Saturday 22 May 2010

Green Hairstreaks at Sidwood

I had a wonderful walk at Sidwood today, looking for wild flowers and hoping to photograph an Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines), one of my target butterfly species this spring. I'm increasingly perplexed as to how I am going to achieve this aim because they never seem to settle long enough to have their picture taken and I'm certainly not athletic enough to keep up with them as they flit about one way and another.

The woodland was certainly at its best as here, amongst the beech trees ...

And here, walking back along the road to the car park ...

Just beyond this stand of trees, the verges on either side of the road open up into wide stretches of rough grass dotted with young birch trees. It was here that I first noticed a number of tiny, dark-coloured butterflies and I stopped to take a closer look. They were flying and settling on the birch leaves, making them almost invisible. With a wingspan of only 25-30mm, I felt privileged to observe them let alone take this picture.

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)

If I had gone out intending to look for Green Hairstreaks, and they were a delightful if unexpected surprise today, I might have had better luck with the Orange Tips.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thats a brilliant photo of a Green Hairstreak Emma. This is one species I haven't seen yet.

ADRIAN said...

I think you got the best of the deal. A smashing find.

Wilma said...

Beautiful woodlands and just lovely green haristreak! I would never have believed how emerald their green is ...

Brian R said...

Its supposed to be easier to photograph butterflies early in the morning before they have had time to warm up. This is a good photo Emma. One on my hit list.

kirstallcreatures said...

How wonderful Emma, you've taken a lovely shot of the Green Hairstreak. By sheer coincidence I enjoyed my first ever sighting of a Green Hairstreak yesterday at a churchyward in Adel, Leeds, but unfortunately I didn't manage to take as good a shot as you did. Well done and good luck with those Orange Tip. Linda

Emma Anderson said...

Thanks to Roy, Adrian, Wilma, Brian and Linda for their kind comments.

Danny Tee said...

What a fantastic photo of the Green Hairstreak almost fairytale like. I love it.

FAB said...

Sounds like we both have to get up with the Lark to find an Orange Tip settled!!
Cracking shot of the Green Hairstreak...nicely posed for you Emma.

abbey meadows said...

Wonderful shots Emma. I was at Rothbury last week at a known site for them but I didn't see any. I'll probably have to wait another year.

Emma Anderson said...

Thanks to to Davy, Frank and Nigel for your kind comments.