www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Just a reminder that this event starts tomorrow - Saturday 12th.

Mike

Was there a fee for the two photographers' mornings last year, apart from the normal admission charge, or is this something new?

Yes, there was a fee for the photography classes last year. I always considered it very expensive compared to the excellent photography days UK Butterflies used to run.

I'm going to try to get along to Wisley next Monday afternoon if I can, although I am not definite I can make it as I have an exam in the morning (and that is before the weather does it's damnedest)

[quote="Susie"]Yes, there was a fee for the photography classes last year. I always considered it very expensive compared to the excellent photography days UK Butterflies used to run. /quote]

Thanks for that info because I have raised the whole question of membership and [lack of] benefits. I still resent not having those two free, use every day tickets to Chelsea and members only (hardly any sprogs) Sundays at Wisley.

Colin Knight wrote:This gallery has 58 tropicals photographed at Wisley and Earnley during the past two years which you might find useful: http://www.colinknightimages.com/Nature ... utterflies

Colin's gallery (from a post in Mark Colvin's diary) is a splendid resource for anyone visiting Wisley.

I have not been yet this year but plan to go as soon as the weather improves.

Mike

Just for info I've been twice already on Sunday the 13th and Saturday the 19th. Sunday was crowded but Saturday was far less so due to the weather putting poeple off. It's worth bearing that in mind if any of you are planning to go this weekend and its still snowing. However, check the website first. I got caught out turning up on Sunday the 20th without checking because I assumed that as there was no detrioration in the weather it would be open . Alternatively if you can, put in a visit during a weekday, which is another good way to avoid crowds

A few pictures to whet the appetite:

Flipping cracking shots Philzoid! I'd live to make the visit there, maybe next year...

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Wurzel . I'm itching to get back there this weekend but it's my daughter Izzy's 9th on Saturday . A half-day off work is a safer option .

Second instalment:-

My plans for a visit to the (local) Wisley Butterfly house were somewhat scuppered last Saturday as the small matter of my Daughter's 9th birthday took precedence . Still, a trip out to London wasn't too bad ..apart from the endless snaking around the crowds and countless "sorry's" when trying to get from A to B (we did a LOT of walking). Thankfully neither Chelsea or Fulham were at home that day otherwise it would've been a lot worse I'm told.
Despite being absolutely whacked-out I made sure I got my butterfly fix on Sunday, making it for opening time to avoid the queues. The early start was with some justification because when I left 3.5 hours later, the queue was longer than the one that had been for the London Eye the previous day .

Sunday morning like Saturday was sunny which made for a lot of natural activity with many of the insects on the wing, feeding, mud puddling, holding territories (male Great Eggfly seemed the most adept at this) and courtship flights. Less were seen trying to disperse ending up glued to the condensation at the window. However some did end up snared in 'old' spiders webs spun amongst the girder structure and then there were the Robins which have taken up residence ...lots for them to feed on .

This time I brought my new Tamron 70 - 300mm lens to try and get used to operating it. In a butterfly house this type of set-up can be disadvantageous. Many shots were ruined as people stuck their mobile phone cameras right under the butterfly's proboscis whilst I was resigned to standing around a metre away to get the focus . However it did prove useful when trying to get species such as the Giant Orange-tip which would usually perch more out of reach. Also I had my 16- 55mm kit lens to switch to. Despite the 3.5 hours on Sunday I put in another visit midweek (Thursday) which makes for a more leisurely experience avoiding the queue's and the weekend crowds. Each visit has yielded different and new species . I'm already working on an excuse for going this Sunday

Here are some underside shots to brighten up the post:-

I spotted a small break in the weather yesterday (12th Feb), to make the trip to Wisley for a warm afternoon in the company of the butterflies in the glasshouse.

This little girl was looking a little askance at the Tree Nymph buzzing her, This was a lucky shot from the gallery, although it needed some work with Photoshop. (One wing was rather blurred, so I cloned the opposite wing over it)
Here is a small selection, showing some of the species that were flying. I'll leave identification to the experts!
Mike

Interesting shot of the girl and tree nymph there Mike. You get all sorts of reactions to the butterflies from the kids. Most love them, some just want to scrunch them up and some will scream the place down if one lands on them .

Nice set of pictures too. I particularly like the openwing female African (mocker) Swallowtail (2nd row 3rd along .. the first is a female mocker too) which is a shot I haven't been able to get despite 7 visits now... (well its just down the road and I have annual membership to the gardens) .

Went again today and got 4 more new sightings, two for the year and two completely new species not listed. Wisley is a great way to get through the tedium of winter ! Tons of photos to sort, but might get around to posting some more later on.

Phil

Thank you for the comments, Philzoid, and for identifying the African Swallowtail.

There's a lot of luck involved, with what can be photographed at Wisley. I was hoping for some open-wing Morphos but none obliged this year. This year, I was using a Nikon SB600 flashgun, with a diffuser attached, and it worked well most of the time. Choice of lens is also not easy. I started with my Tamron 90mm + 1.4X converter but autofocus is a bit slow on my older model. Later, I went out to the cooler glasshouse (to avoid hot moist air getting inside the camera) to change to a 70-300 zoom . This was better for butterflies perched either high in the 'canopy' or below the balcony, but I lost the close-focus ability. Something like a 150mm with internal fast focus would probably be ideal.

