows” the shape of the lunules (i.e. going into the lunule) in Knapweed, which Denise’s one clearly does not. The Pyrgus flight periods quoted by Tolman are by definition quite general as he is dealin...
- Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:24 am
- Forum: Overseas
- Topic: Going to South of France
- Replies: 3
- Views: 236
Re: Going to South of France
I wouldn’t have thought there would be a lot of difference between 400m and 800m but higher than that, say 1000m+, is the start of the range of a number of altitude species, especially the Erebia ringlets. If you have the opportunity to drop down into Ariege, there are quite good spots around Ax-les...
Re: Pyrenees
1. The marginal lunules suggest Knapweed Fritillary to me especially on the hindwing, and the prominence of the forewing lunule in s3 compared to the two adjacent ones also says Knapweed. Also the weak orange colouring is often found with Knapweed and I have not seen this with Heath, although I have...
- Sun Jun 14, 2009 8:25 pm
- Forum: Photography
- Topic: Exposure times
- Replies: 1
- Views: 224
Exposure times
I have been experimenting with exposure times, especially in poor light, and have got down to 1/25 sec with a still subject on a few occasions. This beautifully-fresh Map Butterfly was considerate enough to stay still for a few moments and with rare conditions of absolutely no wind, I got the exposu...
- Thu Jun 11, 2009 11:10 pm
- Forum: Overseas
- Topic: Possible Southern small and a catty
- Replies: 12
- Views: 320
Re: Possible Southern small and a catty
It is hard to say whether the upper shot is a Southern Small White from this photo, but the one visible clue suggests not, at least to me. The unf black spot usually has a straight or concave external edge for Southern, so this looks like a Small White to me. I think this is probably a consistent fe...
- Thu Jun 11, 2009 4:44 pm
- Forum: Overseas
- Topic: Just when you think it's all over!!
- Replies: 5
- Views: 359
Re: Just when you think it's all over!!
I can report the same story from the far south of France. Overwintering Camberwell Beauties are turning up all over the place in the oak forests near the coast, in eight locations so far, including the odd one or two gliding around our patio. Never stopping for a photo of course, and very nervous wh...
- Sun May 17, 2009 6:29 pm
- Forum: Overseas
- Topic: Butterflies of Var, Southern France
- Replies: 449
- Views: 103572
Re: Butterflies of Var, Southern France
A couple of quick observations: Marsh Fritillary certainly isn’t endangered in Var. I have visited two sites in the past week and could have counted hundreds at each, and it occurs in most places. Nice photo of the “white” female Spotted Frit, Guy, but here’s one (14944) that would be hard to beat f...
- Sun May 10, 2009 9:51 am
- Forum: Overseas
- Topic: Butterflies of Var, Southern France
- Replies: 449
- Views: 103572
Re: Butterflies of Var, Southern France
In case anyone should think that the butterflies in Provence are all exotic, most are, in fact, the common species encountered in the UK, although Var does have an extra 100 or so species. Orange Tip, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Small Heath are all very common here, and for the most part look identica...
- Sun Apr 19, 2009 9:53 am
- Forum: Overseas
- Topic: Butterflies of Var, Southern France
- Replies: 449
- Views: 103572
Re: Butterflies of Var, Southern France
Just for interest, here is a male Speckled Wood of the orange, nominate form – the form found in the UK is the subspecies tircis. I think it’s as beautifully coloured as fritillaries and rather a pity this isn’t the form that is found in the UK.
- Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:03 am
- Forum: Photography
- Topic: Canon metering modes
- Replies: 3
- Views: 289
Re: Canon metering modes
Thanks, Roger. I don't quite understand it (i.e. why Evaluative was not as dark as Centre-weighted Average), but it is reassuring to know that what I'm finding is "as expected".
I'll just leave it in Partial metering mode and not worry about it.
Many thanks.
Roger
I'll just leave it in Partial metering mode and not worry about it.
Many thanks.
Roger
- Mon Mar 30, 2009 4:25 pm
- Forum: Photography
- Topic: Canon metering modes
- Replies: 3
- Views: 289
Canon metering modes
A question for the photography experts: I have a Canon 20D and generally use Partial metering as it seems best for dark butterflies on a lighter background. So I have no real problem in the field. However, I recently tested a dark subject on a white background for all three modes – as described in t...