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Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 9:37 pm
by Butterflysaurus rex
Quite the opposite of sad Bob! Envy might be nearer the truth. I'm sure there are many interested people who would love to find something as cool as that pupa! I know I certainly would. After your generous demonstration you inspired me to look for my own Wall larva, it was more by luck than skill on my part that I stumbled across one so soon. I've looked there many times since my bit of good luck and I can't find another one. It really is very difficult indeed and as you say quite addictive. I hope you find that ova to complete the set, in fact I'm sure that you will
All the best
B'saurus
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 7:52 pm
by badgerbob
With the computer being out of action, and still a bit suspect, I will try to catch up a bit from the last week. Last Monday, the 14th I met up with James, (B. Rex), to look out for some butterflies new for the year as well as Green Hairstreaks. I thought I had arrived before him and immediately I stumbled across a very fresh individual that was only flying short distances and keeping to ground foliage. I managed several pictures of this little beauty before it vanished and just before James appeared from the opposite direction to where I thought he would come from. As it happened he had beaten me there and seen a few other hairstreaks. While I was photographing my Greenie a Small Copper flew past and then Dingy Skippers appeared, both new for the year at that time. We spent a couple of hours enjoying the butterflies, scenery and the weather before some cloud cover cooled the day down a little too much.
http://bobsbutterflies.blogspot.com
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 8:12 pm
by Butterflysaurus rex
Good to see your computer is working again Bob
Those photos were really worth the wait, I've been looking forward to seeing the GHS you told me about and just as I thought it's a real cracker!
It was a great day spent in excellent company.
All the best
B'saurus
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 8:46 pm
by Pete Eeles
badgerbob wrote:I stumbled across a very fresh individual that was only flying short distances and keeping to ground foliage. I managed several pictures of this little beauty before it vanished
Nice shots Bob - and with the lack of underside markings is almost certainly an aberration!
Cheers,
- Pete
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 8:59 pm
by badgerbob
Thanks James and Pete. A little bonus if it is indeed an ab!!
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 9:08 pm
by Pete Eeles
badgerbob wrote:Thanks James and Pete. A little bonus if it is indeed an ab!!
It's at least an
ab. incompleta :
http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/aberrati ... ecies=rubi
Perhaps we need to christen it
ab. monopunctata
Cheers,
- Pete
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 9:29 pm
by David M
Lovely images, Bob. I can't wait for a bit of Greenstreak action myself!
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 10:24 pm
by Wurzel
Good to see you're almost back to full speed Bob
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Great Greenstreak shots - I feel that I might have to leave Gatekeepers behind and move onto the number of spots on Greenstreaks
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 8:24 pm
by badgerbob
Last Tuesday I went over to the lanes around Arlington to try and watch and photograph the local Orange-tips. There were already 3 people checking out the Cuckoo Flower by the road so I kept walking as I was after a bit of peace and quiet. A bridle way nearby looked good and so it was with a few males flying up and down the lane and settling on and off as well as a bit of nectaring.
http://bobsbutterflies.blogspot.com
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 8:45 pm
by David M
You've done well to capture these images, Bob. Orange Tips are almost always very reluctant subjects.
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 9:28 pm
by badgerbob
Thanks David. It does help when the weather is a little cooler. This species is so special, I am particularly pleased with the middle picture.
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 9:42 pm
by Butterflysaurus rex
That middle one is lovely Bob, I love it when the sunlight shines through the orange tips on the males wing.
Best Wishes
B'saurus
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 12:46 pm
by badgerbob
It was a very eventful week last week with too many pictures to sort out, so it was very frustrating for the computer to pick that week to go belly up!! Gradually sorting things now anyway. Every day I've been up to check on the Wall Brown pupa which has been changing daily, and by getting up there I've seen lots of other things as well. Last Wednesday I met up with Downland Boy to show him the pupa and to have a general walk in the area. Early on we were very lucky to come across a Grass Snake out in the open. We were careful not to panic the snake and it behaved nicely allowing some close up shots. I also saw my first Grizzled Skipper of the year, although pics had to wait until the next day.
![DSC_9795 (1024x626).jpg (385.99 KiB) Viewed 734 times DSC_9795 (1024x626).jpg](./files/thumb_10225_40b097f529460af792a4ed912193d04a)
On the Thursday I managed to get pictures of both Grizzled and Dingy Skippers as well as a Small Heath, the first for Sussex and only 2 days behind the British first in Surrey. On the way back to the car I spotted a smart Wall Brown, fantastic colour when newly emerged. This one also had an extra white spot on the forewing eye spot as well. A male Holly Blue was also a bonus, it was out of reach but I carefully pulled the foliage down and amazingly it didn't fly off.
http://bobsbutterflies.blogspot.com
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 7:15 am
by Wurzel
Absolutely brill shots Bob - the middle OT is a cracker, showing something different
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Small Heaths are out - things seem to be moving along but in fits and starts. The final shot, the Wall Brown - the best of the lot I reckon
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 12:09 pm
by badgerbob
Thanks Wurzel, I have managed several Wall Brown photos over the last few days, a few of which will be posted!!
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 3:03 pm
by Pauline
Have to disagree with you on this one Wurzel - it's the snake that does it for me
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 4:47 pm
by badgerbob
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 5:24 pm
by Neil Freeman
Hi Bob,
Some lovely photos in your past couple of posts, this time of year I always start thinking that I am living in the wrong part of the country
Cheers,
Neil.
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2014 8:54 am
by badgerbob
Re: Badgerbob
Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2014 10:32 am
by Neil Freeman
Hi Bob,
Good point about the stunners further north, the biggest advantage of living in the midlands is that a couple of hours in any direction covers a lot of the country
Unfortunately Wall Brown has not been recorded in Warwickshire for some years now, I believe they may still be found in a couple of spots over on the Malvern Hills but they have pretty much disappeared from most of the midlands. This particularly saddens me as I remember them being common around Solihull back in the 1970s.
This is one of the reasons why I always look out for this species when I am on my family breaks around the coast and why I enjoy your reports and photos so much
Cheers,
Neil.