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Re: Maximus
Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2015 10:40 pm
by Wurzel
Great shots Mike, I love that the orange-tips are visible through the pupal case
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Let's hope the promised improvement in the weather comes off.
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Maximus
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 8:35 pm
by Maximus
An Orange-tip at last
At long last after exactly ten months and much anticipation our first reared Orange-tip finally emerged at around midday today. I missed the actual emergence and found the butterfly with it's wings already inflated at 12.20pm. Thankfully the weather today was sunny and warm so I was able to release the butterfly into our garden. It spent some time on an Erysimum Bowles Mauve flower, allowing excellent photo opportunities before finally taking flight and disappearing into neighbouring gardens.
![P1170165.JPGResize.JPG (783.59 KiB) Viewed 626 times 22 hours before emergence](./files/thumb_11970_437bd38568fd37e0e63194ab007d0185)
- 22 hours before emergence
![P1170183.JPGResize.JPG (991.86 KiB) Viewed 626 times 20 mins. after emergence](./files/thumb_11970_ddd9adc176cd5b54a05775844943c9e5)
- 20 mins. after emergence
![P1170236.JPGResize.JPG (835.95 KiB) Viewed 626 times 90 mins. after emergence](./files/thumb_11970_5c0f41961417c93d50c9485b1652fce8)
- 90 mins. after emergence
![P1170265.JPGResize.JPG (741.28 KiB) Viewed 626 times 98 mins after emergence](./files/thumb_11970_4b52754f64d03c02325e53458e69e54e)
- 98 mins after emergence
This was about a week ahead of our first reared Orange-tip emergence last year. It's brilliant to see an Orange-tip again
While out in the garden I spotted a Bee Fly (Bombylius major) also our first of the year, basking in the warm sun.
A second Orange-tip is very close to emerging! Watch this space ...
Re: Maximus
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 9:24 pm
by David M
Maximus wrote:A second Orange-tip is very close to emerging! Watch this space ...
I get the distinct impression that you won't let the next one escape your camera lens, Maximus?
Good luck with it, and I look forward to seeing the images.
Re: Maximus
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 11:54 pm
by Maximus
Thanks David, I'll do my best.
Re: Maximus
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 7:56 am
by trevor
An excellent way to get a good Orange Tip image, rear your own !.
OT's are in the top three most infuriating Butterflies to photograph, next to Wall Brown and White Admiral !.
Well done, and best wishes for the coming season.
TREVOR.
Re: Maximus
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 7:56 pm
by Maximus
Cheers Trevor, I agree that rearing Orange-tips is a very good way of obtaining a reasonable photo
I find getting a decent shot of an OT outside is not difficult given the right weather conditions. White Admirals are fine when nectaring and can then be approached closely. Like you however I find Wall Browns can be difficult to approach a lot of the time
A second Orange-tip male emerged this morning, however I was a bit slow off the mark so missed it by about a minute, next time perhaps
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
I did however manage some shots of it's wings inflating and released him into the garden later. He flew off strongly high into the air before disappearing from view.
Brilliant butterflies Orange-tips
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Re: Maximus
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 9:04 pm
by David M
Simply beautiful!
What an experience that must have been.
Re: Maximus
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 11:13 pm
by Wurzel
Fantastic shots Mike
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
With the low pressure system co,ing in it'll be a fair few more days until I get to see my first OT
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Maximus
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 6:20 pm
by Maximus
Cheers David, it's always a brilliant experience
Cheers Wurzel
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
the present weather is not making it easy to see non-reared OT's. Our rearing cage is located in a sheltered part of the patio and gives just a little more protection!
It was clear yesterday that several Orange-tips were near emergence, so last night I brought them inside to try to photograph one emerging.
However on checking this morning I found that the female had already emerged. The male looked very close so I set my camera up and went to put the kettle on. I glanced back just in time to see it break out of the pupal case, so once again missed the actual emergence shot
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
I did manage to get the following shots though.
The female that had already emerged was resting on a pupa.
![P1170423.jpg (1.8 MiB) Viewed 555 times Female](./files/thumb_11970_6fa823c3200b5657f399a131e90b644f)
- Female
A couple getting close to emergence, particularly the female.
Re: Maximus
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 7:56 pm
by David M
Fantastic images, Maximus. You must feel full on privileged right now!
Re: Maximus
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 7:53 pm
by Maximus
Re: Maximus
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 9:09 pm
by David M
Simply superb.
Seeing that has given me a real lift.
Re: Maximus
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 9:10 pm
by Nick Broomer
Hi Mike,
glad you managed to capture the emergence of the male Orange-tip, and accompanied by an excellent sequence of photos.
All the best, Nick.
Re: Maximus
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2015 11:13 am
by Chris Jackson
Brilliant Orange Tip photos, Maximus.
Seeing them in the wild now (soon I hope) will only seem a pale second best compared with your pics.
Cheers, Chris
Re: Maximus
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2015 11:48 pm
by Maximus
Thanks, David and I'm glad the pics gave you a lift
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
thats great!
Hi Nick, I remember when we met you at Chiddingfold, several years ago, you told us that you had some Orange-tip larvae on Garlic Mustard plants next to your computer
Cheers, Chris I hope the OT's emerge in the wild for you very soon
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Re: Maximus
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 11:26 pm
by Maximus
This morning a reared female Orange-tip emerged. I missed it by about 30 seconds or so, but managed to take a couple of photos just after the event.
What amazed me was the double proboscis as shown in the last photo, something I have not seen before, I'm not sure if this is normal or not!
Re: Maximus
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 11:44 pm
by Maximus
This was her out in the warm sunshine just before she took flight. A male Orange-tip also flew through our garden this morning but didn't stop.
Re: Maximus
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2015 11:49 am
by Maximus
Yesterday I managed to -
finally - 'bag' my fifth post-hibernator of the year, along with a Small White. Plenty of male Brimstones about as well, but they appeared to be hyperactive!
![P1170573.Resize.JPG (1.07 MiB) Viewed 428 times No. 5](./files/thumb_11970_6df31d9536d0d920fae79000650d3759)
- No. 5
This morning a Small Tortoiseshell was nectaring in the front garden.
Re: Maximus
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2015 5:51 pm
by trevor
Nice little trio, Maximus. I understand that a few Orange Tips are on the wing ( plenty of Cuckoo flower
around here).
All the best,
TREVOR.
Re: Maximus
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2015 5:52 pm
by Mike Robinson
Some really super pictures.
PS … thanks for noticing my Green-Veined White Butterfly of 30 March ...