www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

A fine but very cold day today, took a walk along a local south facing field edge looking for ovae... really quite succesful, and a few photos in the low sun...
Purple Hairstreak

and one I think may have been parisatized.


and another WLH..

Those are fantastic pictures, Paul!

Guy

I think I'm beginning to work this new camera out!!

I think I'm beginning to work this new camera out!!

With pics like those, what more can there be to work out?

Jack

well, for a start, they didn't fly off, and there was no breeze but- thanks anyway, appreciate the compliment

another WLH ovum, from a different place, but one where I've found them before. I searched 2 trees' reachable branches for about 30 minutes to find just this single one... no great idea how the female made it's choice.... wonder how many were higher up

Even up north spring is just around the corner... first flower in my wildflower bit...



the \snowdrops are well on...



and the birds are wearing their spring plumage..



and only 76 sleeps to go to Nice

A mixed bunch of finches this morning included a Tree Sparrow, and for the first time in ages, a Siskin...





had to take these through a window though

MV trap out for the first time this year last night... 4 moths, all ennominids, Early moth, Dotted Border and x2 Pale Brindled Beauty..

I'v e been running my trap for about two weeks now. Not caught a thing.

Jack (Cambridgeshire)

Found my first hatched WLH ova today , definitely this year's, on the southeast side of the tree. Those on the southwest and west sides were still unhatched. The Elm flowers are really quite far on thankfully.

That's amazing, Paul. Presumably there's still a chance of another month or more of bitter weather and frosts up in Richmond. Maybe the larva will be protected deep inside the elm flower. Well spotted!

Guy

Uuuuurm Guy... I'm really hoping to see Spring soon but you're right, I hope it can survive deep in a bud... it was absolutely bitter here today The Elms do seem to be further on with their flowers than I recall them being in recent winters....? warmth, or chemoreception, or both, triggering hatch

he Elms do seem to be further on with their flowers than I recall them being in recent winters....? warmth, or chemoreception, or both, triggering hatch

See my comment on Sussex Kipper thread about temperatures this February.
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4065&p=41450#p41423

Jack

Yep that fits well doesn't it - it's snowing here today, and bitterly cold.

Another Siskin this morning..... they really like the Niger seed feeder... any bird lovers out there... well worth getting one.. but it took about a month before it was found by the Goldfinches.

Some old images manipulated out of boredom to pretend to be SLR...






I think faking it wouldn't be impossible with a bit of meticulous work.

Who needs an SLR with pictures like those?

I notice that you have the much appreciated blurred backgrounds but managed to keep both antennae in focus. That's an even better idea than my previous suggestion:
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=4906&start=80#p41855
when I was accused of stirring!

Now you Paul, being the owner of a cheap and nasty Box Brownie compact and also a high-end DSLR wouldn't dare accuse me of stirring.

Jack

might just have wasted a lot of money - watch this space this year & you can be the judge! .... but are these things above still photos I don't think they could be printed out with much success.