Small Tortoiseshell

A small Tortoiseshell feeding

1/800 @ 6.3, ISO 800, 400mm

Butterflies at Sheepwash Lane 15 July 2014

For the first time since I got the mobility scooter, we took it to Sheepwash Lane. We couldn't go before they had workmen and it became very muddy, then we had to wait for everything to settle down.

There's not much in the way of birds down there, although there is a Kingfisher about and one day I might get a photo of it. Instead there are more butterflies than I have seen all year.

After only a few minutes the first one presented itself, a Skipper on a thistle head.

1/320 @ f7.1, iso 400, 380mm

Not very far away was this Ringlet, but with a bit of a breeze most weren't happy to spread their wings.

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

The skipper was still crawling around the thistle head so I took a pic of his back.

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

and his front ...

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

I always like to see Peacock butterflies, but again it would have been better if he'd spread his wings.

1/500 @ f8, iso 400, 400mm

In a more sheltered area the Tortoiseshell was happy to show off its colours.

1/500 @ f8, iso 400, 400mm

1/500 @ f8, iso 400, 400mm

All taken on a Canon EOS7d, fitted with EF 100 - 400mm L series lens

Wet 'N' Windy 16 September 2013

It was a wet and windy weekend and not much about, but Saturday morning had a dry spell and this Butterfly fluttered by and settled on the stone crop beside our house. A small Tortoiseshell, it stayed on the flowers for some time, enough time for me to go into the house and fetch my camera. Usually in these cases I arrive with my camera in time to see the subject disappearing into the distance.

1/1000 @ 6.3, Iso 800, 400mm

1/800 @ 6.3, Iso 800, 400mm

1/400 @ 6.3, Iso 400, 400mm

1/400 @ 6.3, Iso 400, 400mm

The wet weather meant I could finish my latest book and now Maja is editing it. It will be released as soon as I can create a cover for it. The title is "The Bristol Cross Murders." and it's a who dun it. It will be available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats.

All pictures taken with a 

Canon EOS7d, and EF 100 - 400mm L series lens 

Kelham Bridge - 22 June 2011

A short walk at Kelham Bridge, in bright sunshine and there was plenty to be seen. Almost as soon as we were out of the car we started seeing butterflies and hoverflies. We also saw a Kestrel, but although I got a photo of it, it was too far away and the image wasn't good enough to reproduce here.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm
1/640 @ 5.6,  iso 800, 400mm

I saw this hoverfly flitting from flower to flower until it finally settled and I was able to take this photo.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm
1/1328 @ 5.6,  iso 800, 400mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm
1/1328 @ 5.6,  iso 800, 400mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm
1/400 @ 5.6,  iso 800, 400mm

The Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were keen to catch the rays of the warming sun and easy to get pictures of. Although I had just achieved focus on one, which had settled on the path in front of me, when Skipper rushed back to see why I'd stopped and very nearly trampled it.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm
1/800 @ 6-3,  iso 400, 400mm

In one of the hides, there was the usual friendly greeting from the locals and a chat about what had been happening. Then as we were watching a Buzzard in the distance, this Heron decided it would be a good idea to balance on a post. It didn't look comfortable and had to keep flapping to maintain it's balance. After a while it flew to the next post, but suffering the same problems there, it disappeared while the Buzzard was holding our attention.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm
1/2656 @ 6.3,  iso 400, 400mm

Although this picture isn't perfect, it is as close as the Buzzard came to the hide, I intend to go back and try to get closer to it's hunting area.