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).

 

My Latest Project - the Toilet-Tent Hide

I had long planned to set up a hide in the garden to photograph birds at our feeder but couldn't afford the prices of professional hides, so here we introduce you to the budget hide - a pop-up toilet tent (£18) with some old camouflage netting to cover the lens window. The birds are amazingly tolerant of its presence - even the very wary young Jackdaws. 

 

 

Introducing the Hosebaby for Clean Images

Those following my blog will know that I have been building a variety of experimental lenses and set-ups over our period of confinement from reversed lenses for macro, coupled lenses for ultramacro to pinholes for that softer look. Here I introduce you to a clean (and very much cheaper!) version of the Lensbaby. It feature a small length of hose from a dead vacuum cleaner and an old 50 mm plastic kit lens from Canon. The kit is shown at the end (as the hose is transparent it needs a black cloth sleeve to keep out extraneous light. The hose allows variable extension of the lens but, as it can also move sideways or up and down, you can get some interesting effects, especially with wildlife - hence the speeding snail! I don't promise but this is probably the last of the contraptions (unless another household gadgets dies!)

Dinosaurs and Silver-Washed Fritillaries - a Gamlingay Safari

Our first walk in Gamlingay Woods for a couple of months. We were surprised to find a baby dinosaur in residence, but delighted that there is already a good population of Silver-Washed Fritillaries emerged with the promise of many more to come. Lots of other butterfly species including a Marbled White in the meadow that I never managed to capture. 

 

 

 

Bees and Hovers

First attempt at a slow motion nature video using my Fuji XT-3 with its great high-speed video capacity. Not quite mastered the free video editing software yet so the end point wasn't quite where I expected and not mastered the cross fades etc. - hopefully this will improve!

Wildflower Project 6

Second post of local wildflowers: Cinquefoil, Yellow Vetchling, Hogweed, Agrimony, Selfheal, Field Scabious, Bramble, Creeping Thistle, Lesser Hop Trefoil and Slender Tare.