I find Hairstreaks some of the most challenging of all butterflies to photograph yet they are probably my favourite group. In fact it was a Purple Hairstreak which sparked my passionate interest in butterflies. In my front garden I have 2 large Oak Trees with some smaller Hawthorn beneath them. A few years ago I was sitting in the garden and saw a 'strange' butterfly on the Hawthorn. It flew up into the Oak and I subsequently discovered that it was a Purple Hairstreak. It was a revelation to me that some butterflies lived in trees! I have lived here for many years and have never seen these butterflies before, but since that time the colony seems to have increased in size and they can regularly be seen flying around the Oak. When they do descend, which is fairly infrequent, annoyingly it tends to be on a neighbouring property. Nevertheless, it is good to be able to sit and watch them and have them so close, and it is this very worn specimen which has so much to answer for.
Whilst patrolling Botany Bay, looking for Purple Emperors, I walked past a 'Ringlet'. It was a very fresh specimen, low down on the bracken about knee height with wings open. I noticed it didn't have the characteristic markings of a Ringlet and became quite excited at the thought of having found an aberration. As I bent closer I saw the blue sheen on the wings and realised it was in fact a fresh Purple Hairstreak with its wings open. The few photos I managed to take were disappointing as I was so excited I couldn't hold the camera steady!
I really wanted a close encounter with a White Letter Hairstreak and had been given directions to a reliable site in Brighton, a 1.5 hour drive away (at least, depending on how many times I got lost!). The venue was a single row of tall trees quite close to the main road and it wasn't long before I spotted several White Letter Hairstreaks flying around the canopy. So, I watched and waited, and waited and waited .......... students came, had lunch on the grass and left again. Still I waited! 4 hours later a WLH flew down from the tree and landed in the grass right next to my foot. A lovely fresh specimen but hidden almost totally by the grass. I stood poised, ready to get the long awaited shot as soon as she emerged but after about 10 seconds she suddenly shot back up into the canopy. Time to call it a day - 3 hours drive and a 4 hour wait for a 10 second sighting and no photo!!!
A fellow butterfly enthusiast took pity on me after hearing of this experience and gave me directions to a 'fragile' site much closer to home but in the centre of a residential area. The amount of time I spent loitering around gardens and houses drew some suspicious looks from local residents but the views of the butterflies were superb, including this mating pair.
For me, the jewel in the crown at Noar Hill just has to be the Brown Hairstreaks - at this site they can be difficult to find but not impossible if armed with enough knowledge about the behaviour and habitat of this butterfly - until last year that is. Despite repeated and extensive searching I could not find a single butterfly and was forced to look further afield at Shipton Bellinger.
Sadly, I have never managed to get a really nice shot with wings open so I am looking forward to another chance this year. These butterflies are so beautiful when newly emerged. I remember Susie saying that 'whoever called them brown hairstreaks should be shot as they are just like little flames'. I couldn't have put it better myself.
I find Green Hairstreaks particularly difficult to photograph as I never seem to be able to do them justice. Try as I might I can't seem to capture that gorgeous blue-green sheen. This photo was taken at Paulsgrove chalk pits which you can see in the background. The rows of hawthorn hedges seem to provide shelter for a number of Green Hairstreaks.
The Black Hairstreak was the second butterfly on my list of 'must sees' last year. Detailed plans were put in place to give me the best chance of seeing this rarity. It was a long, very hot day and I must have seen about 18 Black Hairstreaks but only to admire as they flew past. The only one which stayed put long enough for a photo was way out of reach. Ah well, something else to aim for in 2012.
. It must be fantastic to have so many different species around and particularly having colonies living in your garden!
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My little girl was fascinated by an Orange-tip we had in the garden because of it's camo.