June 2012

[Jack Harrison]

Top one was taken outside another fine pub, MacGochans, in Tobermory.

Bottom one Thornham North Norfolk just after sunrise on longest day earlier in the week.

More of the same at:

http://www.normalfore.co.uk

Pictures pages 4 and 5 taken with the FZ150, others mainly with FZ38 (a few of the older ones with a Canon A650).
FZ150 is slightly but not significantly better image quality than the FZ38 but the articulated screen makes it very much easier to use.

And yes, do tell us Roger!

Jack

[Pete Eeles]

I told you on Wednesday Pete... "You should have been here yesterday mate!"

Doh!

[Jack Harrison]

Pete suggested:

We really should think about getting T-shirts or caps or some other identifier made up

Not a bad idea. But don't forget that many of us would need 5X size T-shirt; not really something to boast about.
However, on account of my considerable brain, I am quite pleased that I would need a 60 cm (XL) cap to fit it

Jack

[Rogerdodge]

And yes, do tell us Roger!

I haven't always been the angelic creature you all know me to be.
In my mid twenties I was on a liveaboard diving holiday around the Hebrides.
We stopped off one eveing in Mull, and I spent some time flirting pretty effectively with a gorgeous young thing behind the bar.
Sadly, her boyfriend, a local fisherman, didn't like it.
The ensuing disagreement overturned a few tables, gave us both a bloody nose, and resulted in a life ban for me, and a week ban for him (a local - you can't lose the revenue stream).

[Willrow]

[

I can't believe that a) I failed to bump into Rosalyn, Willrow and other UKB members, no doubt, at Collard and b) I failed to post the image of a Large Blue ovum in my personal diary

We really should think about getting T-shirts or caps or some other identifier made up

What a day you missed Pete Tuesday was 'the day' of 2012 at Collard Hill, Large Blue records broken, top-shots by hot-shots, and loads of yellow stuff whew...what a day!!!

Great idea about having a UKB cap or T-shirt, why not give it further consideration over the winter period and we would then have that identifier and it would also be a great advertisement for UK Butterflies.

By the way, that's a pretty good Large Blue ovum shot...oh! OK its top notch then

Bill

[ChrisC]

an all too brief hour 10.00 -11.00 around my local wood produced speckled woods, my first meadow browns and large skipper, a single red admiral

and a wonderful bonus White admiral, didn't give me a chance for proper pics but i'll settle for this record shot

Chris

[Rosalyn]

Thank you to everyone who said nice things about our pictures. Thank you S.Kipper for narrowing down the search at Lulworth Cove.

As for spotting fellow UKBers.... They are the nice considerate ones, they always have a smile and helpful advice and make sure everyone gets to see what they came for.
The t-shirt hat thing, I think Susie suggested, when this last came up, a badge which could be sewn on to what ever you liked which seemed a good idea.

I now have a full house for mainland species (Phil got his last year with the Chequered Skipper). Phil deserves a Thank you for all the hours of research he has put in and all the driving! Thanks Pete for a valuable resource I'm sure it would have taken a lot longer without it and the lovely people who contribute

Now I just have to learn to post the Photos properly .... and the quote thing, I had that at one time

[NickB]

Yes - lovely pics, Rosalyn (and Phil) ...
Shame you didn't take an FZ150, eh
N

[Debbie]

I was feeling fairly happy with this picture, until I read tonights posts - but hopefully with a little more free time and a few more butterflies I will improve and so will the pictures . My envy is good natured

This morning we saw about 4 silver studded blues (this is the first time I have seen them).

Please correct me if my ID is wrong and suddenly another butterfly was posing.

And hello to anybody who was also at Prees Heath today I am not very good at saying hello so maybe a badge / hat etc would be a good idea.

Debbie

[A_T]

Debbie you are shooting at ISO 1600 which will not produce good shots outdoors. Try setting your camera to ISO 400 (or less). Other than that there is nothing wrong with your pictures.

[NickB]

Re: UKB'ers ID's:
May I remind everyone of the Rogues' Gallery....
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=2274&hilit=Rogues+Gallery
Not for the faint-hearted...

[Debbie]

Thanks AT, lets hope the rain will stop and I can get out again and take some more pictures.

[NickB]

........ and I spent some time flirting pretty effectively with a gorgeous young thing behind the bar.

...not much change there then......

"Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn....."

[Jack Harrison]

Nick quoting, re-quoting:

Rogerdodge wrote:........ and I spent some time flirting pretty effectively with a gorgeous young thing behind the bar.


...not much change there then......

of 108 so I am told Or was that butterflies? I am a little confused (jealous if I am honest).

Jack

[NickB]

of 108 so I am told Or was that butterflies?
Jack

Different butterfly species, Jack, on the LOTSW trip to see Guy in Switzerland...

[Matsukaze]

Large Blues still on the wing in good numbers at Collard Hill this morning; actually the second most common butterfly, after Meadow Brown. An ex-hibernator female Brimstone was a nice surprise. Admittedly I followed a somewhat irregular route around the site but I did not see a soul the whole time I was there.

Small Blue is still out at Stoke Camp, along with an abundance of Large Skippers which may mostly be freshly emerged there. Also good to see a few Small Tortoiseshells on the Levels.

[PhiliB]

Monks Wood, Cambs - 25th June

Just a few Black Hairstreak were showing themselves today, hopefully it is still early days for them this year.
I managed to get a photo of one which has clearly been around for a day or two.

For me, the Red Admiral has always been a difficult butterfly to photograph, so I was pleased to find this accommodating individual as Rosalyn & I left the wood this evening.

[Philzoid]

On a blanket blue-sky day I decided it was now or never for Large Blue and drove the 110 mile to Collard Hill. On entrance to the site immediately evident were the Meadow Browns which were the dominant species.

Meadow Brown in cop

Large Blue were also out in good numbers- perhaps third most numerous after Small Heath. Most were to be found in the sheltered areas lower down on the slopes and in the "quarry" area.

First Large Blue of the day. Most were in a worn state

Although warm and sunny it was very breezy too - a weather combination guaranteed to make them difficult to follow and get close to (and Marbled Whites were even harder … I cannot remember ever having such a difficult time trying to photo these before ). When they did land the wind ensured they stayed low in the grass.

Large Blue 'obscured' by grass.

Ovum on thyme

Common Blue, a 'rarity' on this day

Bee Orchid

Wasp Orchid: a first for me

For anyone who hasn’t been but is thinking of going there, Collard Hill is a lovely site but make sure you wear some good shoes- it's very slippery on the slopes

Phil

[Rosalyn]

A nice end to the day

[AndyR]

Work took me Exmoor direction so I had a look in Bin Combe for Heath Frits and was rewarded with 4. A new species for me! Very pleased as I've visited several times (in sub optimal weather) and not found them in the past. Much lighter than I expected and more Glanville like than I thought, no where near as black as the pictures in Wildguides. Also saw Green Hairstreak and lots of small heath.
Stopped at Knowestone Moor on the way back. This place looks stunning with the cotton grass in flower. No Marsh frits in evidence, lots of meadow browns, small heaths, a small pearl bordered frit and a very active black moth with white tips that acted like a butterfly (and even looked the size and shape of a small blue) didn't get a photo and I can't identify it.
Andy