Many years ago I occasionally went birding with a very dour Scotsman who took a keener interest in butterflies than the birds. During the summer months I have often recalled a comment he made to me during a stroll around the countryside .... "When the birding activity drops away in summer you should switch to chasing butterflies ... there are only 59 resident species in the UK ... far smaller list than all the birds".
Well throughout the following years I never consciously followed his suggestion but this year I have tried to photograph every species that I have seen. Whilst I haven't kept a specific 'tick list', when sorting through all the images recently I discovered, to my surprise, that I have actually seen a total of 32 so far this year and most of them not too far from home.
Not unsurprisingly the most photographed was the Silver-washed Fritillary.
Here are some montages of the other species I have manged to capture.
Common and Holly Blues
Brown Argus, Green Hairstreak, Brimstone, Grayling, Purple Hairstreak and Green-veined White.
Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Orange-tip and the Comma.
In Part 2 I'll share an unexpected recent find plus a few more montages of the summer flutters. FAB.
wow..that's quite a gathering of butterflies. So colorful...I look forward to the next post. You have so many interesting ones. Especially a lot of blues. I love the Scotsman's quote....that is pretty much what I seemed to have been doing this summer...lot of butterfly chasing and not many birds of interest.
ReplyDeleteAll excellent but the Blues are exquisite. Well done!!
ReplyDeleteThat was a very wise Scot Frank. They certainly are an interesting source of observation and make nice subjects to photograph.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone, esp. Harold. Exquisite was the first word that popped into my brain as I scrolled down. Well done. Only 27 more to go! ~karen
ReplyDeleteHi Frank..your butterfly photos are so pretty !!
ReplyDeleteThat first of the Silver washed Fritillary is great and of course the blues are my favorites!!
How much longer will the butterflies be around in your area!!
That's a wonderful collection - very nice camera work.
ReplyDeleteNice! I bet I will get caught up in butterflies someday too.. Your photos are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteHi Mary. Should have taken up his suggestion a long time ago then I might have seen a few more. All good fun.
ReplyDeleteHi Harold. Thanks very much.
Hi Roy. He sure was just that. Sometimes easier than getting the birds in the frame.
Hi Karen. Quite a few of those will be difficult to locate and require travelling a long way but who knows.
Hi Grammie. A few can normally be seen right into October but will need some sunshine to bring them out to play.
Hi Mona. Thanks and just for once I was spoilt for choice
Well, at 32 Frank, you've seen a few more than me lol
ReplyDeleteLovely selection there. I'd love to see the Hairstreaks'; beauties.
A good selection of butterflies, Frank. And, you had a nice Scotsman, a wise man.
ReplyDeleteWow!! Just fabulous, Frank! I esp like the gatekeeper and the green hairstreak, but all are awesome!
ReplyDeleteHi Jen. Only when you can't find any other wildlife to snap!
ReplyDeleteHi Keith. I'm fortunate to have a number of excellent locations fairly close.
Hi Bob. Cheers. I should have picked his brains when I had the chance all those years ago.
Hi Jann. Thanks. The Green Hairstreak was probably the most difficult to capture .... a master of disguise!
You really have inspired me to get out with my camera to a butterfly house maybe . Autumn is here on the Praires fo Canada and so I m sure what little of the butterflys we did have are gone.
ReplyDeleteHowever our leaves are turning .
Have a great day.
and Thanks for stopping
I so love the fritillaries...you have a great collection here.
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa. A Butterfly House is a good place to practice then you'll be ready for next year out on the Prairies. Have fun.
ReplyDeleteHi Kim. Me too and ther are a few more varities I have yet to see.