May 2009 Sightings

[Gruditch]

Nor Me.

As the weather is about to hot up, and no doubt the sightings will come in thick and fast.

I will reply to the Depth of field stuff, in a new photography thread.

Gruditch

[Jack Harrison]

I couldn’t help wondering if this fellow spent his youth (as a caterpillar) on this particular Birds Foot Trefoil. No doubt he was one of those sullen youths who never raised his head to acknowledge the world around him.

Also at Totternhoe on Wednesday, plenty of Small Blues.
Piccies can be seen on my website (bottom row - including one that wouldn't get off my shoe) at:

http://s214580749.websitehome.co.uk/wor ... 9-May.html

Jack

[Rogerdodge]

I will reply to the Depth of field stuff, in a new photography thread.

Gary
I think Jack's last post perfectly illustrates how a large depth of field can spoil a good photo.
That hugely cluttered background would have looked lovely with a soft green haze and some gentle yellow/orange splodges showing the butterfly off a treat whilst the BFT would have been still perfectly recognsable.
But there you go - horses for courses.

Roger

[sandraandkevin]

Hi Jack,

I have just shown Sandra the pictures on your website. We are both very impressed with the quality, size and the way they are set out, really nice photos.

No doubt we will see you during the Purple Emperor season.

Kevin and Sandra

[Jack Harrison]

Roger wrote:

I think Jack's last post perfectly illustrates how a large depth of field can spoil a good photo.

Ah, but the point was to also illustrate the Birds Foot Trefoil. I used the minimum aperture (F/8 is all my Brownie will stop down to) so that the background – foodplant – would also be clear. It would have been perfectly easy to have used F/3.5 and have made the background blurred on purpose. With my Brownie, I have the OPTION of a clear or blurred background. Hasselblad users have no such choice; it’s always going to be blurred.

At least Rog, you did say an otherwise “good” photo was spoiled. Praise indeed to have a photo called “good”

Are we going to spar again at Glapthorn next month?

Jack

[Susie]

This one was in pretty good nick considering the journey.



This one more travel worn

[Jack Harrison]

I believe this is a Soldier Beetle.

Any suggestions as to the white patch at the end of the wing cases? It's not an artifact; it's in all the photos.

Jack

[Perseus]

Hello,

20 May 2009
The Horseshoe Vetch, Hippocrepis comosa, was more spectacular than three days earlier on the lower slopes of Mill Hill. Many of the flowers (> 5%) were seen already to be withering. The count of Adonis Blue Butterflies was 52 males and 8 females, of which 39 males and 7 females were in the one acre transect and one of each gender was recorded on the upper part of Mill Hill. Other butterflies were two good condition Grizzled Skippers, one on the lower slopes and one on the upper plateau, at least two poor condition Dingy Skippers on the lower slopes, just a single first of the year male Common Blue Butterfly on the lower slopes, just the one Small Heath Butterfly, a male Brimstone Butterfly skirting the western straggly hedgerow to the lower slopes and another on in the Hawthorn scrub, a Speckled Wood and a Holly Blue in the scrub and another one on the Pixie Path, a poor condition Green-veined White Butterfly resting on the steps amongst the scrub, and a Small White flying over the Alexanders on the southern part of Mill Hill. There was a Treble Bar Moth and my first Silver Y Moth of the year, but the small pyralid moths were not seen.





But the highlight of an early afternoon were two pairs of copulating Wall Browns (which I had never seen before mating) in the clearing to the west of the copse and another pair in the meadow to the north of the upper car park. A Large White Butterfly was seen over the verges of the Coastal Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge, Old Shoreham.
In the early evening I ventured up to Buckingham Cutting south and I immediately spotted a handful of my first Small Blue Butterflies of the year. None of them were pristine and a few were faded so they must have been out for a few days, probably at least a week.
Thirteen species, the most in a day this year.

First Adur Butterfly Dates 2003 to 2009
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/ButterfliesFFT.htm

Adur Butterfly & Large Moth List
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Butterfly-list2009.html

Cheers

Andy Horton
glaucus@hotmail.com
Adur Valley Nature Notes
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2009.html
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2008.html
Adur Valley Nature Notes: May 2009
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/May2009.html

[Shirley Roulston]

Nice Painted Lady, Susie.
Regards Shirley

[sahikmet]

Lots of butterflies around yesterday. These in my back garden.

Cheers

Sezar

[Denise]

Green-veined White's laying in the garden today.
11 eggs on three plants including Buttercup

Denise

[Shirley Roulston]

There are even butterflies in Morfa Nefyn, one pair of Wall, a Small Copper and a Large White.

I also saw a pair of Wall Browns copulating this afternoon.
Shirley

[Ian Pratt]

Great news- 5 pearl-bordered fritillaries seen in Parkhurst Forest this afternoon. It is the only place where they are seen on the Isle of Wight.
Photos to follow.

[sahikmet]

Large numbers of Peacock and some Comma in the garden. Never seen in such numbers. Is this local or general? No Painted ladies yet

[thepostieles]

oh didnt know gvw lay on buttercups? learn something ev day

[Pete Eeles]

oh didnt know gvw lay on buttercups? learn something ev day

They're not supposed to I wonder if the critter will survive

Cheers,

- Pete

[Denise]

oh didnt know gvw lay on buttercups? learn something ev day

They're not supposed to I wonder if the critter will survive

Cheers,

- Pete

I have found another four eggs. Two on aubretia and two on my honesty. Some of my honesty plants are a little too far into the border to photograph and the leaves have been seriously munched, so I could have numerous catts out of sight. I will keep an eye on buttercup boy, and if he is not doing well, will move him onto a proper food plant.

Denise

[FISHiEE]

Now I am impressed if you can sex these at the egg stage!

[LCPete]

Hi here's one i've not seen before a Dingy trying to mate with a Grizzeled
He did not leave the Grizzled in peace she gave up and flew off in the end

[Ian Pratt]

Seen today on the Isle of Wight.