Tuesday 19 July 2016

Leaf Sitters.

During my most recent butterfly transect walks, either late mornings or early afternoons, the much higher temperatures have meant that while a greater number of species have been recorded very few provided an opportunity to catch them perched with wings open with one or two exceptions.

A male Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus). Throughout the last two visits the numbers recorded have been slightly higher than the Meadow Brown.

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina).
 
One species that has certainly been more active during the sunshine and higher temperatures is the Purple Hairstreak flitting around the canopies of the numerous mature oaks. 

During my most recent walk I managed to locate one individual when it finally perched high above my head. The original image (right) is what I saw through the lens.

Below is a heavily cropped version of the original.


Purple Hairstreak (Favonius quercus).

One graceful species that had strangely eluded this years transect list up until this Monday was the White Admiral (Limenitis camilla) that tends to frequent sunlit glades within the mature broad-leaved woods. 

In between its territorial flights this individual consistently decided to perch one one of few sunlit leaves in this otherwise heavily shaded spot.

I decided that this was a good spot to watch and wait. Eventually one of the two individuals seen here perched very briefly on the bracken much closer to the lens.


9 comments:

  1. Very nice. Today read about the journey from caterpillar to butterfly. That's such a process full of mystery. Wonderful now to see your butterflies. The first one is nice. With the wings wide open.

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  2. Great set of images Frank, yes most species are not settling for thr lens,and they are all much thinner on the ground this year.

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  3. A wonderful collection of butterfly captures!

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  4. Lovely shots, you have a great camera to get so much detail cropping in

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  5. Great spot with the Purple Hairstreak Frank, and a lovely image of the White Admiral..two I've not managed to see so far this year...[;o)

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  6. Some great shots and superb finds Frank, Purple Hairstreak in particular.

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  7. Lovely photos Frank, after seeing these I think a butterfly hunt is in order!

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I hope you enjoyed your visit and I always appreciate your comments and feedback.

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