www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Hi Mark,
Only just noticed your post about the Perchfisher's book - another angler in our midst eh? I have a copy on my bookshelf and would have been at the launch myself if I had not been tied up elsewhere. Didn't realise you were in there, but now I've seen the pic and can put a face to a name. I have a soft spot for perch and managed a few good fish 5 or 6 years ago from one of the quieter areas of river in Buckinghamshire. The snap below shows three fish of 4-3, 3-11 and 3-7 taken in successive casts just on dusk. It is the only one I got of them as I was on my own and wanted to get them back in the water asap.



Trev

Is it usual for men to take photos of themselves hugging fish as if they were the proud father of triplets?

Sad but true Susie.

Trev

Hi Colin,

knightct wrote:Awesome!

A very BIG thanks.

Kind regards. Mark

Hi Chris,

ChrisC wrote:for the butterfly pics do you have the conversion setting on?

The simple answer is Yes AND No. I have the option to set Conversion to Off, Telephoto (T) or Close Up (C). All of my butterfly shots are taken with a close up lens, so I set the Conversion to (C). The stoat was shot with the Conversion Off and without the Close Up lens fitted.

I hope this helps?

I'm glad you like the photos.

Kind regards. Mark

Hi Susie,

Thanks.

Susie wrote:The comma on the blackberries and the stoat are my favourites.

I'm glad you like the shots and I really appreciate your comments.

Susie wrote:Is it usual for men to take photos of themselves hugging fish as if they were the proud father of triplets?

100%

Kind regards. Mark

There are some things I will never understand!

Hi Trev,

Thanks for your message.

Trev Sawyer wrote:The snap below shows three fish of 4-3, 3-11 and 3-7 taken in successive casts just on dusk.

Very nice ...

I do like my fishing though haven't done any since my friend passed away in August. We had a lot planned and in 2012 I intend to get out and about again. When time allows, I mainly fish the River Thames and lure fish probably 75% of the time. I assume your fabulous trio were not taken on lures? If I'm feeling lazy in the summer I do have some carp gear and will occasional give them a bash at one of my local club waters. I personally prefer the excitement of river fishing, the River Arun being my local.

Tight lines.

Kind regards. Mark

ok so that's Mark with his stoat photo and now trev off my christmas card list. they are some cracking fish. jealousy is a terrible thing

Superb photos from this year, Mark - very good indeed!

All the best,

Lee

Hi Lee,

Thanks for your message.

Lee Hurrell wrote:Superb photos from this year, Mark - very good indeed!

I'm glad you like them and really appreciate your comments.

Now that you've moved I hope to see lots of pics from you next year!

Merry Christmas.

Kind regards. Mark

Heyshott Escarpment, 14 December 2011

The bigger picture …

Today, along with Colin Knight and Neil Hulme and four members of the Murray Downland Trust, I continued my weekly work party season at Heyshott Escarpment. Despite the threat of early rain the sun burnt through leaving a beautiful autumn day.

Chalk grassland is an immensely rich habitat and one of the most important in Western Europe as it supports numerous types of plant and animal (chalk grassland may contain up to 40 different species of plants per square metre). However, very little is left, so it is vitally important to look after what remains. Chalk downland is typically made up of a mosaic or patchwork of habitats including chalk grassland, chalk heath, scrub and dew ponds, all of which provide important habitats for a number of different species.

It gives me an immense feeling of satisfaction and achievement knowing that what we are doing, albeit in a small way, is helping to conserve this wonderful habitat and the rich variety of species it sustains. I thoroughly recommend attendance at conservation work parties and suggest that anyone with spare time on their hands should definitely get involved in a local project.

Roll on next week …

Heyshott Escarpment, 21 December 2011

Mulled wine and mince pies …

Today saw the last conservation work party at Heyshott before the Christmas break. We miss just one week and recommence activities on Wednesday, 4 January 2012. Despite a damp start the rain stayed away leaving a pleasant autumn day once more.

Possibly tempted by the spicy aroma of hot mulled wine and mince pies, which added a seasonal touch to proceedings, ten people were on site today including John Murray, Mike Hadley and Sally Morris representing the Murray Downland Trust and James Colvin, Billy Lord, Neil Hulme, Roger Martin, Dan Hoare, Colin Knight and myself flying the flag for Butterfly Conservation at both local and national level.

This was the eleventh scheduled work party at Heyshott Escarpment this winter and it was interesting to take time to stand back and reflect on just how much a small and dedicated team of varying age and ability can achieve.

