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Re: William
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 9:10 pm
by William
Thank you Butterflysaurus - you kind comments are much appreciated
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
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Re: William
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 11:35 pm
by Wurzel
I agree with Rex, having never seen a Helice let alone photographed one I'd love all of those in my collection
Have a great Crimble
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: William
Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2013 9:00 am
by William
Thanks Wurzel - I hope you one day catch up with a Helice - they are simply stunning. I also found they were much more obliging than their more 'normal' relatives - I don't know why
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
- hope you have a merry christmas, and many butterflies in 2014
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
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Re: William
Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2013 9:56 am
by Neil Freeman
A fantastic series of Clouded Yellow images William
I was fortunate to catch up with loads of Clouded Yellows in Dorset this year and took loads of photos but would dearly love to have captured some images like yours, particularly the open wing helice ones
Excellent stuff
Hope you have a great Christmas,
Neil
Re: William
Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2013 10:20 am
by William
Thanks Neil - I was very suprised to find my first helice - from distance I thought it was a yellowy large white - a stunning butterfly
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
. Have a merry christmas
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
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Re: William
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2013 9:15 pm
by William
Small Tortoiseshells
Like everyone else, I found Small Tortoiseshells had a really excellent year, and I found them everywhere in larger numbers than ever before. It was really wonderful, to be able to walk my transect (along a rather scrubby field margin next to some maize fields) and find them jostling for places on the flowerheads - on one afternoon in August I counted 101 feeding on the creeping thistle and Purple Loosestrife - an experience that will live long in the memory.
![UKB7.JPG (2.29 MiB) Viewed 1406 times Small Tortoiseshells - North Norfolk Coast Path](./files/thumb_13033_8fa596437450ed386e79d956ec5880a3)
- Small Tortoiseshells - North Norfolk Coast Path
![UKB8.JPG (2.13 MiB) Viewed 1406 times Small Tortoiseshells - Somerset](./files/thumb_13033_27fdf8d433e2e07844871d8bf15b3b9b)
- Small Tortoiseshells - Somerset
The larvae I found in June moved quickly through their life cycle, as did the numerous other batches of ova and caterpillars I saw, indeed, seemingly every nettle patch I saw contained a seething mass of black caterpillars - they were everywhere!
![UKB4.JPG (2.32 MiB) Viewed 1406 times Small Tortoiseshell Larva](./files/thumb_13033_2f27d94307af459a2913ee01727dc55c)
- Small Tortoiseshell Larva
![UKB5.JPG (2.47 MiB) Viewed 1406 times Small Tortoiseshell Larva](./files/thumb_13033_81c094eaabf47b619a4d2aaa516dd948)
- Small Tortoiseshell Larva
![UKB120.JPG (1.41 MiB) Viewed 1406 times Small Tortoiseshell Larvae](./files/thumb_13033_00d27afd96c8de566877208067fdc5d6)
- Small Tortoiseshell Larvae
These developed quickly, and I took a few final instar larvae in for observation.
![UKB122.JPG (1.15 MiB) Viewed 1406 times Small Tortoiseshell Larvae](./files/thumb_13033_b62c4b2a82486550f9322bc9512348d5)
- Small Tortoiseshell Larvae
![UKB12.JPG (2.32 MiB) Viewed 1406 times Small Tortoiseshell Larva - Pupating](./files/thumb_13033_d73ac26648e266e304403585f16a7740)
- Small Tortoiseshell Larva - Pupating
![UKB15.JPG (2 MiB) Viewed 1406 times Small Tortoiseshell Pupa](./files/thumb_13033_e8ed9dbc4d77f0d096d452882e70efff)
- Small Tortoiseshell Pupa
![UKB9.JPG (2.22 MiB) Viewed 1406 times Small Tortoiseshell Pupa - About a day before emergence](./files/thumb_13033_043573f70037408aa62181fa6cd3970d)
- Small Tortoiseshell Pupa - About a day before emergence
![UKB1.JPG (2.6 MiB) Viewed 1406 times Small Tortoiseshell - Freshly Emerged Adult](./files/thumb_13033_849e1a81f009754a7339d8003db2b4c1)
- Small Tortoiseshell - Freshly Emerged Adult
As well as photographing the immature stages, I enjoyed observing the adults in my garden, and on 'the patch'.
