Nice shots there, Wurzel. Having visited Alner's for the first time last July I can only give it the same ringing endorsement. The moment you arrive you just know it's going to be butterfly heaven. Wide rides, scruffy and unkempt at the edges with an assortment of different habitats.
I'm delighted you chanced upon a Clouded Yellow. I think the unexpected sight of one must be one of the best feelings any UK based butterfly enthusiast can realistically experience.
Wurzel
Re: Wurzel
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Re: Wurzel
Cheers David!
The Clouded Yellow was definitely up there as a highlight of the year!
Have a goodun
Wurzel
The Clouded Yellow was definitely up there as a highlight of the year!
Have a goodun
Wurzel
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Arne
Arne
Arne is an RSPB reserve overlooking the Purbecks and Poole Harbour. I have spent many happy days wandering round the 1250 acres of acid rich grassland, salt marsh, woodland and reed beds looking for various species of birds. Last year I visited with the girls while we were camping nearby and then, as now I was looking for butterflies. Unfortunately I left it too late for my target species so this year when we went camping we headed back to the reserve in the balmy, sun baked May weather. It was now too early in the season but luckily, this year, everything has been emerging anything up to a month early (probably because of the heat) so I struck lucky with my target species - Silver Studded Blue.
It did feel strange walking the board walks and the sandy paths and scanning not for Dartford Warbler but small blue butterflies. Luckily I managed to find two different hotspots which gave me the opportunity to get some shots.
These shots show one of the individuals feeding on the heather and shows the habit of perching head down. It has been suggested that this allows them to drop into flight should a threat present itself. The silver studs which give the species its name can be seen in all of these shots - however sometimes they aren't present and then other features need to be used to identify the butterfly. I was glad that the studs were present because try as I might I couldn't persuade any of the butterflies I found to open their wings and so I couldn't have used the dark edging to the upper wings to confirm identification. Also all the shots here are of males - I didn't find a female all day - perhaps because it was very early in the season and males often emerge a week or two before the females. The key to sexing them as males lies in the overall blue colouration whereas the females appear more brown or beige and their studs are large and very bright.
Have a goodun
Wurzel
It did feel strange walking the board walks and the sandy paths and scanning not for Dartford Warbler but small blue butterflies. Luckily I managed to find two different hotspots which gave me the opportunity to get some shots.
Wurzel
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Bentley Wood - Part 1
Bentley Wood
Bentley Wood is a large mixed wood on the Hampshire/Wiltshire border. The majority of the reserve falls on the Wiltshire side - indeed it forms the largest contiguous woodland in the whole county. It has been designated an SSSI due to its importance for butterflies, with a mixture of tussocky grass, clearings and lush woodland rides.
Being only 25 minutes from Salisbury and with the mix of habitats, for me it holds special memories. Not least because of the large number of my "firsts" that is has supplied, nine "lifers" in the last two years. It is a place I come back to throughout the year following the waxing and waning of key species found here. The first visit is usually in late April and the final during July - with luck and the woodland specialities seen I'll then focus mainly on the nearby chalk downlands.
The first species to look for is the Pearl Bordered Fritillary with its "flying" chevrons allowing identification of the upper side and the two clear white patches on the underling confirming suspicions or clarifying the upper wing view. This year started very early and they lived up to their old name of "April Fritillary". Indeed when I first took Lottie to look for them it was supposed to be as a recce and to give me a chance to remember how to work my camera!
I've been lucky enough to get my girls involved this year although it has cost me a lot in bribery sweets. One of the main advantages has been that they have such sharp eyesight so I get them to spot the butterflies and them I can stalk them to get the shots. It's quite something to hear Lottie pronouncing "Pewl bowder fritillarwe" but during the early spring she was almost terrier like in tracking them down for me, squealing with delight as the buggy went over bumps and ruts as I chased her quarry.
The next species on the calendar was the very similar looking Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary. When I went the weather had cooled from the balmy days of early spring and I made my usual mistake of turning up too early so I took a recce walk while sun started to dry up the mist. There were butterflies around and they proved easy to photograph as they were very sluggish and happy to just sit but they were all "Pearls". What I was really after was the Small Pearls with their stunning chequered under wings. It was only after a lot of upper wing shots that I managed to find one in the classic closed wing shot. Having previously got shots that were of quite worn individuals it was a relief to find this little beauty who was happy to pose not just for me but for at least 4 other photographers. Eventually while photographer number 6 was wrapping up the butterfly flew proving that it was actually alive!
