Clouded Yellow Butterfly

Before today the only occasion I had observed a Clouded Yellow Butterfly was in Tuscany.

This species is an immigrant to UK from Southern Europe and Africa and the numbers vary each year from what is usually a rare sighting to the odd year when it is very numerous.

Anyway I was recently alerted through the blog of a local birding colleague who had not only seen one, but taken some really nice images. (Thanks John)

So today I went in search of what to me is an extreme rarity.

On arrival at the location specified by John, I wandered about taking various photos of Common Blue, Large and Small White and Peacock butterflies.

Then I sighted the objective of my mission.{:))

When you spot this species its quite unmistakable, showing a rich yellow wing colour with brown edging to the upper wings. In fact I was very fortunate as I did actually see two at one stage.

Interestingly, the species flight time in UK runs from the last week in May until the end of October, numbers peaking around this time of the year.

Lumix GH3. 100-300mm lens. 1/1300 at f5.6. - 300mm (600) . ISO200

Two images below showing more of the brown edging of the upper wings.

This one below is not great for clarity, but you get the idea of how much brown edging there is.

Large and Small (Cabbage White Butterfly)

The Large White Butterfly (Pieris brassicae) and the Small White Butterfly (Pieres rapae) are known colloquially as the Cabbage White. They do like to lay their eggs in gardens on cabbages and other greens, subsequently the caterpillars munch their way through the cabbages. So they do get plenty of bad press.{:))

Large White

Small White

A Few More Butterflies

A variety of butterfly images taken recently.

A fresh 'out of the box' Brown Argus.

A Green-veined White (Left) and a Small White (Right) having a 'Mineral' feast.

Two images of different mating pairs of Chalkhill Blue.

I am pleased to say that I have seen more Common Blue in recent days and hopefully there will be sufficient to increase the population for next year.

A Speckled Wood resting in the sunshine.

A Gatekeeper looking well worn.

The Farming Post

Harvesting the Oilseed Rape while the good weather holds.

Not quite ploughing and not quite disc harrowing, a mixture of both really. Small shears (on the front of the implement drag shallow in the harvested soil and the disc harrows level and break down the clods of earth. 

There are so many different farm implements now that get pulled behind tractors. It use to be straightforward and simple; a plough, a disc harrow, a roller and a chain harrow.

Four Fallow - An Encounter

Situation. 

I was walking around a bend on a woodland track.

My thoughts.

"Whats that - Its Deer"?

"B...... wrong lens, drop down and change lens, also I don't have enough cover to move forward"

"Yes - Fallow Deer, I can see two, a hind and immature fawn"

"Problem is the wind is blowing from behind me, so they are downwind and will hear the slightest noise. "

"Wow! two hinds and two fawns"

"Beautiful" 

"Ah! B...... they can hear my shutter clicking. I need to change to silent shutter, but don't have the time."

"They have turned, they are not happy, one of the hinds has already gone forward to check the escape route."

"Yes, they are definitely not happy"

"One last check"

"Gone."

Dragons in Flight

The first of the Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) Dragonfly that I have seen this year.
As it or any of its mates didn't pitch anywhere, I took some airborne shots of it instead.

This species measures 70mm in length. 

These shots are of the male, the female is brown and bright green.

It likes vegetated ponds and can be found well away from water in woodland rides.

Lumix GH3.  35-100mm lens. 1/1600 at f2.8.  85mm. ISO800.

Lumix GH3. 35-100mm lens. 1/1600 at f2.8. 80mm. ISO500

NB. The Panasonic Leica 35-100mm 2.8 Micro Four Thirds lens used for these shots is equivalent in DSLR terms to a 70-200mm f2.8 lens.