Maximus

[Willrow]

Ditto on everything David mentions above Mike...lovely stuff

Bill

"When in doubt...venture out"

[Maximus]

Thanks David and Bill, I agree that overcast days as long as they are reasonably bright, can give a nice even diffused light, which often helps in producing quality images.



We paid an afternoon visit to Bentley which was as usual rather busy, which normally we would try to avoid. However we wanted to see some Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries and this would probably be our best opportunity to do so. The entrance to the Eastern clearing was very muddy but once in the first SPBF's appeared. Some were very fresh, and although it was overcast they were nectaring on Bugle..

..while others were begining to show signs of wear.

We also saw our first Large Skipper of 2014..

[Lee Hurrell]

Lovely female Adonis shots, Mike!

Best wishes,

Lee

[Wurzel]

Great Small Pearls Mike - especially the second shot Bentley can get busy at this time of year but you can see Small Pearls outside the Eastern Clearing along the rides and not many people venture out of the Clearing

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Maximus]

Cheers Lee

Cheers Wurzel, next time I visit I'll look along the rides


A couple of ' blue' Common Blue females have visited our garden recently, using the buttercups we left in the lawn for nectar, I'm not sure where these Blues originate from.

Quite a lot of blue

The most blue I've seen on a female Common Blue!

This was her before I spent a quick ten minutes in photoshop, not perfect as can be seen, but I felt she should have the missing part of her hindwing back, shame she was damaged.

I only put back what was missing she really was that blue Common Blue females seem to be bluer this year!

[Neil Freeman]

... she really was that blue Common Blue females seem to be bluer this year!

There does seem to be an uncommon number of Blue female Common Blues around this year

Some lovely photos in the last few posts Mike, great stuff.

Cheers,

Neil.

[Pauline]

Just catching up Mike - you're posting some lovely photos. I really like the last female Adonis with open wings and I particularly like the 3rd SPBF I wish I could perform minor miracles with photoshop - she is certainly the bluest female I have seen.

[David M]

There does seem to be an uncommon number of Blue female Common Blues around this year.

Indeed. I don't know whether it's just that people have suddenly become more 'tuned in' to these insects or if 2014 is the year of the blue female icarus.

Sadly I haven't seen anything as spectacular in my part of the world but I will keep looking.

[Maximus]

Thanks Neil, very well put

Thank you Pauline, glad you liked the Adonis and SPFB, photoshop is a powerful tool

David, I think it's the year of blue female icarus.



Today we visited a site in Hampshire, but our visit which was squeezed in between our other commitments was between midday and 3pm. We therefore found that all of the butterflies we saw were hyperactive in the hot sun, which made taking photos very difficult. We did however manage to record thirteen species which we were very pleased with. The Dukes were still battling anything which intruded into their territory and were not in bad shape given the date.

The Common Blues were stunning and included a mating pair..

The Large Skippers really fresh..

The Small Heaths were not always easy to photograph off the ground..

But the star of the show was this male Clouded Yellow, but we unfortunately only managed some record shots as it flew around the site at a rate of knots..

Pauline's Clouded Yellow seen at what I believe to be the same site, appears to be a female - so there were at least two, hope this heralds a CY invasion

[Willrow]

Some lovely shots Mike, and I do believe your being rather modest, you have to get the shot before you do anything at all in Photoshop...and you've got the shots

Bill

"When in doubt...venture out"

[Wurzel]

Great report and shots Mike Great to see the Cloudies are making an appearance already which bodes well fingers crossed Love the first Small Heath shot really makes it look like a grizzled old man on the back porch

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Maximus]

Thanks Bill

Thanks Wurzel, my fingers are well crossed as regards the CY's Glad you like the Small grizzled Heath




This was our Green-veined White pupa at 10 days old, revealing signs of the butterfly inside..

..and this was the pupa at 9.30 this morning..

..as I gently turned the pot containing the Honesty plant, this beauty was revealed..

..a beautiful female Green-veined White.

Close up of wing detail

Close up

90 minutes later, having already flown to the window indoors she was released into our garden where she flew strongly away and to a great height until she was lost from our view

[Katrina]

Wonderful photos - very interesting to see.

[David M]

Stunning.

What a beautiful insect.

[Wurzel]

Wow fantastic stuff Mike

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Willrow]

Simply wonderful Mike!!!

Bill

"When in doubt...venture out"

[Pauline]

Some beautiful and enviable photos there Mike. You should feel proud of yourself

[Maximus]

Thanks Katrina, she was a beautiful GVW

She was a beautiful insect indeed David

Glad you liked her Wurzel

Thanks Bill

Thank you Pauline




A couple of shots of local Silver-studded Blues which are only just begining to emerge, so far all males..

[Mike Robinson]

Lovely pictures &c. …..

[Wurzel]

Beautiful Silver Studs Mike I'm hopefully going to find a few tomorrow, fingers crossed.

Have a goodun

Wurzel