There is a small population of Duke of Burgundy at Bentley and until this year I would read the reports and search for them time and again to no avail. This year I visited so many times that it was almost inevitable that I found them. I have noticed a that when I go looking for a species I often have no joy for hours and then just as I'm giving up it appears! It was the same for the Duke. Someone tipped me off "it was over there 5 minutes ago"...Two hours later, just as I was heading along the path back to the car park, someone else points to another bush where it had been a minute ago. Indeed it was a charming and feisty little butterfly and I was surprised at the size, more akin to a blue than a fritillary.
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Being only 25 minutes from Salisbury and with the mix of habitats, for me it holds special memories. Not least because of the large number of my "firsts" that is has supplied, nine "lifers" in the last two years. It is a place I come back to throughout the year following the waxing and waning of key species found here. The first visit is usually in late April and the final during July - with luck and the woodland specialities seen I'll then focus mainly on the nearby chalk downlands.
The first species to look for is the Pearl Bordered Fritillary with its "flying" chevrons allowing identification of the upper side and the two clear white patches on the underling confirming suspicions or clarifying the upper wing view. This year started very early and they lived up to their old name of "April Fritillary". Indeed when I first took Lottie to look for them it was supposed to be as a recce and to give me a chance to remember how to work my camera!
The next species on the calendar was the very similar looking Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary. When I went the weather had cooled from the balmy days of early spring and I made my usual mistake of turning up too early so I took a recce walk while sun started to dry up the mist. There were butterflies around and they proved easy to photograph as they were very sluggish and happy to just sit but they were all "Pearls". What I was really after was the Small Pearls with their stunning chequered under wings. It was only after a lot of upper wing shots that I managed to find one in the classic closed wing shot. Having previously got shots that were of quite worn individuals it was a relief to find this little beauty who was happy to pose not just for me but for at least 4 other photographers. Eventually while photographer number 6 was wrapping up the butterfly flew proving that it was actually alive!
Wurzel
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Re: Wurzel
Or even a Metalmark, lolWurzel wrote:Indeed it was a charming and feisty little butterfly and I was surprised at the size, more akin to a blue than a fritillary.
Catchya Saturday Wurzel!
Gibster.
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Raising £10,000 for Butterfly Conservation by WALKING 1200 miles from Land's End to John O'Groats!!!
See http://www.justgiving.com/epicbutterflywalk or look up Epic Butterfly Walk on Facebook.
See http://www.justgiving.com/epicbutterflywalk or look up Epic Butterfly Walk on Facebook.
Bentley Wood - Part 2
Bentley Wood continued...
On another visit with Kitty I was enjoying one of those purple patches. We were about half way along the switchback to the crossroads and there was a large Bramble bush on one side and a small Oak on the other. A few Purple Hairstreak put in an appearance and disturbed a White Admiral. Whilst waiting for these to descend (unsuccessfully) to a lower level a Dark Green Fritillary "buzzed" Kitty and I. Then it had a scrap with a Small Skipper, then a Silver Washed Fritillary, then it buzzed us again, then went onto to have a go at a Comma. And so on and on, even landing briefly on Kitty's arm. It appeared in very poor temper and obviously wanted the place for itself.
Bentley for me is a real "purple" place. I've seen Purple Emperor here twice, had numerous purple patches...but my favourite purple s are the Hairstreaks. I seem to have extraordinary luck with them here. Over 2 years and on 5 different occasions I have seen them, and managed to photograph the females with wings open, captured the classic closed wing shot and also got a male with wings open. Strangely for a species which has such an affinity for Oak (even sharing its name "Quercus") I've always found them on Bracken? The shots here were my consolation for several unrewarding hours hoping for White Letter Hairstreak.
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Wurzel
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Re: Wurzel
That was fast reading Gibster - I swear I'd only just posted it! 
I can never understand why early butterfly entusiasts lumped it in with the fritillaries? It looks and behaves more like a blue,a Brown Argus even, from what I've seen from my limited encounter with it. I suppose it was the brown and orange markings...or sharing a similar habitat?
