www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Today in the beautiful weather I went to Southwick Canal. On the way there, from the car, I saw a butterfly flying alongside the road ?a Tortoiseshell.
I was rewarded there by my first Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Small White of the year. There were 2 Peacocks, one Brimstone, one Small White and plenty of Tortoiseshells. There was plenty of butterfly activity with three Small Tortoiseshells spiralling high into the air multiple times and plenty of butterflies chasing each other off e.g. a Brimstone chasing off the Small White which was in turn chased off by a Small Tortoiseshell.
I then met some friends and we walked up to Cissbury Ring. We saw multiple Small Tortoiseshells and Peacocks and one Brimstone.

Your Small White is the sighting of the day without doubt!

Hi Katrina, I agree with David, yes it is an amazing sighting.


Mike

I was surprised to find it but some have been reported even earlier on the Sussex Butterfly Conservation website.

I'm with the others the Small White is the sighting of the day - it may be the first photo of the species for 2014 on UKB

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Great spot Katrina! A nice surprise to see a Small White this early, not long now before the Orange Tips arrive

B'saurus

Today I went to the work party at Heyshott. It was another lovely day. On the way up I passed a bank of primroses and, although I had a lot to do this afternoon, I managed to stop for 5 minutes on the way down. I found one brimstone, 2 tortoiseshells and a peacock.

I love your photos of the peacock in the primroses, Katrina

Thank you - the photos could be better but I really liked seeing the butterflies on the primroses as it made me feel that spring has really arrived.

Hi Katrina,

Nice Peacocks on Primroses, I also like the Peacock on the stones in your first post.

Cheers,

Neil F.

Lovely shots of the Peacocks Katrina especially the last one, it's lush

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Today I went early to Pulborough Brooks and saw one peacock. Then on to Rackham Woods where I saw my first red admiral of the year,one small tortoiseshell, two Brimstones and at least 2 peacocks. The onwards to Mill Hill where they are now grazing cattle. It had clouded over by the time I got there but I found one small tortoiseshell and 2 peacocks.

Yesterday I went to Mill Hill and saw Small Tortoiseshells, Peacocks and a single Brimstone but no sign of the Grizzled Skipper. I also saw the back of a grass snake disappearing into the undergrowth. I found a brown moth which someone kindly identified for me on ispot as a Straw-barred Pearl (pyrausta despicata) which is a new one for me.

Today I went to Pulborough Brooks. No butterflies but I saw 4 Avocets and my first Swallow of the year.

Today I saw my first orange tips, commas, green veined white and speckled wood of the year.

Nice detail on the head of that Orange Tip. May I ask my usual question - camera and lens?

Rob

Thank you! Camera is a Sony SLT-A77. The lens is a Sony 2.8/100 macro (the only macro lens in the shop which would fit). I don't know much about photography so I leave it on auto all the time. The detail is good but it does seem to be noisy compared to other peoples cameras which can disturb the butterflies. I am not sure if it is the camera or lens which is noisy. Hope that is helpful!

Thanks, Katrina - I'm always looking at cameras and lenses, and wondering but the old Lumix FZ38 still manages some good pictures. I don't know enough about photography to justify the expense of a proper camera I fear, and some people seem to spend more time fiddling with settings than they do looking at butterflies!

Rob

Katrina wrote:Thank you! Camera is a Sony SLT-A77. The lens is a Sony 2.8/100 macro (the only macro lens in the shop which would fit). I don't know much about photography so I leave it on auto all the time. The detail is good but it does seem to be noisy compared to other peoples cameras which can disturb the butterflies. I am not sure if it is the camera or lens which is noisy. Hope that is helpful!

Hi Katrina, The noise is almost definitely the lens, have a look at this Sigma lens for your Sony http://www.ephotozine.com/article/sigma ... -fit-19238 I think it's around £400 new.
It should be a lot quieter than your Sony Macro lens which I believe is a re badged Minolta. I have used the Sigma and it's a great Macro lens. Everything works internally so the lens does not extend in use, this can also scare off some of the more "flighty" insects. The downside is it's a bit heavy to carry around all day. If you're able to it would be good to take your Sony SLT-A77 to a local camera shop (with the Sigma lens in stock) and ask to try it on your Sony. I'm certain you'll find it's a lot quieter. Other than that I believe that Amazon lets you "try and return" for free if it's not to your liking.

I hope this is helpful

Best wishes

B'saurus

Butterflysaurus rex wrote:

Katrina wrote:Thank you! Camera is a Sony SLT-A77. The lens is a Sony 2.8/100 macro (the only macro lens in the shop which would fit). I don't know much about photography so I leave it on auto all the time. The detail is good but it does seem to be noisy compared to other peoples cameras which can disturb the butterflies. I am not sure if it is the camera or lens which is noisy. Hope that is helpful!

Hi Katrina, The noise is almost definitely the lens, have a look at this Sigma lens for your Sony http://www.ephotozine.com/article/sigma ... -fit-19238 I think it's around £400 new.
It should be a lot quieter than your Sony Macro lens which I believe is a re badged Minolta. I have used the Sigma and it's a great Macro lens. Everything works internally so the lens does not extend in use, this can also scare off some of the more "flighty" insects. The downside is it's a bit heavy to carry around all day. If you're able to it would be good to take your Sony SLT-A77 to a local camera shop (with the Sigma lens in stock) and ask to try it on your Sony. I'm certain you'll find it's a lot quieter. Other than that I believe that Amazon lets you "try and return" for free if it's not to your liking.

I hope this is helpful

Best wishes

B'saurus

Thank you - very helpful info. I have been thinking of trying a new lens.