Tag Archives: Peacock Butterfly

Jackdaw on a Feeder

February 16, 2015 by Words | 2 Comments

The main photo today was taken in the gloom last Friday. It’s on of the many jackdaws managing to negotiate a peanut feeder at work. I like the way the gloom of the day gives it a slightly gothic feel, fitting for what was Friday the 13th.

Jackdaw on peanut feeder

Gloom again today, and again just a single photo. This time it’s a great spotted woodpecker on the fringe of the local woods. Not a great shot, but it’s always nice to watch them.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Sunday was sunny (again, quite fitting). I didn’t take many photos as we were busy clearing the garden but I think this is my first photo of a butterfly this year. It’s a somewhat muted early season peacock butterfly.

Peacock butterfly

The forecast for the next couple of days looks a lot better. It will be cold, but clear with some sun. Here’s hoping!

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens.

Posted in Birds, Butterfly Also tagged , , |

Some Garden Colour

September 1, 2013 by Words | Comments Off

A bit of a lazy day today, just pottering in the garden and catching up with things. It’s quiet here. The farmers are working the fields across the valley, and the drone of the machinery just adds to the sense of summer slowly coming to a close.

Farming scene

The butterflies are enjoying the long warm summer. We’ve had more in the garden than I can remember for many years, and a good variety too. There are the tiny blues that flit low over the grass and occasionally land on the lavender.

Common blue butterfly

Common blue butterfly

There’s the small tortoiseshell butterfly, and the speckled wood (which prefers the more shaded parts of the garden).

Small tortoiseshell butterfly

Speckled wood butterfly

And the vividly coloured peacock butterfly, here appropriately resting on the buddleia (also known as the butterfly bush).

Butterfly

Lastly, one stray among the butterflies, a migrant hawker dragonfly; one of several that have been seen in the garden recently.

Migrant hawker dragonfly

Migrant hawker dragonfly

The foxes are still around (I’ve just spotted ‘Nicked Ear’ lurking at the back of the garden), and we are still getting occasional visits from local badgers (evidenced by the trail cam footage, which I’ve yet to edit).

Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.

Posted in Butterfly, Insects Also tagged , , , , |

Painted Lady, a Peacock and more foxes

August 5, 2013 by Words | Comments Off

Painted Ladies have arrived in Sussex. These pretty butterflies are regular migrants to the south coast, though it is some years since we saw a genuinely large influx. This year seems good, but not on the scale of 2009 when around 11 million painted ladies arrived in the UK. Still, there seem to be more than last year (which was dire), and they are well worth a few images.

Butterfly

Butterfly

Butterfly

Butterfly

The peacock butterflies are also arriving in the garden. They are slightly less cooperative with the camera, but this is a nice wing detail.

Wing detail of peacock butterfly (Inachis io) on buddleia shrub

As for the foxes, Bully Boy has been hanging around today, along with Pretty. They seem to be getting on much better now (no fights). Bully Boy even decided to help out with our household chores.

Fox cub next to washing basket in suburban garden

I think I’ve mentioned that he has a long snout (possibly related to Shy Boy). Anyway, these shots illustrate the point rather well.

Portrait of a fox cub's head

Close up of fox nose and eyes

Camera note: all butterfly shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens. The first shot of Bully Boy taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens; the two close-up with the EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lens.

Posted in Foxes, Wildlife Also tagged , , , |