SimonC69

[SimonC69]

.....Keep perservering. Small Blues are normally pretty obliging subjects....

They were a little more obliging today (and there were a lot more on the wing today)

Finally got the first "in Cop" photo for my collection :)

I think these may be on their way to knocking Small copper off the top of my "favourite british Butterfly" list (Until I see my first Small copper of the year that is maybe)

[bugboy]

That's a great in cop shot, I especially like the shape made by their joined abdomens, very arty

[Wurzel]

Great stuff Simon They certainly are throwing an interesting shape with their abdomens

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[millerd]

A nice shot of the pairing, Simon, however uncomfortable it might look...

Dave

[David M]

.....Keep perservering. Small Blues are normally pretty obliging subjects....

They were a little more obliging

That's more like it!

[SimonC69]

Well, I've not been keeping this dairy updated quite as much as I'd hoped to be doing, but, as it always seems to do, life dealt me and (more specifically) Mrs C a really crappy hand back in April so my my plans for butterfly visits have been severely restricted.
We did manage a trip to Strumpshaw fen a few weeks ago (where I only managed very distant views of Swallowtail) but the few trips since haven't really produced the goods.
I did, however finally get round to visiting a very local site for White-letter Hairstreaks this morning before work.
I might have looked a bit odd standing looking at a group of Elm trees in the middle of town at 6.30 this morning but I don't care, as after a few false alarms (who knew Meadow Browns liked basking on Elms!?) I managed to spot at least 3 (possibly 4 or 5) WLHs.
I was happy enough to just see them through my bins, but luckily one did come down low enough for me to get a few shots that are at least mediocre. But they get me closer to 50.

Cheers

Simon

This is heavily cropped. But it's a swallowtail, it counts!

Not as good as I'd have liked to get, too high for me to get the angle. But it'll do.

[bugboy]

Yup that Swallowtail most definitely counts

[David M]

Yes, unambiguously Swallowtail and White Letter Hairstreak, which in anyone's book is an enviable pairing.

[SimonC69]

Cheers chaps.

Realised yesterday that all 7 lifers this year I was wearing a Black Sabbath T-Shirt.
I don't think I dare go looking for the next couple without it's Talismanic properties.

[jenks]

Simon, 7 lifers in one year is good going ! Good luck in your quest to photograph all the UK species before you reach 50. I had to make this point, however. You have given me a mental picture of Black Sabbath`s Ozzie Osborne out looking for butterflies ! An image that I`m having difficulty in shaking off ! And of course he would have to be searching for Black Hairstreak, wouldn`t he ? Me, I`m more of an old folkie so I`ll have to wear my Fairport Convention and Cropreddy t-shirt when butterflying. Who knows where the time goes ?
Regards,
Jenks

[peterc]

Simon, 7 lifers in one year is good going ! Good luck in your quest to photograph all the UK species before you reach 50. I had to make this point, however. You have given me a mental picture of Black Sabbath`s Ozzie Osborne out looking for butterflies ! An image that I`m having difficulty in shaking off ! And of course he would have to be searching for Black Hairstreak, wouldn`t he ? Me, I`m more of an old folkie so I`ll have to wear my Fairport Convention and Cropreddy t-shirt when butterflying. Who knows where the time goes ?
Regards,
Jenks

Don't get me started, Jenks . Sandy Denny had a dream of a voice and of course THAT song was one of her best.

ATB

Peter

[SimonC69]

Hahaha. Yeah, I've been to Cropredy a few times in my youth. And Cambridge folk festival (do they still do the chair jump challenge on the last night? ) and going to my fourth Folk by the Oak this year (Kate Rusby!) But yeah, I'm more an aging rocker with a wider taste in music. (The hair started going 20 odd years ago so I'm compensating with the beard )

[Goldie M]

Hi! Simon, your one up on me with the Hair Streak i've yet to see one, I hope to put that right this year. Goldie

[Wurzel]

Any photo of a White-letter is worthwhile Simon - I've seen them the last 6 years but only got photos from two of them

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[SimonC69]

Any photo of a White-letter is worthwhile Simon - I've seen them the last 6 years but only got photos from two of them

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Thanks Wurzel.
The first three shots that morning were the classic "where's Wally" type shot but luckily (because I decided I could afford to get to work a few minutes later than usual) that one came tantalisingly close to ideal height. I might try again soon.

[SimonC69]

I went out this lunchtime hoping for an (early?) Essex Skipper, without success but I came a bit closer to getting some of the "extra" shots that are on my wishlist.
Overcast and a bit too windy really but the Marbled Whites were still far too flighty to get anything decent on.
Except one.
I found one newly emerged right by the path and as this is one of the shots on my wishlist (newly emerged, still "pumping" up) I thought I'd struck gold.
It wasn't until I saw the ant through the viewfinder (and then later, on the pc screen, the ominous "blob" poking through the hindwing, I realised this one might not have made it

Almost certainly an ex-marbled white

A bit further on I spotted a golden blur. It turned out to be a Small Skipper, but it was interesting nonetheless, due to the evidence of it's previous nectaring.
A week or two ago, this site was awash with Pyramidal Orchids and I have been on the lookout for a butterfly with pollen sacs stuck on the proboscis. The Orchids have all but disappeared now, so I thought that photo was gone for the year.

It's not a perfect shot, there's vast room for improvement, but it's a start

Small Skipper with (presumably) Pyramidal Orchid pollen sac stuck to it's proboscis

As I only get 30 minutes for lunch (and this site is an 8 minute drive from work) it was time to head back (whilst still on the look out for Skippers)

I did see 2 more, but both were Smalls.

I did like this shot though. Not sure why.

Small Skipper on Kidney Vetch

Off to Sutton Hoo tomorrow, then off in search of Silver-studded Blues. Black Sabbath T-shirt is ready and waiting, wish me luck

Cheers

Simon

[Wurzel]

Good luck I've found listening to 'Fairies with boots on' brings me that extra little bit of luck That or some Leafhound

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Good luck, Simon. Remember, if you're out in the field, then you've always got a fighting chance!!

[SimonC69]

The Sabbath T-Shirt does it again
It was a family trip to Sutton hoo today (to satisfy Mrs C's archaeology cravings) with a short detour to Sutton and Hollesley commons on the way home. We got to Sutton Hoo mid morning, in overcast and windy (but warm) conditions. There were a few Meadow Browns and Ringlets flying around the overflow car park and a very elusive skipper (which I never got on properly)
Out on the heath, on the circular walk around the burial mounds I found a few Small Heath

and my first Small Copper of the year.

A bit battered but it's a year tick

on one section of the walk, there were Viper's Bugloss everywhere and it seemed every one had an attendant "Golden" Skipper

If anybody knows a better flower to get a photo of a Skipper feeding on........

I diligently checked all those I could and was finally rewarded with a rather flighty Essex

Year tick number 2

Year tick number 2

There were plenty more Skippers to entertain me on the walk back to the car and our lunch, the it was time to head home, via the commons.
Just a 5 minute drive to the next car park and a 2 minute walk from there and I'd bagged my 8th lifer of the year.

My first Silver-studded Blue (and species #37 in my photo quest)

An "insurance" shot, in case my initial ID was off :)

All in all, a very successful day all round. ancient history & natural history all rolled into one.

Off out before breakfast to look for SWFs tomorrow morning.

Cheers
Simon

[David M]

Yup, Essex and SSB without a doubt! Well done.