Pauline

[Wurzel]

A cracking sequence Pauline The only problem I can see is that a jewellery chrysalis might be mistaken for a boomerang - particularly the OT

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[Neil Freeman]

Welcome back Pauline...and a cracking series of the emerging Orange-tip to return with

Cheers,

Neil.

[trevor]

That's one way to get a well behaved Orange Tip, great sequence.
Good to see you return. Whether I will see you this season? who knows.

Keep safe and Well,
Trevor.

[David M]

Welcome back, Pauline. Good to see you and almost as good to see that emerging Orange Tip.

[Pauline]

Thank you M. What a wonderful gift from a very thoughtful and caring man

Cheers Wurzel - personally I was thinking along the lines of ST. There is a lady at my Pilates class whose husband makes jewellery. If I ever get back there perhaps I shall suggest it. D'you reckon I should apply for copyright?

Good to hear from you Neil and thank you. I fear my presence this season might be a bit sporadic depending on what I see.

Thank you Trevor. I confess I am finding it very frustrating in this lovely weather but using the time to paint gates and fences and trying not to complain as many are much worse off.

Hello David - very pleased to note you have got your priorities right!

Today I have been hoping that perhaps one of the female Brimstone's in the garden might lay on my Alder Buckthorn but it was not to be. Perhaps I should move it into dappled shade as it is in full sun? I managed a few shots today as I was working in the garden including this one on the Primula:

I wasn't short of company as I was watched by this 'tame' collared Dove:

and the nest box which I put up for the Sparrows on the back of the garage has been taken over by Blue Tits:

The Nuthatches which come every year are in their usual box - I'll try to get a few shots soon but it was just so hot here today. I'll finish with a quick pic of Hope snoozing in the heat:

[Wurzel]

"D'you reckon I should apply for copyright?" Definitely! Lovely Brimstone I hoe your garden is at least as productive this year as it usually is with a few extra goodies wandering in

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[David M]

Aah, this is what I love. Your pets and garden visitors.

I must find some of our rabble (chickens & rabbits) and post them.

[Pauline]

Cheers Wurzel. It will be interesting to see exactly what does come into the garden - usually, if I'm not doing chores I'm off out up Noar Hill or some such place and I'm sure I miss a lot. I did manage to see the female OT emerge the other day but it was really windy with bright sunshine and because (yet again) I was unprepared the background was poor and no tripod to hand

I was a bit concerned about this little lady as it looked as though she was going to have a problem with her proboscis as it seemed to be all tangled around her legs but worked out OK in the end

[David M]

Fabulous, Pauline. What a thrill it must be to watch that. The colours in fine detail are amazing. I hope she leads a productive life.

Great as well to see Hope, your rabbit, looking utterly contented.

Here's an image of our two, Boris (the white one with the black 'spectacles') and Molly:

[Goldie M]

How lucky can you get Pauline One of each Orange Tip, Male and Female and your Brimstone shot is great, Give Hope a hug from me also your cute Rabbits David Goldie

[millerd]

Great sequence of the hatching Orange Tip, Pauline! As David mentioned, the detail of the mossy green underside is amazing (especially when you consider that it's actually not green at all, but yellow and black). Such a brilliant bit of camouflage.

Cheers,

Dave

[David M]

...Such a brilliant bit of camouflage.

Indeed. The female, lacking the orange patches, blends in perfectly with the blackthorn in the same way as she does with the cuckoo flower.

[Pauline]

Aah, this is what I love. Your pets and garden visitors.

I must find some of our rabble (chickens & rabbits) and post them.

Don't tempt me David. I'm trying to apply some restraint. Lovely shot of Boris and Molly. Waiting for the hens now

Fabulous, Pauline. What a thrill it must be to watch that.

Yes, it doesn't seem to matter how many times I see them emerge, it never loses its wonder.

Thanks Goldie, as you know I could do with a bit of luck this year and guess what? I saw a Small Copper today and just missed getting a shot!!!

Thanks Dave - you've not been doing too bad yourself with those gorgeous shots of the Holly Blue.


I've been working really hard around the place and decided I needed a break as I haven't been out for ages - apart from down the lane. I only drove for 5 minutes to a very local spot where I was trying to get some shots of the Green Hairstreak. Sadly they were just too active but as I stood trying to watch where they might land I heard rustling at my feet. I have never seen Sand Lizards before. I think that's what these are. I understand that they are extremely rare due to loss of habitat but I am lucky to be close to a great deal of sandy heath land. I believe that the 3 I saw were all males and all were very fast and very secretive. I shall definitely go back as it was quite deserted:

[Goldie M]

Glad you made a move Pauline, I thought about it today until I got yet another surprise Goldie

[Wurzel]

Great set of shots Pauline - I've seen Sand Lizards (I used to see loads when I was growing up in Dorset) and got a few shots of a female but never the green males Cracking find

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[Janet Turnbull]

Hi Pauline, your sequences of emerging Orange tip butterflies has absolutely blown my socks off! I will have a look tomorrow and see if there are any left to emerge near here, although from the numbers I've seen they have probably all emerged by now!
Janet

[Pauline]

Well Goldie, I am waiting for more fence preservative to arrive (should have been yesterday) so it was either that or clean out the garage!

Cheers Wurzel - when I saw them I didn't know whether they were male or female. As one was smaller than the other 2 I had assumed the smallest was the female but having 'googled' them I now know better and hope I can get to see some females - taking great care not to disturb their environment or activities of course.

Kind of you to say so Janet. I am very critical of my own shots and can always see room for improvement. Good luck on your search for OT.

Many will recall my Duke on 1 April last year. In 2017 I was taking shots of them on 10 April:

A few shots from today - they look like they've been out at least a few days:

Closer to home, I planted a few pots of PARROT tulips, never having heard of them. Pretty don't you think but not a bit like any of the parrots I have

[millerd]

Lovely to see the Dukes, Pauline. I do indeed remember your exceptionally early one last year.

I don't expect to be able to go to any of my usual spots for them this year unless things relax in the next month. I suspect the weather may have induced an early season too, which won't help.

Cheers,

Dave

[Wurzel]

Fantastic shots Pauline Hopefully there might be a few at my Duke site or Bentley Wood when I pop in there for my exercise after work

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[Pauline]

It certainly was Dave. Altho' Noar Hill is probably my closest butterfly site I share your frustration - along with many others I suspect. Mind you, with the butterflies you are seeing and the shots you are getting, for the moment at least, you don't need to stray too far

Cheers Wurzel - being close to Bentley should stand you in good stead

I hope she leads a productive life.

I can't guarantee that the same little lady was responsible of course but I was delighted to find at least 9 OT eggs in both the front and back garden yesterday. Still no sign of anything on the Alder Buckthorn.