A Butterfly Shoot

Images from a recent Butterfly Shoot in the Dorset area.

The Grizzled Skipper (Female)

The Small Copper

Female Orange Tip

 

Action shots of an Orange Tip pair.

The Green Hairstreak

A Cetti's Expose

More Cetti's Warbler I'm afraid, but you can never have too many.

All photographed at Radipole Lake, Weymouth.

Orange Tip

One of the first colourful species to grace us with its presence in April.

The Orange Tip Butterfly.

I found this male flying along a path next to a river. 

It occasionally pitched on one of its favourite locations, the flower of a Lady's Smock (Cuckoo flower).

Always a good strategy when photographing the Orange Tip, locate Cuckoo flowers along a path or woodland ride and wait for the butterfly to pitch on them as it invariably will.

 

Emerging Butterflies

Two emerging butterflies observed this week.

The Comma

Can be observed at any time of the year, even on a warm day in winter.

A resident species in England and Wales, it emerges from hibernation in March. The next generation arrives in June/July. Another brood can be seen in late September.

The Red Admiral.

Primarily a migrant species arriving in UK in Spring. It migrates Northwards from Africa and through Europe. There is a small resident number of this species in England, but in May there is an influx from Europe.

 

A Walk Around Radipole Lake

Another walk around Radipole Lake Reserve, Weymouth revealed some butterfly activity as the temperature is a little warmer now.

Peacock

Large White

A distant shot between the reeds of my first Reed Warbler of the year. 

I heard several singing amongst the reeds around the reserve.

Much frantic Shoveler Duck activity was observed on the large lake.

Males and females were flying around landing and taking off again.

Males would then chase each other around and around. 

I don't believe they actually peck each other with those massive beaks.

Marsh Marigold

Mute Swans were also chasing each about in territorial disputes,

which is their main activity at the moment.

Wren

More Shoveler Duck activity.

Another colourful duck, the Shelduck.

This pair were bathing and preening. 

Radipole has usually one or two Shelduck around the reserve.