Marbled White - Favourite Photo of 2011

[GOLDENORFE]

this was the first ever marbled i had seen , shot at oversley wood, warwichshire.
taken on the warwichshire purple emperor meet
phil

[Vince Massimo]

This thread is now officially open!

Here you can post your favourite photo(s) of a particular species taken in 2011..................or the last time you saw one!

This is part of a series which will hopefully grow throughout the winter until all 58 British species have been covered. Three new threads will be introduced per week. Our overseas friends are welcome to fill in the obvious gaps relating to our rare migrants, but please try to observe the alphabetical listing

Details of places, dates, times and circumstances would be appreciated and please feel free to contribute observations of behaviour, personal encounters, anecodes and other interesting points.

Vince

[Wurzel]

Over the last couple of years Marbled Whites are one of the species that I look forward too emerging as they are just so eye catching. This one was taken sometime this year - I can't remember when - on the way home from work. Over a number of weeks I found 3 really good sites where I could just pop in for 10-20 minutes - see a few butterflies and get a few photos before heading home to my wife and girls. I was getting away with it right up until I made a post on my personal diary about my "pull-in's". I answered the phone, my wife sneaked a look at my laptop and then I was rumbled.
Still she might have forgotten about it by next year

This was taken at Woodhenge - not the actual site but at the grass picnic area on the other side of the road.

Surely Marbled Brown would be more technically correct?
Have a goodun

[Susie]

Good point! I think marbled brown would be more appropriate too, especially of the females.

I took very few photos of marbled whites this year. I found it interesting to see how my butterfly photographs have differed this year in that I have been very focused on particular species and so not snapped every butterfly I've seen as I would have done previously.

Anyway, here are a couple of my favourites. The first was taken at Southwater Woods on a very dreary grey day but good company and the butterflies made it worth going. The second was taken at Denbies, again on a day when not much was flying.

[ChrisC]

taken in the southwater meadow on a day when the dull weather did nothing to dampen the enjoyment of the day.

[millerd]

Not the brightest or newest, but taken only a couple miles from me at Harmondsworth Moor, very close to Heathrow. They haven't been here long, and there were about two or three times as many this year as last. With no science whatsoever to back me up, I'm hoping they could be spreading down the Colne corridor.

Dave

[John W]

Surely Marbled Brown would be more technically correct?

I believe this species was sometimes called the Marmoress, which seems more romantic than the prosaic Marbled White (or Brown).

I'm surprised that the common name doesn't involve Chess boards or Chequer boards.

Cheers
John

[dilettante]

Marbled Whites are one of my favourites, bringing to mind summer meadows more than any other butterfly for me.

Here are a couple of my favourites. The first taken with a wide angle lens, so really close up


Royston Heath, 11-Jun-2011. Sony A700, Sigma 24/2.8

The second is in evening sunset lighting, just going to bed

Royston Heath, 4-Jul-2011. Sony A700, Tamron 180/3.5

[Padfield]

There are some lovely photos of this photogenic butterfly on this page, but Dilettante, your first one, on Royston Heath, is just perfect. It captures the whole spirit of marbled white and I wish I'd taken it!!

Guy

[MikeOxon]

The first taken with a wide angle lens

I agree with Guy - a very nice image and, dare I say it, rather in the 'Padfield style'.

You have made great use of your 24mm lens on a Sony DSLR; this sort of photo is usually easier on a compact with its smaller sensor and, therefore, greater depth of field. You were lucky the butterfly allowed such a close approach - good fieldwork helps, too!

Mike

[Goldie M]

My 1st photo was taken on the White Cliffs of Dover on the 30th of June. I've never seen has many Marbled Whites there before. I also went to Lydden to look for Adonis, instead when we pulled up in the car and got out we were met with such varied sizes of MW I was amazed. Some were so much smaller than others, does this happen? All were feeding on wild Marjorum, (I think that's how it's spelt)
My 2nd Photo was also taken on WCD but on 5th July Goldie M

[Reverdin]

Here's my best (only) effort from 2011...

Moist Marbled White

[dilettante]

Thanks Guy and Mike for your kind comments. I too love the effect of using wide angles, but it's rare to be able to get close enough.

That lens (Sigma 'ultrawide' 24/2. is a real underrated gem. It cost me about £30 on ebay but it's surprisingly sharp and focuses incredibly close.

[Reddog]

Here are two photos of Marbled whites I took at Collard Down. Taken on 25/6/11.

[Vince Massimo]

Here's my favourite from only a handful that I took this year.

Male Marbled White - Addington, Surrey 24-June-11

They always look so ghostly in flight and I always look forward to seeing them.

Vince

[John W]

There are some stunning images on this thread, nearly every one is a corker! I'm going to go for an action shot

Southwater Woods, 26th June

[Reverdin]

Sorry, I've found another one... just had to slip this in......

[Neil Freeman]

The first Marbled Whites I saw this year were at Snitterfield Bushes near Stratford upon Avon. In one corner of a meadow there were dozens, if not hundreds of them.
Actually getting a decent photo was actually fairly difficult as I was there around mid-day and they did not want to settle for long.

Marbled White - Snitterfield.

Through July and into August, I saw Marbled Whites at most place that I visited including Aston Rowant, Grafton Wood, Oversley Wood, Prestbury Hill and Ryton Meadows where the shot below was taken.

Marbled White - Ryton Meadows.

Cheers,

Neil F.