Despite three visits already the lure of another visit to the Wisley glasshouse was too strong to resist and cost me half a days annual leave. On the way over I bumped into Mark Colvin (or perhaps the other way around) and we stopped and enthused about butterflies, butterfly houses in general and getting that photo with the wow factor
. Sadly that afternoon the wow factor picture wasn't quite achieved although I did get to see three new species for the season, one of which was a lifer
. I also got as useful camera demisting tip from Mark ... "take it in the gents and warm it up under the hand dryer for a few minutes". Saves time and hassle at the other end ....simples!
On entry I was greeted with three stunning Blue-banded Morphos with a Common Blue Morpho tagging along and for a moment it felt like stepping into a tropical paradise
. Although the Blue-banded were more numerous this time around, unlike their Common brother they were very elusive for the open wing shot
.
On the monstera plant near the entrance there was a pair of mating Owls and close to that a pair of Common Mormons.
- Mating Owls, a common sight but still being seen by many as a single butterfly. Fuji compact
- Mating Common Mormons, female at top.
At the first feeding station a Malachite was imbing the juices and presenting everyone with a good photo opportunity.
- keeping a lookout from his patch over the feeding station. Fuji compact
- Malachite on sugar solution
Around the botton of the station was a Pink Rose, which eveyone assumed was dead but look to be in good nick. I went to pick it up and it clearly was alive and kicking. Putting it on the table it soon got back into feeding
. I suspect that the fermenting fruit had alcohol content and the insect was inebriated. Later on it was doing a much better impression of having given up the ghost.
- Down but not out, Pink Rose Swallowtail
The area of the glasshouse overlooking the lake brought my first heliconid, two Zebra Longwings, patrolling the ground cover Marantas and nectaring on their spindly flowers. If only I'd checked the battery on Izzy's zoom compact camera as well as my own
- Reasonable camouflage amongst the Marantas, difficult photo for my zoomless DSLR
Also spotted along that area of glass were a couple of Golden Birdwings my second first sighting of the year. This was how I remembered them last year, up high against the glass
. Mark did well to get his pictures (in his personal diary). This one pictured was along the bottom of the glass so I nipped over took this picture before anyone spotted me (easy to do on a weekday, far fewer people there than on the weekends).(Later on I got to see one nectaring on hibiscus, but it flew off, quite high with a few wing beats interspersed with gliding).
- Golden Birdwing.
On the rock wall on the upper level beside the lift was another Golden Birdwing (female) and an Emerald Swallowtail a species I last saw a fortnight ago.
- Emerald Swallowtail
Then I got a sighting of Great Orange Tip flying by
. Fortunately it landed, a bit out of reach but I was able to get this shot
. The first time I've ever seen this species. Nearby was a pair of mating Scarlet Swallowtail
.
- Male Great Orange Tip (at last)
- Scarlet Swallowtail. Males are similar to Great Mormon
I then bumped into Colin Knight (or he recognised me ... I'd already challenged one bemused chap with a case of mistaken identity
so I wasn't going to jump in readily again (only one camera on display Mark: t'other in his pocket
)). Colin had some good kit to take pictures and had seen most of what I had, and one species which I hadn't: an Autumn Leafwing
. Later on I was able to find my 'own' Doleschallia, looking like an odd dead leaf on an airplant overhanging the pool. Too far away though for a picture although Colin may post. Kallima was very much in evidence although where is the paralekta female
- Kallima on the goodies table. Pink Rose now totally paraletic
- Almost a good picture. Have some work to do with the DSLR
Other species seen:- King Swallowtail; Great Mormon quite a few which were mud-puddling along with Common Mormon); Asian Swallowtail; and Tree Nymphs.
- King Swallowtail. (Photos never seem to do this species justice)
- Common Mormon. One of the mimic females (I think) similar to the male?
- Tree Nymphs in a favourite spot
Not seen this time were African Swallowtail; Clipper (brown or blue forms); Tailed Jay; Malay Lacewing and Diadem or Great Eggfly. Not seen this season:- Bat Wing or Big Billy (Atrophaeura semperi) and Glasswing (Greta oto)
. Not seen ever: Postman (Heliconius melpomene)
.
Finally I thought I'd finish with Blue-banded and Common Morpho for an underside comparison. Apologies for poor DOF focus.
- Achilles foreground with peleides in the background.
Apologies if this is starting to look like a personal diary.
Will try and squeeze one more trip in before its all over.
Phil