Marbled White

It was nice to go out in what felt like summer weather, though it doesn't take much of a rise in temperature before we are complaining "It's too hot". Martin had come up with a plan that took in birds, butterflies and dragonflies and we more or less stuck to it. First up was Church Norton, though we did have a peek at Ferry Pool where a splendid summer plumage Spotshank was in residence, just too far away for a decent shot. On the spit at Church Norton the harbour looked a bit devoid of birds and I suspect that the Hudbrel was some way up the creek.

Our next venue was the meadow adjacent to Whiteways café on the road out of Arundel. Lots of Marbled Whites on the wing and one or two just emerging, providing some superb opportunities for photography. I did my annual check of the roundabout, risking life and limb in the traffic, to count the Bee Orchids, just 7 this year and going over already. The Pyramidal Orchids go from strength to strength and it was nice to find a good stand in the field itself.

The female has a distinct yellow/brown rear underwing....

....and a similar colour on the leading edge of the forewing

Next venue was Lords Piece, plenty of hyperactive dragonflies, we found Emperor, Broad Bodied Chasers, Four Spot Chasers and a Common Darter. A full supporting cast of Damsel Flies and the odd Meadow Brown, Small Skipper and the ubiquitous Marbled White.




If an interloper comes near the wings go vertical

 



Very showy caterpillar of the Vapourer - should have recognised this one straight away - the four "shaving brushes" are very characteristic.



Noon Fly, Mesembrina meridian - thanks to Jim Langiewicz for the ID

 

Having visited RSPB Pulborough Brooks for Martin to resupply with bird feed we eschewed the long walk to Black Pool for more dragons and left for Woods Mill. At the entrance to the Mill, just beneath the bridge we found a juvenile Water Rail, apparently photographed by everybody and his dog - I guess we happened to be the last. A Turtle Dove was purring away merrily, deep within the leaf cover of one of the taller trees, shame that it didn't venture up on to its usual perch on the dead tree overlooking the lake.

A great day out, lots of varied material in the viewfinder and plenty of pictures for the blog - what more can you want?

300 up!

When I started this blog never did I imagine that I would make this milestone. I have never kept a diary and couldn't see any reason for doing so, but a blog is different. There was a pause between my fourth and fifth postings of about nine months, why did I continue - probably because the photographs started to improve and I wanted to share them.

Late morning I had to make a visit to Phil, probably the best dentist in the world. It's an amazing fact that, having filled your mouth with dental paraphernalia and numbed half your head,  dentists then ask you a question and expect a coherent reply. Well today wasn't bad at all and Phil showed  a genuine interest in what I might be getting up to in the afternoon. I explained that I would be visiting Anchor Bottom to capture some orchid shots. Flowers are obliging in that they don't move much and that I would utilise some artificial backgrounds to improve the composition.

My backgrounds are made from Daler or Foam board of neutral hues held in place by a bulldog clip on a ground spike. Of course the distance between subject and background is important as none of the background should be in focus.

Fragrant Orchid taken "au naturel",  with some care to keep the background "quiet".

Much improved ...but you have to watch the colour shift - more photoshop attention required.

Possibilities are endless - do you aim for it to be aesthetically pleasing or visually correct?

Perhaps a few more wispy bits of grass lessen the "museum shot" effect.

 Pale form of the Fragrant Orchid

Fragrant Orchids  grow large here...



..as do Common Spotted Orchids.



 

As the afternoon progressed the temperature rose and Adonis Blues emerged but lack of sun meant they stayed in cover.



 

 Though some wasted no time.

  Technique also works for butterflies

Set the pose

Position the background.... perfect.



On the way back to the car park a nice specimen of Sainfoin, Onobrychis viciifolia

Dave's artificial background holder.

And a couple from Monday's visit to Kithurst and Chantry Hills

Twayblades, Butterflies and Pyramids.

A quick trip out today to see if I could locate the Turtle Doves reported at Stapleash Farm, this bird has been at the top of my most wanted photograph list for some time, so an opportunity that could not be missed. Unfortunately a "no show"  but I did manage to locate a pair opposite West Dean Woods car park. Just fleeting glimpses and certainly no photo opportunity.

I checked out my banker site for a Greater Butterfly Orchid and was not disappointed, also nice to find several Common Twayblades, the devil's own job to photograph in wet and dark conditions.  Not saying the location but you need to be 200 yds further along the path from this well known rock!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the way home checked out the Pyramidals which are really coming into full bloom at last, another added bonus was finding several Bee Orchids in the most unlikely of places, unfortunately most past their prime.

My favourite flower is the simple Dog Rose, Rosa canina, today I learnt that it displays  "permanent odd polyploidy"



My favourite flower


Back at home the moth trap yielded a nice specimen of the Peppered Moth, Biston betularia