Sunday 4 August 2013

Swallowtail Takes Some Beating!

I was happily walking around Denge Woods this morning near Canterbury looking for Brimstones and other butterflies to photograph when I received a text from Warren Baker alerting me that Dave Barnes had found a Swallowtail butterly quite locally and that he would give me a ring in a short while. I made my way back to the car and then received a voicemail to call Dave back urgently. A few seconds later I was hearing the most fantastic of news, Dave had not only found a Swallowtail butterfly but it was at Bishopstone, just west of Reculver! I was in the car like a shot and made my way back through Canterbury getting stuck behind every Sunday driver and finally arrived at Bishopstone c30 minutes later and hoped it would still be around. Along with Dave, Chris and Anne Hindle were there and as I approached they were looking through their binoculars at something. Thankfully and with my good luck still working its magic I was put on to the Swallowtail which can only be described as a stunner! I have seen 2 Swallowtail in Kent some years ago but never had the chance to study and photograph one. The area it was feeding was in a sheltered hollow which required a little care to get to but eventually in place I was treated to some stunning views and many photographic opportunities as it fed on Knapweed only a metre or so away at times. It stayed quite loyal to and area flying around regularly before landing a few seconds later, its size and colour showing off well amongst the other butterflies. With a number of shots taken, well about 300, I took the time to study this lovely butterfly and enjoy the moment. There were also a good number of Painted Lady and Marbled White butterflies as well as lots of Essex Skipper, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Small and Large White. What can only be described as a magical hour of photographing one of the most stunning butterflies I have ever seen I thanked Dave very much for his call and made my way home. With so many shots taken I will probably post some more in the nest few days but hopefully you will enjoy the images of this most attractive of butterflies. I must say, I think they are some of my best to date and very happy how they have turned out.








Swallowtail

9 comments:

  1. What a stunner! An unbelievable record for Kent :-) You've captured it brilliantly Marc, I look forward to seeing the other shots. I wonder what dave's photo's look like, no doubt he'll email me some later :-)

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  2. Cracking shots Marc and a lovely one to get locally. From the markings and colourings undoubtedly a continental migrant, probably fown/blown over with the painted ladies, but who's complaining keep em coming. More Southern Migrant as well today !!

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  3. Superb Smart stunning shot Marc

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  4. It looks like a male[claspers on abdomen], we really need a few females to fly in as well. But a great find, there have been quite a few records of Swallowtail this year, from what ive been hearing.

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  5. BRILLIANT BUTTERFLY, BRILLIANT IMAGES, and winner of photograph of the month somewhere Marc....get it entered!

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  6. Absolutely stunning Marc, what a great thing to see brings back memories of my Camberwell Beauty last summer, really exciting :-)

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  7. very smart Butterfly well captured Marc and not a common find in Kent either.

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  8. Well taken shots Marc a real beauty.

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  9. Many thanks for all the comments, a truly brilliant experience to see one of these, and only a couple of minutes from home!

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