A Day of Butterflies and Moths.

It was overcast and chilly when Roger and I drew into the lower car park at 6.30 at Red Hill reserve.  We had gone looking for Marbled White butterflies.  Roger and Mark Johnson, another wildlife photography colleague had found a few newly emerged ones the previous week and we hoped that there would be more about by now.  Mark had already been there since 5.00 am and had found nothing so things didn't look too promising.  However, the pyramidal orchids which had only just been opening up on my previous visit were now looking good and it wasn't long before we found both marbled white and common blue.  In the cool conditions they were not very active and afforded good opportunities for photography.

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Bee Orchid

Burnet Moth Pupal Case

Burnet Moth Catterpillar

Common Blue

Common Blue

Marbled White

Marbled White

Marbled White

Marbled White

Marbled White

Marbled White

Marbled White

Marbled White

Marbled White

Marbled White

Marbled White

Marbled White

Pyramidal Orchid

Pyramidal Orchid

Having secured shots of the marbled white, it was time to head for pastures new and Roger and I opted for Southrey Wood, where we hoped to find the white admirals that we knew to be on the wing.  By now the sky had cleared and the weather had turned sunny and warm.  We certainly found white admirals but photographing them was a different matter as they tended not to settle very often and were very flighty when they did.  Still we both managed acceptable photographs and I was pleased with my closed wing shot as I feel that the underwing is the more attractive than the upper in these insects.  Other butterflies were present and we also saw several dragonflies: broad bodied, emperor, brown hawker and banded demoiselle damselfly but we only managed to photograph the demoiselle.

Banded Demoiselle

Banded Demoiselle

Common Spotted Orchid

Large Skipper

Meadow Brown

Ringlet

Ringlet

Ringlet

White Admiral

White Admiral

After some time we decided to move on to nearby Chambers Farm Wood where we hoped to find broad boardered bee hawkmoths in the butterfly garden, maintained by the Butterfly Conservation Society.  We also called in at the small Butterfly Conservation reserve of Snakeholme Pit on the way.  This was my second visit to this reserve and again I found it not awfully productive, although I did find bee orchid in excellent condition.

Bee Orchid

Six Spot Burnet Moth

Six Spot Burnett Moth

Mignonette

Ox-Eye Daisy and friend.

When we arrived at Chambers, we found the garden a hive of activity with a large number of volunteers working on maintenance.  This was good to see and made the donation to the collection pot as we left well worthwhile.  We had a field day here.  There were several hawkmoths feeding on the valerian in the warm sunshine.  To say they were frustration to photograph though is putting it mildly.  Still, I was delighted with the large number of pleasing shots I managed.  As these are my first pictures of this moth I make no apology for including them all.

A Trio of Lincolnshire Reserves.

Another good day of weather today so I set out early to try for the rare marsh fritillary butterflies that I knew to be in Little Scrubs meadow at Chambers Farm Wood.  This is the only Lincolnshire site for these superb insects, their stronghold being in the south west.  They have been introduced to Chambers and I had heard that there been been a good emergence over the previous week with approximately 40 insects.  As soon as I walked into the meadow I saw my first insect so things looked good.  Although warm it was slightly overcast and, in fact, there was a sudden heavy shower, so the butterflies were not unduly active and some were nicely perched for photography.  Having found one, it was a case of perseverance: waiting for the sun to appear so that it opened its wings, although I much prefer the underwing of these insects.  Whilst here I wandered into the wood to look for the greater butterfly orchids that I knew to occur here.  I did find them but, unfortunately, they were still only in bud.  The images shown are from two years ago.

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Marsh Fritillary

Marsh Fritillary

Marsh Fritillary

Marsh Fritillary

Marsh Fritillary

Greater Butterfly Orchid

Greater Butterfly Orchid

Greater Butterfly Orchid

 As the heavens opened, I beat a hasty retreat to the car where I had a chat with photography friends Jill Hall and her daughter Debbie before heading on to the nearby Snakeholme Pit reserve managed by Butterfly Conservation.  It was the first time I had visited this small reserve with its meadow and pond.  Sadly there was litte activity, perhaps as it was soon after the rain, so I elected to return home via Watts Wood reserve to see if I could photograph the male broad bodied chaser that I knew to be there.  Although I did eventually see it, it quickly moved on and the weather turned stubbornly overcast.  I did secure some images of an unsuccessful Brimstone mating, however.  The female was vibrating all over in an effort to stimulate the male who just couldn't seem to get it right!!
More than satisfied with my marsh fritillary images, it was time to return home.

Brimstone

Receptive female Brimstone with male approaching.

Receptive female Brimstone with male approaching.

Female Brimstone displaying in an attempt to attract the male.

Large red damselfly