Re: MikeOxon
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 6:02 pm
Just after writing that I couldn't get out yesterday (28th October), the lure of the sunshine proved too much and I slipped out for a short lunch-time walk around the local gravel-pit lakes.
The lakes at Radley Gravel Pits were threatened with total destruction a few years ago, when they started to be used as ash pits for the local Didcot Power Station. Fortunately, however, some of the lakes were saved, as a result of a local campaign and, now that the coal-fired power station has closed, the landfill areas are also being restored. Currently, the regeneration is taking place within fenced-off areas, to which there is no access, shown in the following photo:
I started my walk along a path that runs between the fenced-off area and 'Orchard Lake'. Although there were many flowers still in bloom, especially clovers, there was no sign of any butterflies. There were however, many Common and Ruddy Darter dragonflies, most looking somewhat superannuated!. On the lake, there was the usual collection of Coot, Seagulls, and a few Mute Swans, and I was fortunate enough to spot a pair of Kingfishers amongst low branches of the trees on the far side, after hearing their thin calls. I took a number of general photos of the wildlife and then decided to walk up onto the bank along the Northern edge of the enclosure.
Suddenly, there was a flash of yellow amongst the flowers along the path and I quickly took a couple of snaps - my first of a Clouded Yellow this year.
The butterfly soon moved on but then another appeared, flying across from the enclosed area. I hurriedly followed this one but only managed a few 'grab shots' before it disappeared down the bank and back through the fence. I walked up and down the path several times, getting occasional sightings of one or more of these butterflies, moving rapidly from flower to flower.
I knew that my time was limited, so I headed back along the path towards home and then there was a pair of Clouded Yellows, chasing one another. I started to fire lots of photos, with the camera set to high-speed continuous. At the same time, I was aware of more of these butterflies passing through, so that I believe that there were at least six in the area - quite possibly many more. I decided to concentrate on the 'amorous couple' and shot several more sequences of photos. My decision to leave was made easier by a bank of cloud rolling in across the hitherto bright sun. The butterflies I had been watching flew up and disappeared over the young Birch trees.
When shooting high-speed sequences in this way, it's quite hard to know what has been captured, until reviewing the photos back home. It is also surprising how many pictures one ends up taking, when shooting in continuous mode. I found that I had about 200 shots, though I soon pruned these down to about 60, for further examination. Many of these are of some interest, showing the butterflies in various poses but I've selected three that display the wing markings particularly well.
The different patterns on the wing margins between male and female show well - the female having light patches within the broad outer fringes. In addition the female has a striking red 'hairdo', whereas the male is brown. These were far from fresh specimens, and the male's wings were quite battered, but they were still in active courtship at the end of October!
It's going to be hard to choose a 'favourite' for the annual species summary, and I may also see if I can turn some of the sequences into animations, as described earlier in my diary.
Mike
The lakes at Radley Gravel Pits were threatened with total destruction a few years ago, when they started to be used as ash pits for the local Didcot Power Station. Fortunately, however, some of the lakes were saved, as a result of a local campaign and, now that the coal-fired power station has closed, the landfill areas are also being restored. Currently, the regeneration is taking place within fenced-off areas, to which there is no access, shown in the following photo:
I started my walk along a path that runs between the fenced-off area and 'Orchard Lake'. Although there were many flowers still in bloom, especially clovers, there was no sign of any butterflies. There were however, many Common and Ruddy Darter dragonflies, most looking somewhat superannuated!. On the lake, there was the usual collection of Coot, Seagulls, and a few Mute Swans, and I was fortunate enough to spot a pair of Kingfishers amongst low branches of the trees on the far side, after hearing their thin calls. I took a number of general photos of the wildlife and then decided to walk up onto the bank along the Northern edge of the enclosure.
Suddenly, there was a flash of yellow amongst the flowers along the path and I quickly took a couple of snaps - my first of a Clouded Yellow this year.
The butterfly soon moved on but then another appeared, flying across from the enclosed area. I hurriedly followed this one but only managed a few 'grab shots' before it disappeared down the bank and back through the fence. I walked up and down the path several times, getting occasional sightings of one or more of these butterflies, moving rapidly from flower to flower.
I knew that my time was limited, so I headed back along the path towards home and then there was a pair of Clouded Yellows, chasing one another. I started to fire lots of photos, with the camera set to high-speed continuous. At the same time, I was aware of more of these butterflies passing through, so that I believe that there were at least six in the area - quite possibly many more. I decided to concentrate on the 'amorous couple' and shot several more sequences of photos. My decision to leave was made easier by a bank of cloud rolling in across the hitherto bright sun. The butterflies I had been watching flew up and disappeared over the young Birch trees.
When shooting high-speed sequences in this way, it's quite hard to know what has been captured, until reviewing the photos back home. It is also surprising how many pictures one ends up taking, when shooting in continuous mode. I found that I had about 200 shots, though I soon pruned these down to about 60, for further examination. Many of these are of some interest, showing the butterflies in various poses but I've selected three that display the wing markings particularly well.
The different patterns on the wing margins between male and female show well - the female having light patches within the broad outer fringes. In addition the female has a striking red 'hairdo', whereas the male is brown. These were far from fresh specimens, and the male's wings were quite battered, but they were still in active courtship at the end of October!
It's going to be hard to choose a 'favourite' for the annual species summary, and I may also see if I can turn some of the sequences into animations, as described earlier in my diary.
Mike