Still I expect in generations to come they'll look back at some of the classifications we've made and laugh their heads off (I mustn't be pessimistic and say that a lot of the species we know will be extinct by then
)...
See you next weekend
Have a goodun
Wurzel
I can never understand why early butterfly entusiasts lumped it in with the fritillaries? It looks and behaves more like a blue,a Brown Argus even, from what I've seen from my limited encounter with it. I suppose it was the brown and orange markings...or sharing a similar habitat?
Still I expect in generations to come they'll look back at some of the classifications we've made and laugh their heads off (I mustn't be pessimistic and say that a lot of the species we know will be extinct by then
)...See you next weekend
Have a goodun
Wurzel
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Ebble Valley
Ebble Valley
This isn't a Nature Reserve; it is actually a privately owned field in the Chalke Valley. The river marks the boundary on one side of this ribbon like piece of land and there are dragon and damsel flies a plenty in the correct season.
People are allowed access to the site so back in late May the whole family took a stroll here. The weather was great, warm and sunny with no breeze and the farmer/owner had left a strip uncut right through the middle of the field from one side to the other. It was this strip of long grasses and wild flowers that held my attention as the girls sat amongst the Ox Eye Daisies and peered into the river looking for fish.
After a brief glance I had managed to spot Brown Argus, Common Blue and a single Brimstone and the road side boundary had my first Meadow Brown of the year. I set about stalking the blues and browns along the edges of the tall grasses. The Brown Argus were at first very difficult to approach but patience paid off as I waited and let them settle to feed. The Common Blue on the other hand was much easier to get shots of, and as I focused in the answer suggested itself to me. The Brown Argus looked immaculate, freshly emerged and full of vigour. Whereas the Common Blue looked much older; battered, wings torn and lacking in scales. The Common Blues were knackered!
Have a goodun
Wurzel
P.S. I was preparing some of my later posting from this series and one includes shots of Greenish Silver Washed Fritillary. It got me thinking about why only the female shows that characteristic? On the way to the recent Winter Jolly I spent my time on the train utilising GCSE level knowledge of Genetics to work out that the valesina form of Silver Washed Fritillary must be caused by a Dominant allele linked to the Y sex chromosome. As it is only seen in the female I also deduced that they must be heterozygous in terms of their sex chromsomes (XY) which explains why it is only found in the female as males are XX. I also worked out that this would mean that any female offspring of a valesina would also be "Greenish".
I felt a bit chuffed having achieved this so imagine my frustration when I looked through the "variation" section after listening to Pete yesterday at the Jolly, only to see that it was all there freely available!
Never mind, some might say this was a "sad" thing to do but I had great fun for 20 minutes drawing out various genetic cross diagrams and working it all out, back to front, from first principles, even if Pete got there before me by about 9 months
People are allowed access to the site so back in late May the whole family took a stroll here. The weather was great, warm and sunny with no breeze and the farmer/owner had left a strip uncut right through the middle of the field from one side to the other. It was this strip of long grasses and wild flowers that held my attention as the girls sat amongst the Ox Eye Daisies and peered into the river looking for fish.
After a brief glance I had managed to spot Brown Argus, Common Blue and a single Brimstone and the road side boundary had my first Meadow Brown of the year. I set about stalking the blues and browns along the edges of the tall grasses. The Brown Argus were at first very difficult to approach but patience paid off as I waited and let them settle to feed. The Common Blue on the other hand was much easier to get shots of, and as I focused in the answer suggested itself to me. The Brown Argus looked immaculate, freshly emerged and full of vigour. Whereas the Common Blue looked much older; battered, wings torn and lacking in scales. The Common Blues were knackered!
Wurzel
P.S. I was preparing some of my later posting from this series and one includes shots of Greenish Silver Washed Fritillary. It got me thinking about why only the female shows that characteristic? On the way to the recent Winter Jolly I spent my time on the train utilising GCSE level knowledge of Genetics to work out that the valesina form of Silver Washed Fritillary must be caused by a Dominant allele linked to the Y sex chromosome. As it is only seen in the female I also deduced that they must be heterozygous in terms of their sex chromsomes (XY) which explains why it is only found in the female as males are XX. I also worked out that this would mean that any female offspring of a valesina would also be "Greenish".
