Butterflies on the chalk downs (picc heavy)

[British Red]

I spent some time on one of our favourite spots today on the high chalk downs. If you haven’t ever see chalk downland that hasn’t had half a tonne of chemicals dumped on it, it looks like this…

The flowers are lovely and, I am given to understand, some are quite rare. This for example is the “Round Headed Rampion”

Anyway, on to the butterflies! First up, I’ve probably mis-identified one or two of these butterflies, so feel free to correct me

I believe this handsome fellow is a Silver Studded Blue

This I’m less sure – a Brown Argus?

This I think is the lovely Chalk Hill Blue

This one is in fact a day flying moth – the 5 Spot Burnet – right up there in the gorgeous moth league in my view

It appears that they find each other quite attractive too!

Now this was the shot I was most happy with – check out that proboscis in action

I hope that was worth the download – it really was stunning up there today

Red

 

[leon-b]

Wow, your pictures inspire me everytime, after seeing these i have decided to go out tommorow with my camera lol
leon

 

[familne]

Great pics, you are very lucky to have such a wonderful habitat close by!

 

[JonnyP]

Beautiful.....They love that knapweed don't they...

 

[British Red]

They do - its beautiful up there at the moment. I went up esecially to see the Burnet and the Blues.

Its a strange place - most people just see it as a big field and look at the view, but the plant and insect life is spectacular - even to an educated eye like mine

In fact, no excuses but one more picture.

"Pimp my moth"

Red

 

[Gmac]

Quality pics again. I just got me a digital slr and new lenses are on my shopping list. Any pointers BR.please

 

[British Red]

Gmac,

I was once given one great piece of advice "take lots of pictures"!

Its true on many levels

1) If you see a great bird or butterfly, take 10 or 20 shots (more if you can) - one may work!

2) You can subtly change the exposure or aperture on the same shot repeatedly (bracketing)

3) Its often the odd shot you get thats surprising - I didn't realise what I had of the butterfly extending its proboscis till I got it home

4) Don't give up on your compact! I did take this sequence with my SLR but a lot of my stuff is with a compact with a decent optical zoom that lives in my pocket - always have a camera with you but often you wont want to lug the SLR!

The joy of digital is we can now play the professionals game. A National Geographic photgrapher once estimated about 10,000 35mm shots were taken for one article - well it costs nothing to take digital piccs so wear the camera out!

Red