www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

It's not brilliant, because I took it with my compact digital camera rather than a video recorder, but you might be interested to watch this short video of a Camberwell beauty taking minerals and sunning itself this morning. This was at about 10.30am in the Rhône Valley. I saw another two individuals but they had already warmed up and were cruising around as they do!

http://www.guypadfield.com/movies/antiopamovie081.wmv

Here are a couple of pictures of the same individual:




This species is easiest to find in the spring because its flight period then is long. I went to a site specifically to see them, having seen three in one day there in May last year. The summer brood flies and feeds for a bit then hibernates - in my experience you don't see it into the autumn. It is clearly also easiest to observe closely in the morning.

Guy

P.S. - Pete, you're very welcome to stick this on the site, as there aren't any Camberwell beauty videos yet, but I won't be offended if you don't!

I love the video clip. How beautiful this butterfly is. Kind of reminds me of an old fashioned velvet dress trimmed with lace. I envy you Guy.
Denise

Thanks Denise! No intention at all to make you jealous - I have sacrificed real ale and lingering Suffolk sunsets to live in Switzerland and it's only the butterflies (and the public transport) that keep me here. Moving back will be hard, but one day I do intend to return and retire to the music of Benjamin Britten and the landscapes of John Constable and swim in the North Sea until I'm 90...

Who knows - by then Camberwell beauties may be regular in the UK. But I won't be able to afford to travel to see them. I don't drive, but train fares here are about a quarter of those in the UK and I can easily get out every weekend without even thinking about the money (and you can set your watch by their departures). Could you please elect a responsible government for my retirement?

Guy

Wonderful butterfly. Never seen one yet!! ..... I think most of us will at least have thought about emigrating!! Don't hold your breath for that oxymoronic good government.

padfield wrote:Pete, you're very welcome to stick this on the site, as there aren't any Camberwell beauty videos yet, but I won't be offended if you don't!

Of course I will! Great stuff - thanks Guy!

Cheers,

- Pete