www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Good Evening UK B'ers,
Having had an extended hibernation along with most of our fluttery friends, I emerged today and headed off to Bentley Wood, having read the many accounts of the prolific wordsmith Wurzel.
By sheer fluke I stumbled upon a sign to a car park and while bouncing along a track, saw two people, tooled up with digi cams and zooms staring at the ground, which prompted me to stop the car. I leapt out on the off chance that would know the whereabouts of the SPBF's and PBF's. I soon discovered that I had happened upon none other than the mighty Wurzel himself and the fountain of knowledge that is Philzoid; you couldn't make it up! So having had a brief but very informative chat about how to tell between the two, I parked up and headed out armed with my trusty mobile...... yes still pursuing that somewhat barking goal. After many attempts, I finally snaffled both of these beautiful little species, together with a sable and argent moth (thank you Philzoid) and managed to catch a female brimstone on the wing; utter fluke. I hope you enjoy the pictures and hopefully I can rack up some more new species this year. My total is now up to 41 species snapped on the mobile and I am trying to get all the UK species before upgrading to a proper camera. Great to meet you Wurzel and Philzoid and no doubt see you again soon.
All the best and Flutter On!
CJB

Great stuff, CJB!

I wonder what you could get on ebay for a phone that had photographed all the UK butterflies. I'm sure it would be unique, and with the right promotion (a few articles in national newspapers about where your phone had been and what it had achieved) could perhaps pay your new camera and more ...

Just a thought.

Guy

Thank you Guy!!

Sadly the are not all on exactly the same mobile......... You've got me thinking now..........!!

Chuffed with the PBF and SPBF images; two more off the list!

All the best and flutter on!

CJB

Good stuff After the ease of use of an iPhone, you will find a 'real' camera seems a pig to use. The camera makers could learn a lot about the 'human interface' from Apple.

Mike

You obviously had a highly satisfactory day, CJB.

I love to see someone who's a relatively recent 'convert' get to indulge in a few firsts.

Long may it continue!

Thanks Mike and David!
Long term birder, medium term butterflier.
Forgot to mention a nightingale in Bentley Wood.
Flutter on!
CJB

Hi - I must have met you today as well - I was the chap with the small boy who was doing his best to be patient while his dad took photos...

Dave

Hi Dave (Millerd),
Nice to meet you too!
I hope you got some good snaps; that PBF was very obliging!
Flutter On!
CJB

Congrats on the firsts Good to meet you too CJB, and your description of me is too kind I'm sure we'll catch up soon, keep on fluttering

Have a goodun
Wurzel

Hi Wurzel,
What a great spot Bentley is, especially to have as your back yard.
I look forward to your next report and hope to see you again soon.
All the best and flutter on!
CJB

Judging by that Brimstone shot I need to ditch my camera and upgrade from my old Blackberry

Great shots and it's always a thrill to get some lifers

CJB wrote:What a great spot Bentley is

Always check for ticks, though

Mike

Hi Philzoid,

Really great to have met you and thanks for the compliments on my shots.

As I said, the in-flight shot was 100% fluke, nothing more nothing less!!

I have found out that I am heading to the Trossachs, in Scotland in July and am hoping to snaffle some of the local specialities!!! Fingers crossed and wish me luck. I am hoping for a Scotch Argus at least.

Mike,

Bentley had ticks in all the right places, in my book; fortunately not on my body!!

Flutter on!

CJB

MikeOxon wrote:Always check for ticks, though

I've heard lots of bad things said about Bentley and Ticks but funnily enough that is one place I've never picked them up

CJB wrote:I have found out that I am heading to the Trossachs, in Scotland in July and am hoping to snaffle some of the local specialities!!! Fingers crossed and wish me luck. I am hoping for a Scotch Argus at least.

I never get that far North hence my tick list is short of all the Northern specialists ... (so you have my best wishes ). However I'm going to Sunderland at the end of June for my sister's wedding and should be able to find some time to slip away from the family etc and look for Durham Argus (Castle Eden not that far to go)

Phil

Good Morning Philzoid and all UK B'ers,

I like your thought process! Being the novice that I am I was unsure about the exact species you were after as I have not heard of the 'Durham Argus', but while you are there keep an eye out for a 'Castle Eden Dene Argus', which, of course I had heard of............

However, on a separate thread, could those of you with experience of Scotland give me some heads up as to local species I am likely see and where they might be in relation to the Trossachs and any tips, other than pack a mozzy net!

I am hoping to see Scotch Argus, Large Heath, Mountain Ringlet, which would all be lifers and be crackers to get on the mobile
Chuck in some fritillaries and it should be amazing!

I am going up at the end of July.

I am exceedingly grateful to those of you that can spare a moment or two to help me.

Flutter on!

CJB

Philzoid wrote:I've heard lots of bad things said about Bentley and Ticks

I think the problem arises if you plunge into the bracken. My brother-in-law once emerged with trouser legs covered in them. He spent some time picking them all off and, fortunately, none got inside

Mike

MikeOxon wrote:I think the problem arises if you plunge into the bracken. My brother-in-law once emerged with trouser legs covered in them. He spent some time picking them all off and, fortunately, none got inside

And plunging into Bracken is an easy thing to do if you spot a valezina
Whereve you go it seems they're a real blight on our interest. Every bite i've had leaves a mark that scabs and itches for weeks on end ... and then there's the worry as the doctors won't treat unless you show 'typical' bulls eye rash symptoms .. which is not always the case from an infected tick bite It's Russian Roulette

CJB wrote:I am hoping to see Scotch Argus, Large Heath, Mountain Ringlet, which would all be lifers and be crackers to get on the mobile
Chuck in some fritillaries and it should be amazing!

I am going up at the end of July.

I am exceedingly grateful to those of you that can spare a moment or two to help me.

I'm not an expert (no knowledge whatsoever actually ) on Northern stuff but if you look at some of the previous posts under "sites" I'm sure you'll find lots of useful info. Also check the species pages which give times and locations

Phil