[Markulous]

Originally Posted by marcinklysewicz

yes it is some parasite and it's really difficult to find some butterfly without it on that hill. it was the same last year - i have photos of butterflies from there and almost all of them had this red thing. poor creatures. but Hod Hill is not a good place for people too - hundreds of ticks are waiting for you there.

Don't fancy them ticks!

Here's the parasite: parasitic red mites, Trombidium breei. Looks like the host butterfly doesn't suffer ill effects, which is good - from learnaboutbutterflies

[marcinklysewicz]

wow. it's a long time since someone was adding some photos here. i'm wondering if there is a reason for keeping this thread alive. if there is no interest i'll keep posting my photos here so you'll always know where to go for some macro . anyway - i'm still working with macro so...

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[brian-iow]

Hi Marcin. As always these are a lovely set of photographs.
I have tried several times to photgraph a good butterfly but I am having no luck whatsoever.I cannot keep posting photos of spiders.Add to this I am still trying to come to grips with my new camera.
May I ask a question please?
"Do you capture your butterfly photos at a certain time of day ie. early morning or late evening? Do they rest overnight on plants? I do understand that when it is cool they will not be so active.

[Willow5075]

Only reason no posts here is I havent had time to take any decent new pics!

[marcinklysewicz]

brian-iow i take those photos at sunrise or sunset. so at 4:00 or 4:30 morning or 20:00, 20:30 or even 21:00 at evening. butterflies are sitting on the grass or flowers and they don't run from me. i know where to go - i'm planning my session with map and internet (links to butterflies conservation websites could be found on my own website).
early morning and late afternoon are good for any insects. it's too cold for them to move. butterflies are very easy to start with macro - they are big and easy to find in the grass.

photo no 5 was taken after sunset - it was completly dark and i was using only natural light. it's too dark but still quite interesting.

1. sunset


2. also sunset

[brian-iow]

Thank you for the information Marcin. I am going to try and get out one evening this week and see if I can find some subjects.

[brian-iow]

This afternoon I decided to go on a butterfly hunt.
Behind our house we have some lovely fields leading down a small valley to a river.The field is wild grass with many wild flowers, hedgerows and ferns. I spotted Peacocks,Speckled Wood,Small Skipper Painted Lady,Large White and Marbled Whites.As it was windy and very hot everything was on the wing.So at 7pm I returned to find where these specimins spent the night. The wind had died away and parts of the fields were falling into shade.I have just returned from quartering this area for two hours. I searched in and under hundreds of plants and nettles etc. and found not one single butterfly.I cannot beleive that can hide away so well. ..... Oh well I'll try again tomorrow.

[marcinklysewicz]

brian-iow i've just spent 3 hours outside... 3 hours !!! and i took just 6 photos of simple fly . no damselflies, no butterflies, no dragonflies... nothing. even grasshppers where hiding. it was windy but still sunny. and i'm so dissapointed.

it's just to tell you that you are not alone . where the hell is summer???

[brian-iow]

Hi Marcin... Firstly, i am sorry you also had an unproductive day yesterday, but I feel better because i thought it was just my inexperience.
So for for another question.
When you find butterflies resting in morning/evening time do they settle near to the ground or on the flower heads?
Thanks Brian.

[marcinklysewicz]

brian-iow it depends from butterfly.

this one is sitting on the top of some grass (Marblet White)


same as this Small Skipper (and most of other skippers)


but Maniola jurtina (Meadow Brown) likes to be close to the ground - very hard to find. they are going to the top of the grass to warm up before they fly so you could find them sitting on some grass but not for too long.


and this one is also hiding deeper (Ringlet)


this knowledge is not from books but from my experience - try to find more on websites or in some books.

[brian-iow]

Marcin ...thanks once again for your response. I will be out again later today.When I am successful I will post a photo.

[marcinklysewicz]

[Willow5075]

So I have followed marcin's pics and made myself a diffuser today





I didn't have any tissue paper so I've used a couple of freezer bags. Looking forward to trying it out on some flowers and bugs....I tested out on the blue clip in the background and it softened the light somewhat.