I felt a bit chuffed having achieved this so imagine my frustration when I looked through the "variation" section after listening to Pete yesterday at the Jolly, only to see that it was all there freely available!
Never mind, some might say this was a "sad" thing to do but I had great fun for 20 minutes drawing out various genetic cross diagrams and working it all out, back to front, from first principles, even if Pete got there before me by about 9 months
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Padfield
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Re: Wurzel
A worthwhile 20 minutes, Wurzel!
For you to investigate further: I believe the allele responsible for valezina is located on an autosome, not a sex chromosome, and thus may be found in the male too. It is, however, sex controlled, and thus only expressed in the female. The strange thing is that, being dominant, you would expect it to be expressed in more females than is observed to be the case, or if it is detrimental, to be rapidly eliminated from the population.
Various reasons have been proposed for its low frequency, including behavioural aspects of the female (seeking the shade) and the diminished attractiveness of the female to males.
Guy
EDIT - at your request, this post and any following on from it can be deleted or removed to a new thread to keep the integrity of your diary.
For you to investigate further: I believe the allele responsible for valezina is located on an autosome, not a sex chromosome, and thus may be found in the male too. It is, however, sex controlled, and thus only expressed in the female. The strange thing is that, being dominant, you would expect it to be expressed in more females than is observed to be the case, or if it is detrimental, to be rapidly eliminated from the population.
Various reasons have been proposed for its low frequency, including behavioural aspects of the female (seeking the shade) and the diminished attractiveness of the female to males.
Guy
EDIT - at your request, this post and any following on from it can be deleted or removed to a new thread to keep the integrity of your diary.
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Re: Wurzel
No worries Guy - your comment got me heading back to my book case and looking at my Genetics literature at a slightly higher level then GCSE
Is the non valesina condition an example of "epistasis" - where the allele of one gene overides or masks the affects of another gene, so a gene that could be on another chromosome and expressed later has an inhibitory effect on the actions of a later gene even if it is a dominant gene? Ahhhhh it's making my brain hurt trying to remember stuff from 12 years ago!
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Is the non valesina condition an example of "epistasis" - where the allele of one gene overides or masks the affects of another gene, so a gene that could be on another chromosome and expressed later has an inhibitory effect on the actions of a later gene even if it is a dominant gene? Ahhhhh it's making my brain hurt trying to remember stuff from 12 years ago!
Have a goodun
Wurzel
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Lee Hurrell
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Re: Bentley Wood - Part 1
Magical story - I'd imagine these are memories you'll treasure for years to comeWurzel wrote:I've been lucky enough to get my girls involved this year although it has cost me a lot in bribery sweets. It's quite something to hear Lottie pronouncing "Pewl bowder fritillarwe"
PS - I am really enjoying these reports, Wurzel.
Best wishes,
Lee
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To butterfly meadows, chalk downlands and leafy glades; to summers eternal.
Re: Wurzel
Cheers Lee, I'm glad your enjoying the reports - and I've enjoyed sharing the memories! Lottie actually asked me to read the page that that was on as she wanted to remember the day. I read it to her and she went "ah yes, butterflies". Perhaps it is sinking in?
I'm going have a brief break from my sites guide and I'm going to cheat for this post...
Today was our annual school trip to Bristol Zoo which we take all of the year 7 pupils to so they can "classify the animals". I felt a little sorry for the group that I was escorting round the Zoo as once I'd found the butterfly house that was it! Luckily we'd already seen the Gorillas (I managed to get one shot of a female sticking her middle finger up and grinning - at least that's what it looked like ), Lions, Seals, Penguins and Meerkats. I got chatting to one of the (I think voluntary) keepers who helped me find pretty much all of the species including some right crackers.
First up a Blue Morpho I think...
Then a stunning Leaf Butterfly from this...
...to this
Then there was a butterfly that reminded me of Purple Emperor. It landed on my leg and the turned round and round before settling down while I walked around and about in the enclosure. When the light was right it become stunning.
Then there was the Monarch - complete with caterpillers.
There were also Glasswings, Postmen, Owl Butterflies, Julios(?) and five or six other species. However my favourite was the most drab - it was different shades of brown but with very similar marking to a Tortoiseshell - just all in brown a bit like looking through a "brown filter" or sepia.
