maverick

[maverick]

This is the first post of the year in my personal diary, not a butterfly in sight yet as i live in the North west. So i had a walk around Pennington Flash and i just had to try and get some sightings of the Willow tit that visits the feeders there and today they were happy to oblige

[maverick]

i also got some shots of the Nuthatch , reed bunting and the bull finch which was not very friendly , he wouldn't let any of the other birds eat in the same cage

[maverick]

woody has been a regular visiter to my garden

[maverick]

this is one of my other hobbies

[Maximus]

Hi Maverick, nice Pike, looks to be a good double at least? You are also very lucky with the variety of birds visiting your feeders.

Mike

[maverick]

Thanks mike,the pike was 15lb, as for the birds I'm at work most of the time so in the winter when they come into the garden I never really get enough time to watch them

[maverick]

its a wonder that i get any birds in my garden , this chap is always in the local area. at least he dont eat butterflies

[maverick]

just back from cuba today, and after spending up to an hour most nights taking photos of the various butterflies ,ive just found out that one of the memory cards is not with me any more( ive been kicking my self all day)
i had a great time and was impressed with the amount that where there,but and a big but
they where so fast and getting a good picture was impossible at times. for example the large whites where flying out to sea in strong winds with no problem at all. they seemed to be the most common along with the large yellow butterflies

[maverick]

this is one of the large white butterflies, always closing its wings when its landed {not for long} they where sometimes seen by myself far out to sea
a little bigger than our large white with less markings of the small white in the uk

[maverick]

i think i can safely say i found a female

[Padfield]

How frustrating that you've lost that memory card! I suppose there 's a chance that if you changed cards in the hotel they might have found it and can send it.

The whites are great southern whites, Ascia monuste. Well done for getting those ovipositing shots! I look forward to seeing more of the piccies from the card you did bring home!

Guy

[maverick]

Tell me about it,
I will try and contact them
The most frustrating thing is ,I had about eight different butterflies on it with a few very good close up shots

[Pauline]

I really feel for you Maverick. I guess we've all been in a similar position one way or another at some time but that doesn't make it any better for you. I really hope it turns up.

[maverick]

this is the first picture I have got of this butterfly a large pail colour in flight and not easy to get near
it was hanging about at the front of the hotel ,I took a bit of time for it to get used to me.

[maverick]

after a few days i could get close (sometimes)

[Padfield]

Nice!

I don't know if you're looking for IDs in these postings, but if you are, this one is Hamadryas amphichloe - one of the 'crackers'. There's a picture here:

http://butterfliesofamerica.com/L/image ... CL-8_i.htm

I do hope you get your other card back ...

Guy

[maverick]

yes please id them for me, i did enjoy just looking for the unknown, and i was surprised on the amount out there
i have a few more up my sleeve and will post up soon

[maverick]

There where lots of fritilarys in Cuba, Here are some of the pictures i took .You will have to excuse some of the pictures as it was some times difficult getting them in focus before they decided to fly off

[maverick]

Another fritillary at rest

[Padfield]

That's a butterfly I'd love to see - the Gulf fritillary, Agraulis vanillae. And some of the pictures aren't at all bad for such a mobile creature!

Guy