www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Thank you for the ID Bob. The shot of the SSS isn't exactly what I wanted but it'll do for now and there's always next year . What I want next is a shot of a Wall Brown just like the one you took some time ago - wings closed perched on a leaf - which made me go 'wow!' Fat chance!!!!

Thank you for your comments Mike. I'm glad you like the badgers but do you also like gardening? I'm losing track of how many times I've reseeded that patch of ground (to call it lawn would be stretching things a bit too far ).

I appreciate your comments Neil and thank you for the confidence boost. You are absolutely right of course so instead of sitting moaning to myself about the weather I decided to get out there and take some photos of Wood Whites (even if they were all blurred ) and it turned out to be very enjoyable despite the wind. I met 2 members from Sussex (nice meeting you Andy, Mark) who had photographed Chalkhill Blue at Oaken Wood ...... and I heard a rumour that Glanvilles may have been photographed at Wrecclesham this year

My intention to photograph the Wood Whites was, however, interrupted by several stunning Painted Ladies and so captivated was I by the sheer colours and patterns that I couldn't stop photographing them. They were really gorgeous:
The Wood Whites can wait 'til later.

Hi Pauline, some lovely Painted Lady photos and perhaps, given the signs, we may for a 'Painted Lady' end of year? Glanvilles photographed at Wrecclesham!!!!

Regards,

Mike

Great stuff Pauline those Painted Ladies are stunning

I'm sure the Wrecclesham Glannies are fallicitous after all the hours you put in checking it for them

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Smashing Painted Ladies Pauline

I see there are quite a few down south recently and some Clouded Yellows.......and I am heading north tomorrow. Hopefully I will have Scotch Argus to make up

All the best,

Neil F.

Thank you Neil. Have a great time up North - it is many, many years since I have been back up there - and bring some great shots back with you to share with us

Hi Mike, Wurzel - I appreciate your remarks and thank you for taking the time to comment. Re Wrecclesham Glanvilles - I was told the photographer was in his mid thirties, wearing shorts and from Surrey. He was apparently talking to Hideandseek in the last couple of days at Chiddingfold but Nick has no recollection of this individual. So, on the off chance that he might be reading this and would like to solve the mystery ........ Yes Rich, both myself and Mike spent some considerable time looking (as did others I imagine) but we might all have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time (and you did say Mike that a couple of times you THOUGHT you had seen one). If they were there it would be interesting to know in what numbers and when they actually emerged otherwise, we shall just have to wait until next year!

Well, back to Chiddingfold. Those Wood Whites might look fragile and flimsy but in that strong wind yesterday they were very active indeed. When it got a bit too strong they would take refuge lower down and either way photos weren't easy (but I'm not going to start moaning about that again ). A few shots I managed to salvage:

Pauline wrote:photos weren't easy

As Kennedy said: ""We do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard"

Mike

Too right Mike! It's the challenge that brings us back time and again. Such was the case today when I had a little time to spare. I debated whether to go to Noar Hill (Brown Hairstreaks) or Oxenbourne (SSS). Both about 10 mins away. I set off down the A3, still partially undecided, but when the heavens suddenly opened I decided against Noar Hill. I hoped that by the time I reached Oxenbourne it would have stopped but no such luck. I considered going back home but reminded myself I had been out in worse conditions. In the end I made a deal with myself - if the rain hadn't stopped by the time my Eric Clapton CD had finished playing then I would give it a miss - but it had . I had to tread carefully as Chalkhills were all over the ground and one of the first I found were a mating pair:
I then came across a lovely female looking very picturesque on Devil's Bit Scabious:
To my astonishment she started to move around and looked as if she was egg-laying. Now my eyes aren't as good as they used to be and my camera skills are definitely not as great as I'd like them to be, but I'm not really sure what I was seeing here, or even whether it was 'normal'. I know I'm a bit old for this but perhaps someone could explain the process for me . I just kept clicking away so here are some of the images, some enlarged as much as I dared:
Being a female, it's clear she could multi-task - egg-laying and nectaring at the same time

Pauline wrote:To my astonishment she started to move around and looked as if she was egg-laying ... I'm not really sure what I was seeing here, or even whether it was 'normal'. I know I'm a bit old for this but perhaps someone could explain the process for me

Definitely not normal, since the larval foodplant is Horseshoe Vetch, definitely not Devil's-bit Scabious, with eggs laid either on a leaf or stem of the foodplant, or on nearby vegetation, and always close to the ground.

Might be an example of "oviposturing", as Guy put it: "Going through the apparent motions of ovipositing without actually laying any eggs".

Cheers,

- Pete

Thanks Pete for explanation and PM. When I return I shall take a magnifying glass.

I think this is going to be a great year for Brown Hairstreaks - 7 seen today (plus ANOTHER Clouded Yellow). Lots of photos to sort through but a few to be going on with:

Fantastic shots Pauline We're they taken at Shipton?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thank you Wurzel. These particular shots were indeed taken at Shipton but I have also taken some at Noar Hill. For anyone planning a Shipton visit I would like to point out that all the butterflies I found nectaring were on the plant in the photos (don't know what it is) so be sure to check these and please do not trample as they are right in front of the blackthorn. Vet visit this morning so only a few more shots:

The good news is, Smudge (Dove with mangled foot) does not need an op and no longer needs antibiotics or anti-inflammatories. The Collared Dove I released a week ago has found a friend and is coping well and the Robin has also been released into a safer, cat free environment. All this frees up more time so I can spend time with the butterflies .

