Maximus

[Maximus]

Not quite sure how I missed it Wurzel I think I will be falling behind with my posts however, as I must now check my photos more thoroughly

I will check more thoroughly frrom now on, David.

Thanks Trevor, just one image is all it takes

BH can be very frustrating Bill, as you know. Just one good image is all you need, and the frustration fades over time



Having just returned from a short trip away - report to follow - we (madly) decided to visit Alice Holt forest this evening in the 30 degree heat. Saw about a dozen very fresh and very lively Silver-washed Fritillaries but getting any images was hard work. Managed a couple of shots, but as they were nectaring in deep shade flash was needed, shutter speeds being ridiculously slow without.

We also saw this lovely Huchinsonii Comma.

[Katrina]

Beautiful photos - I really like the shimmer on the silver-washed fritillaries!

[Goldie M]

Great shots of the SWF, they brings back memories of Bently Woods where we saw them last year, great holiday we had. Goldie

[Wurzel]

Loving the lustre/sheen on the Silver-washed, really does look like it's been bathed in precious metals

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Maximus]

Thank you Katrina, the SW Fritillaries were very fresh and the camera flash has highlighted the silver washings on the underwings nicely.

Thanks Wurzel, it's a precious - metal - butterfly


We recently spent a couple of days at Gloucestershire Wildlife Trusts fabulous Daneway Banks nature reserve. Due to the publicity this site has received both in the press and on TV, since our visit last year, we fully expected to find it full of other butterfly enthusiasts. So we were pleasantly surprised when we arrived and found we had it to ourselves! This was true during most of our visit apart from the Saturday and when GWT were conducting field trips with about ten to fifteen participants. Apparently Large Blue numbers are down on last year (although we were informed that plenty of eggs are being laid) but we still recorded 10+ per day and volunteers walking transects were recording almost twice that number. Fully open wing shots were not easy to get, possibly due to the hot weather with bright sun, but we managed a few. During our visit we also bumped into some of the Large Blue re-introduction team and a very patient Dave Simcox answered our questions regarding the progress of their ongoing work. We also encountered two camera teams and Iolo Williams appeared at the top of the bank asking if we'd seen any Large Blues, perhaps there's a Springwatch special featuring Large Blues at Daneway in the pipeline?

Misty morning at Daneway

Two in the same frame

A spider caught this Large Blue

Ovi-positing female

However there's more to Daneway than just Large Blues...

[Pauline]

Beautiful photos of the Blues Mike and those SWF are stunning when they are as fresh as that

[trevor]

HI Mike,
Stunning Butterflies, and images to match.

TREVOR.

[bugboy]

There's been some really nice piccies of these beauties turning upon here recently, yours join them, that first open wing shot is something really special!

[Wurzel]

Carcking shots of the Large Blue Mike It reminds me that I need to sort mine out, not even hours in the day - I think I need a 'leap month'

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Neil Freeman]

Some lovely Large Blues from Danewood Banks Mike, a site that I have yet to visit...maybe next year. Mind you I always seem to say that and when next year comes I end up somewhere else

Cheers,

Neil.

[Goldie M]

Hi! Mike , I love how the deep blue of the Butterfly looks so striking, I also love the close up shot, I think seeing the face of the Butterfly like that brings the photo to life. Goldie

[Willrow]

Superb set of top quality images Mike, you've done Danesway Bank...and the wonderful Large Blue proud

BW's

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

[Maximus]

Thank you Pauline, I'm sure you will soon have some images of really fresh SWF

Thanks Trevor

Thanks bugboy, glad you like that shot!

Cheers Wurzel, I think you may need a leap two months at least

Thanks Neil, there's always loads of sites to visit, it's deciding which to visit in the time available which is the problem

Thank you Goldie, I like the close up shot for the same reason as you do

Thanks Bill, I'm glad you think we've done so



During our visit to Daneway we were lucky to bump into Andy again, if you read this Andy we had a great chat, great to see you again and thanks! We also bumped into Brian Arnold and the guys from Swanage and it was great to hear the first hand account of the discovery of the Map and European Swallowtail butterflies they found in Dorset last year. Thanks for e-mailing the brilliant photos across Brian.
In addition to Large Blues, Daneway is great for other species and although we didn't see them in the same numbers as we did last year, there were still plenty of Marbled Whites...

Male and Female Marbled White

...and others..

Small Heath

Very fresh Grizzled Skipper

Large Skipper

Small Skipper

Ringlet

It's a lovely site and it's great to see the Large Blues. A big thanks to GWT and the Large Blue re-introduction team

[Pauline]

Gorgeous Marbled White shots Mike - and I see you brought a souvenir back for Wurzel

[Goldie M]

Lovely Marbled Whites Mike, also SH, I didn't know Grizzled Skippers were still about, that's great a fresh one too, I might catch one yet Goldie

[Maximus]

Thanks Pauline and Goldie, I was surprised at seeing such a fresh Grizzlie Goldie, you may just get one

[millerd]

Lovely photos, Maximus. The Grizzlie is a real surprise - could it conceivably be a second generation? I wonder how early they were here this year.

Dave

[Maximus]

Thanks Dave, the fresh Grizzlie was a real surprise and could possibly be a second generation individual? We saw our first Grizzlies on 20th April in Hampshire!

[Wurzel]

Beautiful shots Mike I'm not sure what one is the souvenir though?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Maximus]

Thanks Wurzel, I'm not 100% sure, is it the MW underside

Mike