08/02/14
Saturday morning didn't look as wet as I'd expected from the previous day's weather forecast. However getting the kids ready on time for our pre-booked trip to Wisley was typically arduous to say the least
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
. By the time I got out of the house, my plan to get there via the 'safe' long route through Send and Ripley (Newark road closed for over 6 months) was scuppered, so I gambled on the quicker but narrow back road route though Pyrford and Wisley with the potential of road 'lakes' and its oncoming drenching 4 X 4's. Thankfully the roads were passable and we arrived on time
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
. With two kids, two camera's and lenses (kept warm for the journey by a hot water bottle), spotter guide, and a non printer-friendly booking form in four pieces I hastily hurried to the glasshouse as a heavy shower cloud gathered.
The bit piece booking form was accepted no quibble which thankfully saved me from scrolling through 'thousands' of Amazon and Groupon e-mails to find the mobile version. Inside was cooler than expected and not that many people for 10:15 on a weekend
![Surprised :o](./images/smilies/icon_surprised.gif)
. Two laps of the 'circuit' and I could hear mutterings from other people about the many Owls but not much else
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
. Then the shower came and there was a 15 minute wait before the the sun eventually peeped through. However when it did the place came alive
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
. Blue Morphos; Mormons; Clippers; Helens. Groups of Pale Owls, big butterflies but weaving precisely through the musa and bamboo uprights on a chase to find a mate (or just stretching their wings for he fun of it)
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
. However, the most noticable species for me was the large numbers of King Swallowtails. Normally I see these in ones and twos. Today there was easily over a dozen. During the cloudy spells, this species is one which often rests in a good vantage point for viewing (basically any place where the butterfly can catch the warming rays of the sun as don't seem to be bothered by people being up close). Once the sauna conditions kick-in around mid-morning/mid-day the butterfly is well on the move with other gangs of swallowtails, or nectaring at the bottle brush trees (have not seem this species mud-puddle unlike male Mormons and Papilio nireus)
Many seemed to be minus one or both tails but otherwise in good condition. Perhaps this happens when they emerge from the pupal case
![Question :?:](./images/smilies/icon_question.gif)
![A IMG_6567 Papilio thoas, King Swallowtail 0.jpg (180.2 KiB) Viewed 1228 times No tail Swallowtail](./files/thumb_10062_6fba82679a16cfbbb2b0834a5a1971f7)
- No tail Swallowtail
![B IMG_6731 Papilio thoas, King Swallowtail 1.jpg (176.21 KiB) Viewed 1228 times One tail Swallowtail](./files/thumb_10062_c30f72b31a7fbfe8377d8f64e956dcf7)
- One tail Swallowtail
![C IMG_6671 Papilio thoas, King Swallowtail 2.jpg (274.35 KiB) Viewed 1228 times two tail Swallowtail](./files/thumb_10062_ad13cbae109c85eb08db7d91cb5953ee)
- two tail Swallowtail
![C IMG_6783 Papilio thoas, King Swallowtail 2.jpg (236.86 KiB) Viewed 1228 times Nectaring on Bottlebrush](./files/thumb_10062_aca9358b10d10fe93b8f2328991aeb1b)
- Nectaring on Bottlebrush
With only my Panasonic to share between the kids it was inevitable that they would squabble so I gave them some money and sent them off to the cafe for an ice cream
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
. An hour later and suitably refreshed the girls were back and getting into it with gusto. Izzy took this nice picture of a mating pair with the Panasonic G3
![F P1180287 Papilio thoas, King Swallowtail (mating).jpg (168.07 KiB) Viewed 1228 times King Swallowtails mating pair (taken by Izzy)](./files/thumb_10062_59fb46e9d0344c897cb66746a9de6b36)
- King Swallowtails mating pair (taken by Izzy)
![P1180184 Caligo memnon, Pale Owl Butterflies (Izzy).jpg (244.54 KiB) Viewed 1228 times Pale Owl Butterflies at the fruit bar (taken by Izzy)](./files/thumb_10062_e98cec122c16e3217d0ba63ea1c89a9d)
- Pale Owl Butterflies at the fruit bar (taken by Izzy)
Throughout the morning and early afternoon the alternating weather did affect the amount seen and photo'ed. For me this trip didn't quite reach the heights of some of my trips last year, perhaps because I didn't encounter any new species which was a regular occurrence on my visits in 2013. Good numbers of Giant Orange-tips the Odd Postman/Small Postman and the small citrus plants with larvae from the Yellow Mormons (Asian Swallowtail) made it very worthwhile though, as did the lower numbers of visitors (offset to some degree by more mobile phone snappers barging-in blocking your shots or setting off your quarry)
![Mad :x](./images/smilies/icon_mad.gif)
. Everyone is entitled to get their pictures but some haven't a clue about how to do it with tact and consideration
It may have been just a blip or it may be that the novelty of the Wisley event (perhaps butterfly houses in general) has plateaued or may be its way down
![Question :?:](./images/smilies/icon_question.gif)
. Certainly on exiting I noticed the queues were far less extensive than 2012 and definitely 2013
![Surprised :o](./images/smilies/icon_surprised.gif)
.
I will be going again (of course) and there are plenty on the list, including year on year regulars still left for me to tick off
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
.
Phil