Neil Hulme

[Padfield]

I know for a fact that purple emperors come to discarded nappies, because I've seen it in a layby in Spain... Maybe you can add a new flavour to your famous mixture, Neil.

Guy

[David M]

I know for a fact that purple emperors come to discarded nappies, because I've seen it in a layby in Spain... Maybe you can add a new flavour to your famous mixture, Neil.

Thank God I've just had my dinner.

Shame on you, Guy!

[Neil Hulme]

Guy, I'm sure it will come as no surprise that this topic has been aired at some length in our household. I suspect the meconium would be particularly attractive to HIM, but Hannah refuses to let me retain these things for 8 months. It's a shame - she's usually very reasonable!
BWs, Neil

[Goldie M]

I think I'll stick to the Peanut Butter Goldie

[Neil Hulme]

The 2014 Butterfly Season In Pictures (April & May)

Prompted by a request from Trevor, and with time on my hands as I'm still housebound, here is the first instalment of some of my favourite butterfly images of 2014. They appear in the sequence they were taken.

Brimstone

Small Tortoiseshell

Pearl-bordered Fritillary caterpillar

Orange Tip

Dingy Skipper

Grizzled Skipper

Emperor Moth

Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Duke of Burgundy

[David M]

Beautiful images, Neil.

Where did you see the Emperor moth?

[Neil Hulme]

Thanks, David. This was at Springhead Hill near Storrington, West Sussex. The full account appears at the base of page viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4065&start=1560
BWs, Neil

[Neil Hulme]

The 2014 Butterfly Season In Pictures (June)

Green Hairstreak

European Swallowtail

Small Heath

Silver-studded Blue

Black Hairstreak

Large Blue

High Brown Fritillary

Marbled White

Dark Green Fritillary

Silver-washed Fritillary

[Jack Harrison]

For goodness sake Neil. Stop p***ing us off with your photos

Absolutely superb and most of us are simply jealous.

How's the book coming along?

Jack

[peterc]

Some fantastic photos there Neil. Taken with your Lumix camera?

Peter

[John W]

I have to say that I agree with Jack

I had the same camera as Neil, a Lumix FZ38, and occasionally I would take a photo that's nearly as good as one of Neil's. Most were a lot worse. It's not just the camera but who's pointing it that counts. I just don't often find butterflies sitting in the right position to get those uncluttered backgrounds. Neil does because he puts in the hours and has the field craft to take advantage of the opportunities when he finds them. Plus he must have really steady hands to get photos that sharp!

Cheers
John

[Neil Hulme]

Jack, Peter and John - thanks for your comments.

Jack: Progress on my own project has been slowed by the expanding family and my input into another book - the Sussex Butterfly Atlas will have to take priority.

Peter: Yes, all taken with the Lumix FZ38. I started photography with the Lumix FZ7 in 2007, then upgraded to the FZ38 early in 2010, used together with the Panasonic close-up lens. I've not been tempted to change this set-up yet, as it does exactly what I want of it.

BWs, Neil

[Neil Hulme]

The 2014 Butterfly Season In Pictures (July)

Purple Emperor

Six-spot Burnet

Gatekeeper

Red Admiral

Chalk Hill Blue

Essex Skipper

Common Blue

Wood Whites

Grayling

[peterc]

John W, I take your point - it's not just the equipment but also the skill and experience of the photographer. I have some way to go to reach Neil's level and I only started taking butterfly photography seriously this year.

Neil, I had also wondered if you had used a close up lens as well because your images are pretty sharp!

Peter

[William]

How have I missed these - superb stuff Neil, favourites would be the Hairstreaks, Dark Green Fritillary and Grayling!

BWs

William

[Neil Hulme]

The 2014 Butterfly Season In Pictures (August & September)

Privet Hawkmoth caterpillar

Adonis Blue

Brown Hairstreak

Map

Small Copper

Wall

Looking back on it, 2014 will go down as a good season, at least by modern standards. Although it didn't quite eclipse the fireworks of 2013, there were certainly some very exciting moments. It's always nice when exotic visitors grace our shores, but we shouldn't forget that many endemic species continue to decline. At least locally, several species still have to pick themselves up off the floor, following the nightmare of 2012. After two great seasons for vagrants and rare migrants I would rather see some of our own species rally in 2015, if I had to choose between the two, so I'd be more than happy with a more run-of-the-mill season, with a lot more White Admirals and Small Blues.

[Neil Hulme]

Thanks William. A few more to round off a generally good season.
BWs, Neil

[trevor]

HI Neil,
I wish you had fed us your 2014 selection a little more slowly, mental indigestion is my problem!!.
Especially as there are species I have never seen. You have put in the effort and reaped the reward.
Luck was also on your side with the Swallowtail[s] and the Map must have been a real experience.
Think i'll fit a tracker to your car!.
Hope you are on the mend.
TREVOR.

[Goldie M]

I agree with every one Neil, your photo's are fantastic Goldie

[Neil Hulme]

Thanks Goldie!
BWs, Neil