Accusations of 'prowling'.

[PaulJBN]

Just thought I would share this with you. I thought it was funny and worrying at the same time...

I went with my wife and 2 kids to a local park and left them playing on the climbing frame to go for a little wander, looking for butterflies (there were some peacocks and speckled woods). Now I don't (as yet) have a big, obvious camera with a telephoto lens. I just use a little compact digi camera which I can put in a pocket.

I got back to find that my wife had been warned by a local 'old dear' of a strange man prowling about the park - obviously a menace to local children.

My wife had to explain who I was and what I was up to.

Should I have a big sign on my head saying, "DON'T MIND ME, I'M JUST TRYING TO PHOTOGRAPH BUTTERFLIES" ?

Does this happen with any of you lot, or am I just particularly suspicious looking ?

Come to think of it, I guess wandering about with an obvious camera could be just as dodgy.

[Neil Hulme]

Hi Paul,
A friend of mine who is a VERY keen birder, told me an amusing tale of his rather similar experiences! His 'patch' is very close to a famous school for young ladies, on the coast in East Sussex. He does a lot of 'sea-watching' and digi-scoping, so is always carrying the tools of his trade. Some of these girls are from rather wealthy families, so it would seem that there is a perceived risk of potential kidnap and ransom, in addition to the suspicion of 'grubby' activities! Having been 'buzzed' on several occasions by a police helicopter, one day the chopper landed next to him and he was subjected to a thorough interrogation! I believe the police even took his computer away for analysis! 100% innocent of course. However, whether ownership of the entire series 'Howard's Way' on DVD should constitute an arrestible offence, is an entirely debatable issue!
Neil

[Padfield]

If you want to get photographs of lesser purple emperor, a good way is to drive through a forested region of France on a motorway and stop at an 'aire'. The butterflies LOVE the ladies' toilets and all you have to do is hang around the entrance with a camera until one poses for you. I got some very threatening looks indeed before this LPE retired to a tree about 15m away!



Guy

[jellyang]

I have, on more than one occasion been mistaken for the Papparazzi It seems if you have a long lens then you must be a press photographer !

While in Mexico recently the Brits generally ignored me but the americans were curious to know who I was & what was I taking photos of!

Angie

[Neil Hulme]

Hi Guy,
My brother can confirm your observations regarding the Lesser Purple Emperor's penchant for 'cottaging' around French autoroute conveniences. Here is a shot he took last summer. These are not the first cases of a French Emperor hiding 'dans le pissoir'; I believe the trend was initiated on the Fields of Waterloo!

LUMIX316_edited-2.jpg (88.87 KiB) Viewed 580 times

Neil

[Padfield]

Great picture!

I believe Roger Gibbons has seen the same species doing the same thing (I think it was him, anyway). No there's one butterfly that should never be photoshopped onto the nearest pretty flower!

Guy

[Padfield]

PS - and nice pun! I shall forever more think of LPE as Napoleon the T**d...

Guy

[Martin]

I shall forever more think of LPE as Napoleon the T**d...

Guy