If anyone has any sugegstions of the correct names they'd be greatly appreciated. Regular reports will return at the weekend - next up Five Rivers
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Perhaps it is sinking in? I'm going have a brief break from my sites guide and I'm going to cheat for this post...
Today was our annual school trip to Bristol Zoo which we take all of the year 7 pupils to so they can "classify the animals". I felt a little sorry for the group that I was escorting round the Zoo as once I'd found the butterfly house that was it! Luckily we'd already seen the Gorillas (I managed to get one shot of a female sticking her middle finger up and grinning - at least that's what it looked like
), Lions, Seals, Penguins and Meerkats. I got chatting to one of the (I think voluntary) keepers who helped me find pretty much all of the species including some right crackers.First up a Blue Morpho I think...
Have a goodun
Wurzel
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NickMorgan
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Re: Wurzel
Amazing butterflies there Wurzel. That leaf butterfly would really give you a fright if you came across it in the wild and it flicked its wings open.
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Padfield
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Re: Wurzel
Hi Wurzel,
That brilliant blue butterfly you described as being like an emperor is a male Myscelia cyaniris, from South America. The last one is Junonia sp. It reminds me of Junonia iphita, that I saw in India (the 'chocolate pansy'), but the genus is very widespread in the tropics and I wouldn't swear to that, not knowing where this butterfly is from.
Guy
That brilliant blue butterfly you described as being like an emperor is a male Myscelia cyaniris, from South America. The last one is Junonia sp. It reminds me of Junonia iphita, that I saw in India (the 'chocolate pansy'), but the genus is very widespread in the tropics and I wouldn't swear to that, not knowing where this butterfly is from.
Guy
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Vince Massimo
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Re: Wurzel
Hi Wurzel,
It is very difficult to exactly identify a butterfly species without knowing where it is from, so a best guess has to be applied to anything from a butterfly house. The most likely candidate for the Blue Morpho is Morpho peleides which flies in Central America. I have made no progress on the leaf butterfly, but am pleased that Guy managed to get Myscelia cyaniris because I was struggling with it. I agree that the last butterfly is similar to Junonia iphita (Chocolate Pansy/Soldier) but the wingtips are more hooked than I would have expected.
Cheers,
Vince
It is very difficult to exactly identify a butterfly species without knowing where it is from, so a best guess has to be applied to anything from a butterfly house. The most likely candidate for the Blue Morpho is Morpho peleides which flies in Central America. I have made no progress on the leaf butterfly, but am pleased that Guy managed to get Myscelia cyaniris because I was struggling with it. I agree that the last butterfly is similar to Junonia iphita (Chocolate Pansy/Soldier) but the wingtips are more hooked than I would have expected.
Cheers,
Vince
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Padfield
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Re: Wurzel
The leaf butterfly is in the genus Kallima - quite possibly Kallima inachus, though I must stress that most of my non-European identifications come from reading books, not experience in the field. I didn't see any leaf butterflies on my brief trip to India.
Guy
Guy
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Re: Wurzel
Nick - it did scare me even when in captivity. I was taking a shot of something else and this leaf suddenly moved!
Cheers for your identifications Guy and Vince - I checked them out on google images and they certainly fitted the bill - I don't now how you guys do it! It was easy for me, I just typed in your suggestions to google images, and there they were!
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Cheers for your identifications Guy and Vince - I checked them out on google images and they certainly fitted the bill - I don't now how you guys do it! It was easy for me, I just typed in your suggestions to google images, and there they were!
Have a goodun
Wurzel
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Five Rivers
Five Rivers
Five Rivers is actually Avon Valley Local Nature Reserve. However I first discovered it after dropping my family off for swimming sessions at the Five Rivers Leisure Centre and since then the name has stuck, for me anyway.
It is a small area alongside the Avon with reed beds, grass banks and patches of longer grasses amongst numerous pathways. Even though it isn't very big and doesn't have a very wide range of species compared to other sites there are several things about this area that keeps me coming back time after time.
The main draw is the proximity to my home with it actually being in the centre of Salisbury. This allows me to just nip out for an hour and see more species than can be found in my garden or I can pop over for a brief evening trip to make the most of the summer days. The fact that it is small also means that finding the butterflies is relatively easy and with the multitude of paths created by dog walkers there is easy access for shots without trampling the habitat. Plus not only is it good for butterflies but also birds, the scrub, bushes and reeds have meant that in some years I have seen 10 different species of warbler in one season.
