Swallowtail photography

[Jack Harrison]

These short winter days are tedious but I am already thinking of next summer and planning my outings. I didn't get round to seeing Swallowtails in 2007 so they are on my list for 2008.

I have seen them in many of the well-publicised localities - Hickling, Catfield, Stumpshaw, How Hill and so on. But where I wonder is the best place to photograph them? They are incredibly flighty insects and the only real success I have had is in the private (but open) garden at Strumpshaw. Lovely as that garden is, the butterflies are not really in a natural environment and use the cultivated flowers such as phlox for nectaring. Although I have seen them in reasonable numbers at eg Catfield, they have always been inaccessible to the camera.

The meadow at How Hill allows reasonably quite close approach but I have never had the butterflies settle near the paths for long enough. I have been reluctant to wander off the paths but is it acceptable to do so in that meadow?

Many years ago, I had extremely close views of Swallowtails along the north side Meadow Dyke between Horsey Mere and Heigham Sound but haven't been there for over 50 years!!!

Suggestions as to best places to photograph Swallowtails most welcome.

Jack Harrison

[Dave]

Hi Jack - I've photographed them at most of their localities and have found the best, ie most accessible with the most insects, to be the meadow at Strumpshaw. It's on the opposite side of the reserve to the garden and is accessed by heading through the wood from the visitors centre. Theres a great ditch system here as well which held several Norfolk Hawker last summer.