Marbled Whites at Wimpole National Trust Estate

Wonderful to see so many Marbled Whites at Wimpole NT Estate yesterday. Every patch of thistles had some feeding along with Small Skippers, Small Heaths, Meadow Browns and Small Whites (also Ringlets)

Marbled Whites - Dawn Focus Stacks and Windy Evening Shots

The advantage of having Marbled Whites almost on the doorstep is that I can photograph whenever the conditions look right for interesting shots as with these dawn shots after a heavy dew. They are Focus stacks of 30 images done as a focus bracket on the Fuji X-T2 with a tripod and stacked with Zerene Stacker. I was using an 80mm macro lens with 2X converter at f2.8. Similarly for the Southern Hawker emerging from our pond but here no tripod so have missed the front focal plane of the shed larval case. Other images for my record of species and dates were from last night in a stiff breeze but good to see male and female Marbled Whites, an Essex Skipper and a Ringlet sheltered in the foliage - all single shots with 100-400 mm lens. 

Roosting Marbled Whites and Meadow Brown

I have been recording first sightings of Marbled Whites in Toft since their first sighting in 2012; this year a few days earlier than previous records and a month earlier than the early year. Unfortunately there are not many this year so far (8 in yesterday morning's count) - a reflection of the shorter grass or perhaps the very enthusiastic and early summer mowing last year since they are a species that lays their eggs in long undisturbed grass. Bonus yesterday was the dew on the wings - especially impressive on the Meadow Browns. I hadn't taken a tripod so not able to focus bracket successfully but they give the feel of an early morning meadow as the sun came up (5-7 am).

 

Wildlife at Larkrise Farm, Barton

Larkrise Farm Barton is managed by The Countryside Restoration Trust who have transformed it from an intensively farmed wildlife desert into a productive arable farm teeming with wildlife, including Butterflies, Spiders etc. This has been achieved using farming methods such as smaller field sizes, crop rotations, leaving over-wintering stubble, beetle banks, wildlife strips and planting over 4.5 miles of new hedgerows. Here Common Blues, Gatekeepers, Small Copper and Marbled White. Spiders included the impressive Wasp Spider.

 

Seasonal Check on Toft Wildlife

It is interesting to see how species vary from year to year in their appearance and abundance. The Marbled Whites in 2012 and 2013 weren't  recorded in our local meadow until mid July but since then, every year it has been around the 28th June and this year similar (June27/28th). There are fewer this year at the moment in the evening roost but they have spread further including one in our garden. Other species doing well are the Small Heath and Large Skippers. Other records for the garden to compare - Dragonflies - less abundant than last year - around 20 Chasers emerged (focus-stacked example here) and so far 4 Southern Hawkers- hopefully more to come. Empis flies have been particularly abundant as this pair here - a strange mating procedure where male brings female a tasty morsel to suck on while he is busy at the other end.

Marbled White Roost has Grown

I counted over 40 butterflies roosting on Tuesday evening with some pairs as in first photo (female has a yellowish tinge and can appear browner markings). Experimenting with aperture - for my 50-140mm lens (+2X) f8 seems to be the optimal for sharp subject and diffused background. Last MW image is photostacked - awaiting Fuji firmware update to make this easier and more accurate! First Small Skipper of the season on grass seedhead. Last three images from Lark Rise Farm on a very hot Wednesday afternoon.