Katrina

[Katrina]

Thanks Trevor. I have enjoyed your Heath Fritillary shots.
Thanks Wurzel, don’t think it was an attempted pairing. There were 3 roosting close to each other the sun came out and the upper one opened it wings causing the lower one to change position. Couldn’t get the third in shot.
Thanks Goldie, I was lucky I had some holiday which coincided with them being out. I was keeping an eye on the web in case it was worth dashing to Devon for the High Brown Fritillaries too but they didn’t come out in time.

[David M]

Lovely images, Katrina. Certainly late afternoon is a good time when they have largely exhausted themselves earlier in the day....although sunny conditions have been in short supply.

[ernie f]

Katrina - I've holidayed at Lulworth many years but all before I got into butterflies so I have never seen a Lulworth Skipper! One day I shall have to plan a visit.

[Katrina]

I spent a blissful morning at Botany Bay where it was a pleasure to meet Terry, Andrew and the man from Kent (sorry I didn't catch your name) We formed a small Purple Emperor Gang and had 6 Emperor on the ground or close opportunities. I didn't manage photos of all but looks like some were the same butterfly on repeat episodes. 3 different baits were put down all steadfastly ignored by the Emperors today. Plenty of Meadow Browns, Ringlets , Skippers. Silver-Washed Fritillaries were seen as well as some White Admirals, Commas, Brimstones, Small Whites, and very faded Painted Ladies.
I went to Knepp arriving about 3.30 . I was fortunate to run into Neil Hulme and Matthew Oates who showed me some more Emperors higher up. There was a large supporting cast of butterflies at Knepp too.

[Pauline]

Very nice Katrina! you have achieved what we are all after - the illusive 4 blue winged shot - but I think my favourite is the one on the bracken - a bit more unusual

[millerd]

That's a great four-wing purple shot, Katrina! I missed another trip down to Chiddingfold today due to a careless oversight involving failure to charge the camera battery... Shame to have missed you!

Cheers,

Dave

[P.J.Underwood]

That will teach me to leave early....but I did have blackcurrants to pick.Tomorrow should be good.
P.J.U.

[Katrina]

Thanks Pauline, I am very pleased to finally get the 4 purple wing shots. The bracken shot should have been better but I had accidentally got my camera on burst mode and couldn’t work out how to get it off. Looking forward to Andrews shots of that though.
Thanks Dave, sorry to miss you too. No doubt will bump into you another time.
P.J.U. sorry you missed the action. I hope tomorrow is good for you

[Wurzel]

Cracking set of shots Katrina including the much sought after quadruple purple Really love the Silver-washed shots as well

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[ernie f]

Hi, Katrina - Great Purple Emperor shots. The four wing purple is wonderful. I have only ever achieved this once but my effort is a foreshortened view because I was at a distance. You seem to have managed to get the shot directly from above.

[Goldie M]

Katrina, I'm green with envy Lovely shots especially the open wing one Goldie

[David M]

Love it, Katrina. That full purple image will be hard to beat.

[Katrina]

I spent 2 weeks in the Cairngorms with family and saw lots of butterflies. Unfortunately I fell and got a rib injury mid way so less photos than normal.
Although an unscientific snapshot they seemed to be doing well particulalry Ringlets which were very common and although not numerous I saw Small Tortoiseshells more often than previously.
Highlights included 19 SPBF near Inverdruie and a short walk along the Speyside Way in Nethybridge where I saw over 100 Ringlets as well as 3 Small Tortoiseshells, 3 Common Blues, one Meadow Brown and a Red Admiral. My parents hotel room even conveniently had a Small Tortoiseshell in it.

[Pauline]

Sorry to hear about your injury Katrina - I do hope you are on the mend. Lovely creative shots as usual

[Katrina]

Thanks Pauline, improving slowly.

[Wurzel]

Great set of shots Katrina - brill DGFs Interesting to see the northern Small Pearls - is it just me or do they look less contrasting than those we get down south? Hope you're mending well

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Sorry to hear about your injury, Katrina. I hope it didn't impact on your trip too much - doesn't appear so by the look of things.

That Dark Green Fritillary underside is the pick of a very impressive bunch!

[trevor]

Sorry to read of your injury, Katrina, my very best wishes for a speedy recovery.
A great selection of species from Scotland. Pleased you saw some Small Tortoiseshells.
I have only seen four in East Sussex this year, though I have seen them elsewhere.

Congrats. on your ' all wings purple ' from a few weeks back!.
Trevor.

[Katrina]

Thanks Wurzel, the SPBFs I photographed do look a bit paler in the photo but i didn't notice it in real life. Perhaps one to look out for.

Thanks David, I did like that photo as it looked like an extension of the flower.

Thanks Trevor, I definitely saw more up north than I have seen in Sussex. Not in large quantities but individuals turned up in quite a few places including platform one at the Boat of Garten station Steam Fair!

[bugboy]

Great shots Katrina. I hope your rib gets better, not much you can do except take things easy