![UKB2.JPG (2.26 MiB) Viewed 1406 times Small Tortoiseshell](./files/thumb_13033_c0a65746a754fe331729724617e8078c)
- Small Tortoiseshell
![UKB13.JPG (2.42 MiB) Viewed 1406 times Small Tortoiseshell](./files/thumb_13033_0718854adf71a632cb526f86fbbf0a90)
- Small Tortoiseshell
![UKB14.JPG (2.64 MiB) Viewed 1406 times Small Tortoiseshell - Pale Form](./files/thumb_13033_911f19c31a536c4eb7ac5c1dd263d608)
- Small Tortoiseshell - Pale Form
I even managed to find one at roost - unusually not in a hole in a tree or a building. There had been nearly 60 feeding on Purple Loosestrife and when the rain came, a few stuck around.
![UKB11.JPG (2.2 MiB) Viewed 1406 times Small Tortoiseshell Roosting](./files/thumb_13033_99dbcfc32170401b8f472c38177b9bb5)
- Small Tortoiseshell Roosting
Re: William
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 11:19 pm
by Nick Broomer
Hi William,
Excellent photos of the Clouded Yellows.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
But i enjoyed your photos of your early stages of the Small Tortoiseshell even more. Just brilliant.
I hope you and your family have a excellent New Year.
All the best, Nick.
Re: William
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 8:09 pm
by William
Thanks Nick - I have enjoyed your immature clouded yellows just as much - simply stunning, I look forward to the final instalments
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
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Re: William
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 6:45 pm
by Maximus
A lovely sequence of Small Tortoiseshell photos William
Mike
Re: William
Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 11:25 am
by William
Thanks Mike - it was great to see so many this year
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
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Re: William
Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 11:47 am
by William
Peacock
I thought I'd continue my nymphalid theme this week and go with Peacocks. I found 2013 was a good year for these stunning butterflies, but in some areas not others. Usually in late summer Peacocks are one of the most numerous butterflies in my garden, with as many as 20 individuals. This year however they scarcely made double figures, whilst I enjoyed up to 33 Small Tortoiseshells, and similar numbers of Large Whites. Nevertheless, they were around in good numbers elsewhere, and on one thoroughly enjoyable walk on my 'patch' I counted 50 Peacocks within 10m squared on some buddleias, a wonderful experience, every flower seemed to posses a flickering pair of multicoloured wings
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
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![resized 5.JPG (2.67 MiB) Viewed 1213 times Peacock](./files/thumb_13033_6fdb1f883beb917c363da4d130659b15)
- Peacock
![resized 7.JPG (2.82 MiB) Viewed 1213 times Peacock](./files/thumb_13033_6a1af48e7558f28dc2e28a94673401f4)
- Peacock
![resized 4.JPG (2.9 MiB) Viewed 1213 times Peacock](./files/thumb_13033_9c1c185efb2586ec31c3ae8c51341d7c)
- Peacock
![resized 0.JPG (3.73 MiB) Viewed 1213 times Peacock](./files/thumb_13033_6d9d923d6dacc74a347a0b689e957e3d)
- Peacock
![resized 1.JPG (2.33 MiB) Viewed 1213 times Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell](./files/thumb_13033_b0d502eb0b55032a4301ec2ebb3c8b2f)
- Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell
I also found far more larvae this year, somewhere in the region of 8 nests. Given that I've only ever found one nest before, I was delighted to see so many of these handsome gregarious larvae.
