All quiet on the forum front...

[Chris]

It's been a bit quiet this weekend, so to break the silence, here are a couple of pics taken on the moors on Saturday morning. Appreciate they're not butterflies, but the lack of suitable weather is killing me. These are the first pics taken with my new camera and an old Sigma 50-500 that I struggle to use!

Used the car as a hide.





Regards, Chris

[Gwenhwyfar]

Can't see alot of struggling going on there Chris, the top one is a very good shot.

It was very much a winter wonderland this morning, so I tried to get a few snow shots, but didn't come back with a great deal.

This is the place where we do our transect walk, the bottom two came out a bit dark and couldn't be bothered to alter them!

[Dave Mac]

Very nice bird pics, I'm particularly envious of the grouse shot

[Martin]

This is the stuff I was shooting all weekend...22 Gig of photos on Saturday alone!



Martin.

[Padfield]

First light on 18th April:





Guy

[Denise]

Oh wow, what a view! I think that we should organize a club trip to come and visit you Guy, and your 63 species of butterfly.

Denise

[andyc123]

I agree with Denise - can I join that club before you set off mind!

Great selection of photos on here, particlulary like the grouse shot.

[Padfield]

All good things come to an end. I learned yesterday that the owners of 'my' chalet want to move back next year... This will be my last summer with 63 (or 64 if you include those Dukes, that seem to have disappeared) species of butterfly in the garden!

I won't go far though, so there might be somewhere for that club to come in years to come!

Guy

[Bryan H]

Sorry to hear that, Guy - how very unsettling for you

Hope you get something sorted. Those critters will miss you.

Bryan

[Padfield]

Thanks, Bryan!

I've told my propriétaires that they own one of the best butterfly plots in the region and they have assured me this is important to them and they will try to keep it that way!! So the little creatures should still have friends!

26 species in the Rhône Valley today, at just one site, including rosy grizzled skippers, living at the northern extreme of their range. Things are really starting to move out here now!

Guy

[Bryan H]

Guy,

Grizzled Skippers = sore point! (never mind rosy...)

At Warburg Reserve at 0800 this morning. Gloriously sunny and temps of 21C by midday. Same weekend as last year.

Did they emerge? Did they f***!

Bryan

[Denise]

I've been out looking for them too, but with no luck, yet! Perseverance is the key, I keep telling myself that anyway.
Perhaps we can manage a trip to your part of the world one day Guy, It would be great to put a face to the name, and to travel to a country where there is still some countryside with good numbers of butterfly, and a knowledgeable guide. and teacher (if you don't do enough of that already!) No pressure though.

Cheers
Denise

[Piers]

Hi Denise,

A friend of mine tells me that Grizzled Skipper are just beginning to appear on the south facing slopes of Crooks Peak and Wavering Down in Somerset, which is fairly near your neck of the woods.

Happy hunting!

With kind regards,

Felix.

[Denise]

Thank you so much Felix,
I will make an extra special effort this week as I've never seen them before.
Cheers
Denise