White Letter Hairstreak, female. Cotgrave Forest, Nottinghamshire. DSC_2806.jpg
After my early start on Tuesday, I was utterly exhausted thanks to the M.E., so a planned visit to Cotgrave became a late morning and afternoon visit.
I spent most of that time getting cooked in the heat and a cricked neck, watching White Letter Hairstreaks and also Purple Hairstreaks flying and chasing in the treetops, with occasional (4) flypasts by up to 2 Purple Emperors, all of which was great to see.
The light inside the wood was far too bright and contrasty for decent photos and to add to my problems a combination of my 300mm PF lens low shutter speed VR fault and my tired brain failing to raise ISOs to an appropriate level, caused most of my shots to be too slow (under 1/320) and consequently ruined by camera shake. I did catch several close sightings of female White Letter Hairstreaks, low down creeping around on leaves and twigs of their Master Elm, looking for locations to lay eggs, as in this record shot, which was the only vaguely tolerable output from the day. None came to nectar on adjacent brambles or other flowers, but perhaps it just was the wrong time of day.
Thanks for the faves and comments - appreciated
White Letter Hairstreak, female. Cotgrave Forest, Nottinghamshire. DSC_2806.jpg
After my early start on Tuesday, I was utterly exhausted thanks to the M.E., so a planned visit to Cotgrave became a late morning and afternoon visit.
I spent most of that time getting cooked in the heat and a cricked neck, watching White Letter Hairstreaks and also Purple Hairstreaks flying and chasing in the treetops, with occasional (4) flypasts by up to 2 Purple Emperors, all of which was great to see.
The light inside the wood was far too bright and contrasty for decent photos and to add to my problems a combination of my 300mm PF lens low shutter speed VR fault and my tired brain failing to raise ISOs to an appropriate level, caused most of my shots to be too slow (under 1/320) and consequently ruined by camera shake. I did catch several close sightings of female White Letter Hairstreaks, low down creeping around on leaves and twigs of their Master Elm, looking for locations to lay eggs, as in this record shot, which was the only vaguely tolerable output from the day. None came to nectar on adjacent brambles or other flowers, but perhaps it just was the wrong time of day.
Thanks for the faves and comments - appreciated