I fear that it may turn out to be a litany of 'nearly' photo opportunities, as many of the species here seem to blast about without any suggestion of stopping anywhere. There is also no field guide to the butterflies of the area, and anyway, many of the Hesperids are only separable by dissection. In many ways a Philippine butterflyman's lot is not a totally happy one!
I am staying for three months on the territory of the Ateneo de Manila University campus, where by wife has a temporary professorship. The campus is situated on a hill amongst what was once virgin rainforest. There are several 5/10 acre patches of secondary forest and even the occasional original rainforest tree, which somehow 'scaped the woodsman's axe. These areas support a considerable population of butterflies (and moths - an enormous Atlas Moth was flapping about out side our room last night - it was like a 747 going over). I estimate that I've seen more than 50 species already. I'll try and post a daily report from here and from the various other places that we hope to visit during our stay. Any comments and/or ID thoughts would be very welcome.
Monday 25th November:
The day dawned with a crystal blue sky and by eight o'clock, the heat was already searing, such that apart from the ubiquitous Psyche, there was very little about. The Psyche is often considered to be a very difficult butterfly to photograph as they flap feebly about and rarely settle. The answer is to come here, where there are always several dozens flying about more or less all the time. With these numbers, some must stop to feed or mate, so 5 mins usually produces a 'settler'.
I did see a number of species whizzing about, including a couple of new Pierids. Few photo opps were presented, except a quick chance at (I think) a Great Eggfly and a lovely Pierid, yet to be ID'd.
Tony M.
. I did manage to get out for a couple of hours each day, but the action was pretty restricted. On the first evening I found a Common Tit, which hung on in the wind:
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