Marbled Whites Essex Skipper, Speckled Wood, Brown Argus and Common Blue all photographed here.
These are Essex Skippers and now I know what I'm looking for are relatively easy to differentiate from Small...the males anyway. They have a shorter and fainter straight sex brand on their forewings as well as the black under sides to the antennae. With the females however you have to try and actually get under them at the head end so as to view the antennae from underneath. When you do you can see the black tips that look like they've been pressed onto an ink pad - almost as if they've been finger printed! I was lucky here in that I managed to find the male and later a female who didn't mind posing while I lay in the undergrowth cricking my neck in the process.
Over the past couple of years I have managed to find a total of 23 species here and whilst they might not be the rarest or the most spectacular I have enjoyed them just as much because when I visit I feel like they're mine, that I'm the only one that knows that they're there. And having added to my memory card and eased away the everyday stresses I can finish up with a few shots and in a hundred yards I can be in Waitrose choosing my beer for the evening.
Have a goodun
Wurzel
It is a small area alongside the Avon with reed beds, grass banks and patches of longer grasses amongst numerous pathways. Even though it isn't very big and doesn't have a very wide range of species compared to other sites there are several things about this area that keeps me coming back time after time.
The main draw is the proximity to my home with it actually being in the centre of Salisbury. This allows me to just nip out for an hour and see more species than can be found in my garden or I can pop over for a brief evening trip to make the most of the summer days. The fact that it is small also means that finding the butterflies is relatively easy and with the multitude of paths created by dog walkers there is easy access for shots without trampling the habitat. Plus not only is it good for butterflies but also birds, the scrub, bushes and reeds have meant that in some years I have seen 10 different species of warbler in one season.
Marbled Whites Essex Skipper, Speckled Wood, Brown Argus and Common Blue all photographed here.
Have a goodun
Wurzel
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My Garden
My Garden
My garden is long and is broken up into several sections. From the back door there is a lawn with borders and rose bushes and small trees along the fence. Then there is the greenhouse with a large vegetable plot. Then another small lawn and finally a smaller veggie plot, flower beds and the fruit trees - apple, pear and plum. Scattered throughout the garden are bramble bushes, Buddleia, Holly and Ivy bushes. As it's large it's hard work so some areas can seem wild.
It was in my garden that I first got the "bug" for butterfly photography. I was trying out my wife's first digital SLR and fortuitously got a shot of a Speckled Wood. That camera is now mine having paid for my wife to have a considerable upgrade/replacement! Since that first shot I've had a range of species - 17 including Ringlet, Small Copper and a golden skipper, probably Small but it got away. My principle time to try and get some shots is the late afternoon while I'm setting off to water the greenhouse. But just in case I make a habit of leaving my camera downstairs ready in case a butterfly should catch my eye while I'm marking test papers or reading the girls a story. I can then dash outside to try and get the shot. Usually by the time I get to where the butterfly was it's flown but I persevere with this tactic as occasionally it pays off!
My greenhouse has turned out to be a haven for "Amy" the frog (named by Kitty after a school friend). But even with Amy on patrol among the cucumbers and tomatoes some caterpillars survive - as evidenced by this Green Veined White that was one of my first butterflies of the year. Last year my greenhouse produced Small White, this year Green Veined, any bets on Large next year? I'd much rather it was a Bath White but that would really be wishful thinking!
During the summer months Red Admiral sightings can be daily occurrences, but they generally start off in the front garden. This is much smaller so I cheekily include the gardens of neighbours on either side as "my garden" mainly as they are quite sterile places. There are large bushes and a few other sources of nectar but on the whole they're covered in gravel or cars. The individual shown here was looking a bit worn and probably hatched as part of the first wave of Admirals in the early spring and is busy fuelling up on my neighbour’s plants.
This year my garden provided me with my first first of 2011. Last year I saw a female Orange-tip at the top of the garden but by the time I'd made it back she'd flown. This year I thought the same thing would happen when my wife informed me that there were some white butterflies at the top of the garden. Convinced that they'd have flown I sauntered up top and they were still there. At one point there were 3 individuals spiralling up the side of the apple tree engaged in a three way dogfight. One (the victor) remained in the vicinity and took to nectaring and basking in the late afternoon sun allowing me to get ridiculously close. He just wasn't bothered about me being there. Then another male flew over the fence and battle recommenced.
