Monday 28 February 2011

Chris Packam, a woodland glade & buckles

  It's been busy few days. On Thursday we went back to Horsham to see Chris Packam’s show ‘A Wild Life Exposed’. Excellent wildlife photography, complete with self critique. He is an amusing photographer who tells a great story as you would expect from the Spring and Autumn Watch shows on BBC TV. 
  On Saturday I spent the morning with Michael and Dave at Butterfly Conservation’s  Rowland Wood, near Lewes. Once again we were gathering and burning trees which the tree cutters had felled. They were mostly pines which flared up in a very satisfying way. As we drove away the heavens opened, flooding parts of the A27. The day was complete when I relaxed in front of the England – France Rugby match where we managed to hold onto our lead. I remember seeing the same sides lay at Twickenham in the 60s and a French supporter released a cockerel at half time.
before and after
On Sunday I attended a dig on the Surrey border. It was mostly pasture. On the ploughed field I found just one button. On the rest I had 4 buckles, 2 buttons, a drawer handle, an old 5p coin, a plated silver coloured disc, an old penny and a musket ball.
interesting fungi in the field

Monday 21 February 2011

Wisley butterflies

Blue Morpho Morpho peleides
This morning we drove to Wisley RHS  to see the tropical butterfly display that is running till March 6. We had not realised it was half term  so had to suffer long queues and crowds which made photographing the butterflies a challenge. The butterfly display was in the tropical glass house which was spectacular. One Blue Morpho landed on my hand, after everyone around had photographed it, I let it walk onto a leaf and was able to get some good close-ups. Some of the butterflies were near the end of their short lives so were pretty tatty, but even they were worth looking at for the amazing colours, patterns and wing shapes. The restaurant served good soup & bread and there was plenty of parking.                         










Owl Caligo memnon

Asian Swallowtail Papilio lowi worn female
Asian Swallowtail Papilio lowi male
Great Mormon Papilio memnon agenor
Great Mormon Papilio memnon agenor
Tree Nymph Idea leuconoe
Blue Morphos, Morpho peleides
Malachite Siproeta stelenes
Blue Morpho, Morpho peleides
Blue Morpho, Morpho peleides
Scarlet swallowtail Papilio rumanzovia
Owl, Caligo memnon
Owl, Caligo memnon
Scarlett Swallowtail, Papilio rumanzovia
Tree Nymph Idea leuconoe
Owl Caligo memnon
Blue Morpho, Morpho peleides
Slipper Orchids (above & below)


Owl, Caligo memnon


Blue Morpho, Morpho peleides
Scarlett Swallowtail, Papilio rumanzovia
Scarlett Swallowtail, Papilio rumanzovia
Blue Morpho, Morpho peleides
Malachite, Siproeta stelenes
Scarlett Swallowtail, Papilio rumanzovia
Malachite, Siproeta stelenes

Glasswing Greta oto