Re: Wurzel
Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 2:49 pm
Stourhead
This is a fantastic National Trust site near Mere. The area was landscaped by Henry Hoare II to create areas of park land with a collection of exotic trees, Rhododendron, wooded hillsides with grottos, ponds and the huge lake created by damming one of the sources of the Stour. In terms of species there aren't any great rarities or surprises but the background is breathtaking. I like it because I can enjoy getting my photos while the rest of the family can enjoy it for lots of other reasons - from leaf catching in autumn to chucking coins in the grotto or climbing and hiding the tunnels leading up to Apollo's building.
One of my favourite walks at Stourhead I only discovered this year. Instead of the usual walk which takes you round the lake we decided to have a look around the house and once there I found the walk at the top of the garden. The back lawn area is covered with wild flowers in the spring and I saw four species of white as well as Common Blue here. To get photos can be tricky as you have to lean over into the flowers from the path, but if you miss one another will be along shortly. From here the path widens into a lush woodland ride with several paths leading down through the Rhododendrons and woods to the lake. This wide ride is also a cracking place as scattered amongst the tall trees that reach ever upwards are brambles for nectar and stumps for sunning and basking.
Eventually the ride ends at a Ha-Ha before opening out into pasture. The paths down through the wood leave the trees and after following a small hedge open out to the pasture area and small ponds. Here there are scattered bramble bushes and I've seen Small Copper, Speckled Wood and vanessids as well as photographing different species of dragon and damsel flies.
On a trip earlier in the year there were spring flowers in abundance everywhere but the butterflies were very flighty. I found the hill at the foot of the Apollo building to be a good place to try and photograph these nervous butterflies. While the girls could run around outside and then listen to echoes inside I was free to pursue some "flighty whiteys".
The steep slope which the building is perched on was a prime area. The butterflies would work their way up from the bottom of the hill so I could find a likely nectar source and wait by it. This didn't really pay off so after much waiting I had to revert to trying to stalk them. This worked much better as I could anticipate where they would land much more easily.
I managed to see five species of white on this hill with a single Brimstone and Large White, a few Small and Green Veined White. My favourite was my first female Orange-tip which landed with wings tightly shut showing the green and white markings it relies on for camouflage. A lot less showy than the male, a lot less bold in its markings but still beautiful and subtle. It seemed that this female once settled didn't want to move so she posed and fed and let me take my photos. Then I just simply sat back and drank in the sights before me, the yellows, greens and whites associated with spring.
Have a goodun
Wurzel
This is a fantastic National Trust site near Mere. The area was landscaped by Henry Hoare II to create areas of park land with a collection of exotic trees, Rhododendron, wooded hillsides with grottos, ponds and the huge lake created by damming one of the sources of the Stour. In terms of species there aren't any great rarities or surprises but the background is breathtaking. I like it because I can enjoy getting my photos while the rest of the family can enjoy it for lots of other reasons - from leaf catching in autumn to chucking coins in the grotto or climbing and hiding the tunnels leading up to Apollo's building.
One of my favourite walks at Stourhead I only discovered this year. Instead of the usual walk which takes you round the lake we decided to have a look around the house and once there I found the walk at the top of the garden. The back lawn area is covered with wild flowers in the spring and I saw four species of white as well as Common Blue here. To get photos can be tricky as you have to lean over into the flowers from the path, but if you miss one another will be along shortly. From here the path widens into a lush woodland ride with several paths leading down through the Rhododendrons and woods to the lake. This wide ride is also a cracking place as scattered amongst the tall trees that reach ever upwards are brambles for nectar and stumps for sunning and basking.
Eventually the ride ends at a Ha-Ha before opening out into pasture. The paths down through the wood leave the trees and after following a small hedge open out to the pasture area and small ponds. Here there are scattered bramble bushes and I've seen Small Copper, Speckled Wood and vanessids as well as photographing different species of dragon and damsel flies.
On a trip earlier in the year there were spring flowers in abundance everywhere but the butterflies were very flighty. I found the hill at the foot of the Apollo building to be a good place to try and photograph these nervous butterflies. While the girls could run around outside and then listen to echoes inside I was free to pursue some "flighty whiteys".
The steep slope which the building is perched on was a prime area. The butterflies would work their way up from the bottom of the hill so I could find a likely nectar source and wait by it. This didn't really pay off so after much waiting I had to revert to trying to stalk them. This worked much better as I could anticipate where they would land much more easily.
I managed to see five species of white on this hill with a single Brimstone and Large White, a few Small and Green Veined White. My favourite was my first female Orange-tip which landed with wings tightly shut showing the green and white markings it relies on for camouflage. A lot less showy than the male, a lot less bold in its markings but still beautiful and subtle. It seemed that this female once settled didn't want to move so she posed and fed and let me take my photos. Then I just simply sat back and drank in the sights before me, the yellows, greens and whites associated with spring.
Have a goodun
Wurzel