![resized 2.JPG (2.87 MiB) Viewed 1213 times Peacock Larva](./files/thumb_13033_db5cb2c3f8f45efebbeeee0eb8d6dbcd)
- Peacock Larva
![resized 3.JPG (2.08 MiB) Viewed 1213 times Peacock Larvae](./files/thumb_13033_45640ba2c57b99ab671ba31d3e987168)
- Peacock Larvae
![resized 6.JPG (3.6 MiB) Viewed 1213 times Peacock larva](./files/thumb_13033_e8f1e29c0f8c128d66a7056d9c829bf8)
- Peacock larva
Re: William
Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 9:44 pm
by Wurzel
Stunning shots William
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
My favourite has to be the Peacock and Small Tort together, it looks like one of those team building exercises where you ave to rely on each other to stay balanced on a very narrow and very high platform
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: William
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 6:15 pm
by William
Thanks Wurzel, much appreciated
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
- I think that's an excellent analogy - I was suprised to see the two co-operating, particularly on such a small flower
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
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Re: William
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 7:08 pm
by Neil Freeman
Just catching up on your diary William. Your posting some beautiful images which are really going some way to brighten up another dark and dreary evening
Cheers,
Neil
Re: William
Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 7:45 pm
by William
Thanks Neil - Peacocks are magnificent Butterflies
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
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Re: William
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 8:42 pm
by William
I had an extremely enjoyable time today, for once being blessed with magnificent weather. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to see any adult butterflies, but a friend showed me some superb White - Letter Hairstreak ova in his garden, as well as some lovely footage of an abberant Small Copper - an afternoon well spent
![UKB.JPG (228.86 KiB) Viewed 1131 times White - Letter Hairstreak Ovum](./files/thumb_13033_8a438b3143a92da5ff7d50d3ae50350f)
- White - Letter Hairstreak Ovum
Re: William
Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 5:11 pm
by Nick Broomer
Hi William,
Lovely photos of the Peacocks, both larva and the butterflies.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Especially the second photo down, excellent.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Also thats a smashing photo of the White- letter Hairstreak ovum. I am really looking forward to reading your PD in the coming months.
All the best, Nick.
Re: William
Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 8:29 pm
by William
Thanks Nick - your kind comments are much appreciated
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Re: William
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 6:49 pm
by William
Chalkhill Blues
Chalkhill Blues, are sadly, not all that common in Somerset, with a scattering of colonies on the Mendips, Poldens and at Brean Down. Nevertheless, I make a pilgrimage to see them each year, normally at a site just down the road from Collard Hill on the Poldens. This year was no exception, and I was fortunate to find them in better numbers than ever before. On a cloudy, windy evening in August, a clocked up around 50 specimens, including several handsome aberrations. The Supporting Cast included Brown Argus, Common Blue and Marbled White, these, coupled with the spectacular views, made for an enjoyable evening.
The cloudy weather made getting undersides quite easy...
![CHB.JPG (3.92 MiB) Viewed 1069 times Chalkhill Blue - Male](./files/thumb_13033_6d2c29ea0c3e3032506a4fa4bed90b83)
- Chalkhill Blue - Male
And uppersides more challenging.
![3.JPG (1.19 MiB) Viewed 1069 times Chalkhill Blue - Male](./files/thumb_13033_587805fb8599eec63f425bddd5c8ee59)
- Chalkhill Blue - Male
I tried to put a name to the many aberrations, but it was a thankless task - perhaps someone can help?
![CHB Post Obsoleta.JPG (1.51 MiB) Viewed 1069 times Chalkhill Blue - Male - Post-Obsoleta?](./files/thumb_13033_05769a38e9beba2ed96cd6b40f9a3ec5)
- Chalkhill Blue - Male - Post-Obsoleta?
![CHB Ab 2.JPG (1.38 MiB) Viewed 1069 times Chalkhill Blue - Female](./files/thumb_13033_07315cb408f6ada31a7aae02cdd34dc8)
- Chalkhill Blue - Female
![CHb Ab 3.JPG (1.51 MiB) Viewed 1069 times Chalkhill Blue - Female](./files/thumb_13033_fb19577a8104a1e6a518352daf1527c4)
- Chalkhill Blue - Female
![CHB Ab.JPG (1.59 MiB) Viewed 1069 times Chalkhill Blue - Male](./files/thumb_13033_52fb10e787bcbaf9a66147f776d2e119)
- Chalkhill Blue - Male
![CHB Fowleri.JPG (1.53 MiB) Viewed 1069 times Chalkhill Blue - Male - Fowleri?](./files/thumb_13033_b9097c0091545c9902a398160f41bbd6)
- Chalkhill Blue - Male - Fowleri?
Re: William
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:00 pm
by Pete Eeles
William wrote:I tried to put a name to the many aberrations, but it was a thankless task - perhaps someone can help?
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Hi William - great photos! The penultimate ab. is definitely a candidate for
ab. postico-obsoleta ("Underside of the hind wings with all spots absent except the discoidal. Forewings normal." and your last definitely tending toward
ab. fowleri.
Chalkhill Blue abs. were "done to death" by Bright and Leeds in "A Monograph of the British Aberrations of the Chalk-Hill Blue Butterfly" and, as a result, we now have in the region of 500 different abs. defined that vary in the tiniest of details and pinpointing which of the 500 applies isn't easy!
Cheers,
- Pete