Mike

MikeOxon wrote:There's a lot of luck involved, with what can be photographed at Wisley. I was hoping for some open-wing Morphos but none obliged this year.

That's very true what you say about the luck. That's why I make regular visits and I'm fortunate to be able to do so. I've come across less open winged morphos this year than previous years although most of my concentration has been on other species.

You're also correct about the difficulties faced with choice of lens. My approach could be described as scatter gun, take load of shots and hope you get what you're after . I've used a borrowed 50mm close focussing lens which usually enables me to get the sharpest pictures. This is as much to do with making the camera easier to handle as it is the type of lens. The minus point is you have to get right up to your subject. My 18 - 55mm EOS kit lens has also given mixed results. The lens I've used the most has been my 70 - 300mm Tamron which is the hardest to get sharp pictures but has the advantage of butterflies that are perched out of the way (as you say) and shooting from distance prevents you getting in other peoples way. Also the mobile phone snappers will often defer to you when they see you've got a big lens . Regarding focus, I often go manual along with apertures; shutter speed and ISO manual.

Those are my three lenses and I think as you say a 150mm would be the best compromise/all rounder. With respect to a flash gun I try to avoid using flash. The friend who loaned me the 50mm fixed focal has also loaned me a circular lens flash gun, but I've yet to use it and probably won't. The set-up is too unwieldly . Also I haven't resorted to using a tripod either although it would probably solve the sharpness problem ... some people do bring along their tripods, but I'm still more of a 'happy snapper' than a 'photography professional'.

Wisley have surpassed themselves this year with respect to the number of butterfly species they have had on display and probably the number of people that have been to see the exhibition . The event has been so popular they have extended it to 3rd of March, so for those who haven't been there still a chance to get down and see what you've been missing .

Despite all the new introductions the spotter charts barely change year on year . They don't accurately reflect what people are seeing either due to total ommisions or failing to show examples of both male and females of the dimorphic and polymorphic species (Mormons and Eggfly's spring to mind). In the process of researching the subject for a better understanding or due to misplaced trust on the i.d's given on the charts, I've now got doubts on the accuracy of some of my own their identifications . I shall probably try and enlist some help on the ID board later on.

Pictured below are some of the species I've encountered which have not been listed, on top of the ones already mentioned such as Automedon Giant Owl (Eryphanis automedon); Scarlet Peacock (Anartia amathea) and One-spotted Prepona (Archaeprepona demophon). Every visit made has been exciting as I've always got to see new stuff . Please feel free to comment if you think my Id's below are incorrect.

Phil

Wisley's butterfly event is over for another year. It has been a spectacle to behold with exotic butterflies you are unlikely to see outside a butterfly house, here in all their glory during the UK winter months . The big pluses for me this year have been the number of new species, and the chance to brush-up on photography (practising shooting in full manual settings with my Canon 1100D and 70-300 Tamron lens). Hopefully this has put me in good stead for when our season gets under way.

To close, just a few more (2.2mB) from some of my favourite shots. Looking forward to next year's event. Hope they don't start charging extra as it looked like there were record crowds this year.

Phil

Aah, The Malachite! We had these roosting in the mango trees outside our "humble Nicaraguan home" a few years back. Absolutely lovely butterflies, I'm not a huge fan of butterfly houses, I've been to the Wisley one just twice, but can't help reliving the memories (of the wild butterflies!) that your pics remind me of. Happy times.

Cheers mate, looking forward to catching up with you and your ladies this summer

Gibster.

Just noticed your Erithacus giganteus, lol

Hi Phil,

Some nice reports from Wisley

I was interested to see your Myscelia cyaniris. I have not seen this species myself, but have seen its close cousin Myscelia ethusa - a female pictured below.

Good hunting.

Kind regards. Mark

Hi Seth
Thanks for the comments (it was getting to be a bit of a lonely thread) and great to here from you again.

If I'd travelled and seen as much as you I would probably have a similar view on butterfly houses, no real substitute for seeing stuff in the wild but better than nothing.
My only ever trip outside of Europe was to Brazil (1994) and the only butterfly I remember seeing was Anartia amathea a very pretty butterfly in Parque das mangabeiras, Belo Horizonte. Back then my childhood interest in wildlife had almost disappeared hence little memory of wildlife from that trip. The only things I do remember on that front were coati; beja flor (hummingbirds) black vultures, and BIG ants .

Will get in touch and try and meet up one of these weekends

Phil

Mark Colvin wrote: was interested to see your Myscelia cyaniris. I have not seen this species myself, but have seen its close cousin Myscelia ethusa - a female pictured below.

A very good picture Mark nicely set off against the blue background

I think I've I.D'd mine correctly but I'll still go and check up again just to be sure ... all part of the learning process . Will try and resolve my Catonephele orites v acontius issue too.

Phil