I hope ‘His Grace’ appreciates the team’s hard work …

I look forward to 2012 …

Tuesday, 3 January 2012

Solitude …

Like a number of other UKBers I have recently been tempted to put words and pictures to print.

http://www.blurb.com

2010 and 2011 have been difficult years for me with both marred by family ill health and the passing of two very close friends. I felt a need to put my thoughts into words and my means of escapism from day to day reality, my pictures and passion for natural history, into something that would last and hopefully act as a light at the end of the tunnel in times of difficulty to the reader - my children. The content of the book is for my son and daughter only though the cover I am willing to share.

I decided to post this in my diary as putting the book together has helped me through difficult times and I hope it may inspire others to do the same.

Here's to a good 2012 ...

That's a beautifully evocative image, Mark.

Less is more sometimes, and this is one of those occasions. 'Solitude' sums it up from more than just one perspective.

I agree, that is beautiful, Mark.

I hope 2012 is a much better year for you and your family.

Thank you.

Heyshott, 4 January 2012

In search of Urchins …

Sadly, due to the very strong winds and heavy rain of yesterday, our first scheduled conservation work party of the 2012 season at Heyshott Escarpment had to be cancelled today, the slopes being far too slippery to work on safely.

Not to be discouraged, I rang Colin Knight and suggested we meet up anyway to hunt for the eggs of the Brown Hairstreak. We met at 10am and having previously spoken to John Murray regarding potentially suitable hedgerows, headed northwest on the footpath adjoining Tuppers Copse in the direction of Hoyle. Crossing a small stream we soon came across our target, a south-facing hedgerow, running in an east-west direction and containing blackthorn.

Our first find was an egg of the Blue-bordered Carpet (Plemyria rubiginata), a moth whose larvae will also feed on blackthorn though distinguishable from the white ‘urchin-like’ Brown Hairstreak eggs by their rather elongated, smooth white appearance. Our search continued and as we approached the end of the hedge I spotted our prize, a single white egg of a Brown Hairstreak. Despite searching other hedgerows in the area, blackthorn appeared in short supply and what was found did not appear suitable. Consequently no further eggs were found.

Another search is planned …

New Year Bird Race, 6 January 2012

Rendezvous 0645hrs …

For those who have never participated, a Bird Race is typically a sponsored challenge to locate and identify as many different species of wild bird as possible in one day, whilst raising funds for bird conservation. Our race, organised by the Sussex Ornithological Society, was open to any team of two or more people and had to be completed within the first two weeks of January (when of course daylight hours are at a premium). All birds recorded had to be heard or observed within the county boundary of Sussex and participants must comply with a strict set of rules when competing. Respect for the birds, the countryside and landowners always coming first.

Our intrepid team met up early on a fine, cold morning at Pagham Harbour LNR Information Centre. It was dark and the sky alight with tiny diamonds.

As dawn was breaking on the horizon we headed east along Ferry Pool to view the western side of Pagham Harbour. We picked up a number of expected species on route with several Avocets adding a touch of welcome glamour. Then it was on to Selsey Bill for a sea-watch. Red-throated and Black-throated Divers were logged and a selection of seabirds passed including several nice Med Gulls. A female Black Redstart was spotted on a nearby roof whilst a small group of Turnstones busily searched seaweed on the beach in front of us. Numbers continued to build after a brief stop at Church Norton where we added a female Goldeneye and Grey Plover. We then moved on to West Wittering (Ella Nore and Snow Hill Marsh) where the star birds were a beautiful Spotted Redshank, Greenshank and a lone Jack Snipe flushed from the marsh. After a brief stop for lunch, East Head produced a very showy Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe three Snow Buntings and an immature male Eider.

Things were going well …

We then moved up to Fishbourne Creek and although adding Yellowhammer and Jay things started to slow down and we failed to find the Little Stint that was around yesterday. At least three Stonechats were noted on our route, plus several calling Cetti's Warblers and a Chiffchaff. Short stops at Chichester Gravel Pits (Drayton) produced a few wildfowl mop-ups before our final destination of Pagham North Wall. Our total was now 93 and some hard scanning in the cold conditions slowly added Lesser Black-backed Gull, Golden Plover and Peregrine as the sun slowly disappeared from sight. We finished as we had started in darkness and with a very respectable total of 96 species.

Our team comprised of Peter and Gill Moon, Tom Howard-Jones, David Hall, David Parker, Helen Bryett and myself with Owen Mitchell and Bernie Forbes, having planned the route, leading from the front. For those who have never been involved in a Bird Race I thoroughly recommend them but be warned, you'll soon realise just how uncommon the common species are when trying to find them under the pressure of diminishing light and time!

I look forward to next year's race ...

Happy New Year Mark!

96 is a very respectable tally bagged for a days birding and I'm envious of the Snow Buntings - they are still on my wish list although there is one hanging around at Hengistbury Head so perhaps I'll bag it next weekend.

Have a goodun
Wurzel