Yesterday, I had my second day out this year and I was determined to make the most of it. It had been planned well in advance with Brown Hairstreaks in mind so regardless of the weather or the state of emergence I was always going to go to Shipton. I arrived about 10.15 to find it cool, cloudy and generally overcast and as I walked up the lane my expectations were low. As I was scanning the first hedge I was already formulating my contingency plan which was to call in at Stockbridge and take some photos of something - anything! I arrived at the first hotspot and by now it was warmer, albeit still cloudy but I was heartened to see 4 BH flying around the Ash. They were out and they were active - and that was all I needed to know. I moved on to the meadow .....

The area was incredibly quiet and peaceful and as I worked my way down the hedge (where you found them all last year Wurzel) I saw a female fly up from the grass and onto those yellow plants. At the same time a car drew up and the driver opened the back to release 2 VERY lively boisterous Staffies who immediately bounded up to me, jumping up, knocking my camera and generally causing chaos. I did not dare take my eyes off the butterfly or move towards it as the dogs were focused on me. I called to the chap to get his dogs under control and his response was 'come on boys - she doesn't want to play today'. They were friendly dogs and I really don't usually mind dogs jumping up at me but I had driven an hour to see this butterfly"! Staffies have quite a bit of muscle and anyone smaller would no doubt have been knocked over. The dogs were not at all dangerous but it was just a matter of courtesy. Dogs safely at a distance left me free to take many photos and I certainly took a lot. I thought it would likely be my only chance ...... but I was wrong. Twice more I had the pleasure of photo opportunities with one of my favourite butterflies all on that yellow plant. I have never seem them nectaring on this before. It reminded me of last year when I visited the same area with Alan. He had just said to me 'they never come down onto Thistle' and as we rounded a corner there were 2 BH on the same thistle! Anyway, a few more photos for my diary as I sift through all those I have taken recently - and that's before I even get to the Clouded Yellow and the SSS

Hi Pauline, absolutely stunning shots of stunning butterflies, you've got it all, male, female, closed wings, open wings, everything!! Cath and me are really pleased for you, superb.

Regards,

Mike.

Brown Hairstreak images simply don't come much better than yours Pauline, very well done...inspirational stuff!!!

Kind Regards,

Bill

Hi Mike - thank you both for your kind words as I know they are sincerely meant. As you know I have little confidence in my photography skills but I am not one for false modesty and I have to say that I am pleased with these images (even if they are not technically perfect), especially as it is a butterfly that I am very fond of. It was a really great day out - at this rate I'll be wanting a day off every week!

I really appreciate your comments Bill. I never, ever thought I would hear the term 'inspirational' applied to any of my photos and you just don't know how your short comment really made my day. Thank you.

It is tempting to carry on posting BH images as I have loads but it is time to move on to the rest of that very enjoyable day. After a couple of hours I made my way back to the car passing some very blue, if worn, females as I left:
Some very nice Brown Argus caught my attention too but I failed to capture that lovely metallic sheen. It was still early so I decided to break the journey home with a stop at Stockbridge Down. As Pete has already mentioned there were some lovely fresh Chalkhills and it was a pleasure just to stand and watch and not to have to rush:
To be honest, I was so elated after the morning with the BH that I just snapped away, recording these lovely creatures, with little regard for composition or camera settings, so many have been heavily cropped:
However, just as I was leaving the unmistakable Clouded Yellow flew past - a beautiful orange shade in flight. I didn't manage to capture it in a picturesque pose on a pretty flower but nevertheless it was a real bonus and a perfect end to the day.

Hi Pauline

Your Brown Hairstreak shots are fabulous, especially the ones with their wings fully open, not always easy to find BH in this pose. I don't think I've ever seen them with wings open that wide. Well done.

Pleased to hear you Dove is doing well.

Keep up the good work and I'll try and post some photos from the Outer Hebrides as promised. No butterflies though I'm afraid. We saw large Heath and I managed to film one but saw no Small Heaths at all so I couldn't make any judgements on their race unfortunately.

We did manage two species of eagles and Red-necked Phalarope plus various porpoise and dolphins. Most of our photos were of sunsets and bumblebees.

Brill stuff Pauline - and now know exactly where to head to at Shipton I'm also hoping that the CY will hang around

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Pauline wrote: ..... I just snapped away, recording these lovely creatures, with little regard for composition or camera settings, so many have been heavily cropped

Welcome to my world Pauline

To be honest I have my camera set to centre spot focusing so I always aim to put the subject in the middle of the frame and usually crop to suit afterwards. I am usually fairly limited in the times that I can get out, which is often late morning to afternoon when butterflies are often most active.

This means that a lot of my photos are effectively snap-shots with not much time to spend getting them artistically composed. On the occasions when I can spend more time with roosting or feeding butterflies I will make more of an effort and this is often the only times I will use my close up lens.

I do appreciate some of the more arty and technically impressive photos that some post but for me I am happy with getting good records of sightings.

And by the way, that is a fantastic series of Brown Hairstreak photos

All the best,

Neil F.

Chris, I have just sent you a PM but it doesn't seem to want to leave my outbox. Probably too late but eggfood blended with water (from petshop) or better, look online for local expert help - wildlife hospitals. Don't know how else to get a message to you quickly. Sorry, just picked up your pm.

Great to have you back Paul and I'm delighted you like the BH shots. Looking forward to seeing your photos - dolphins, eagles and sunsets will definitely do it for me

Thank you Wurzel and good luck at Shipton. I am sure you will see Clouded Yellow at some point - they seem to be everywhere I go. I saw another one today - in fact, I have seen more in the last 2 weeks than I have in the rest of my entire life!

Your world is not so bad Neil . I spent an hour today happily snapping away at anything that came into view and thoroughly enjoyed it. Results to be posted later.