This was my second first for the garden list this year, one of only two this year. I'd gotten home from work and a Meadow Brown caught my eye as I was making my way up to the greenhouse. Once the tomatoes had been watered I picked my camera up and tried to relocate it.
Fortunately it decided to lead me on a bit of a dance around the lower part of my garden. A couple of times it disappeared from view acting almost Grayling like, angling its body so that it didn’t cast a shadow.
Previously I said "fortunately", if the Meadow Brown hadn't played hard ball I'd have gotten my shot and headed back in doors. As I was still in the garden fifteen minutes later I was there to witness a very dark butterfly flying over the hedge and literally dropping into the grass. I assume that it was tired as I live in the suburbs, far from its natural habitat. Also it didn't attempt to move once it had landed, it just clung to the grass and let me get in really close for my shot.
This autumn my wife and I will be having a look at trying to improve some areas of the garden for wildlife; clearing some of the borders to plant "meadow" species, putting in raised beds, pruning the Buddleia to promote fresh growth and also leaving some bits to their own devices.
Have a goodun
Wurzel
It was in my garden that I first got the "bug" for butterfly photography. I was trying out my wife's first digital SLR and fortuitously got a shot of a Speckled Wood. That camera is now mine having paid for my wife to have a considerable upgrade/replacement! Since that first shot I've had a range of species - 17 including Ringlet, Small Copper and a golden skipper, probably Small but it got away. My principle time to try and get some shots is the late afternoon while I'm setting off to water the greenhouse. But just in case I make a habit of leaving my camera downstairs ready in case a butterfly should catch my eye while I'm marking test papers or reading the girls a story. I can then dash outside to try and get the shot. Usually by the time I get to where the butterfly was it's flown but I persevere with this tactic as occasionally it pays off!
During the summer months Red Admiral sightings can be daily occurrences, but they generally start off in the front garden. This is much smaller so I cheekily include the gardens of neighbours on either side as "my garden" mainly as they are quite sterile places. There are large bushes and a few other sources of nectar but on the whole they're covered in gravel or cars. The individual shown here was looking a bit worn and probably hatched as part of the first wave of Admirals in the early spring and is busy fuelling up on my neighbour’s plants.
Fortunately it decided to lead me on a bit of a dance around the lower part of my garden. A couple of times it disappeared from view acting almost Grayling like, angling its body so that it didn’t cast a shadow.
Previously I said "fortunately", if the Meadow Brown hadn't played hard ball I'd have gotten my shot and headed back in doors. As I was still in the garden fifteen minutes later I was there to witness a very dark butterfly flying over the hedge and literally dropping into the grass. I assume that it was tired as I live in the suburbs, far from its natural habitat. Also it didn't attempt to move once it had landed, it just clung to the grass and let me get in really close for my shot.
This autumn my wife and I will be having a look at trying to improve some areas of the garden for wildlife; clearing some of the borders to plant "meadow" species, putting in raised beds, pruning the Buddleia to promote fresh growth and also leaving some bits to their own devices.
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Diary entries for 2011 have been archived. If there are missing images in this post, then they can be found in this archive if one exists. All archives can be found here.
Re: Wurzel
nice entry wurzel, gardens in towns can be real havens for wildlife. my old garden in Hayes Middlesex was such an oasis. gardens for quite a distance were fairly sterile places for wildlife and as this was my first ever garden (lived over shops most of my childhood) and i wanted it special. so i had a "weed patch" as the neighbours called it. 1t was 2 borders about 15ft long and maybe 4ft deep. planted over the years with a real selection of mainly native plants. lavender, buddliea and a couple of verbena bonariensis being the exceptions. i ended up with a butterfly list of 20 or 21 species in the end. the most numerous occasion i recall was 21 butterflies of 5 different species at the same time, 12 of which were gatekeepers on marjoram. so keep up the good work. It really is worth it.
Chris
Chris
Diary entries for 2011 have been archived. If there are missing images in this post, then they can be found in this archive if one exists. All archives can be found here.