Sunday 14 December 2014

The Long tailed Blues of 2013

There was unfortunately no repeat of the 2013 invasion of this stunning little butterfly but a few articles have been written this year with one I believe in Atropos magazine which i'm told has a photo of mine in it of the Long tailed Blue. I was very lucky to drive down to Kingsdown Leas at Dover last year and saw the first few individuals and managed along with a few other enthusiasts, take a number of shots of them. Better was to come when they were seen egg laying and a month or so later and with plenty of eyes looking and hoping for this momentous occasion, the first British born wild Long tailed Blues appeared. I spent an afternoon down there with a good number of people seeing these fresh individuals and again was lucky to capture a number of photos. With a good showing of the food plant, Everlasting Pea in the Reculver area, I spent a session with a few friends looking for them and was we lucky or what for we found a few fresh individuals. As word got out, many enthusiasts started arriving in the next few days and a good number were seen. This was most definitely one butterfly that I never thought I would have the chance of seeing on British soil but am very thankful for the opportunity to do so. Will they return in the next few years, I suppose we will just have to wait and see but it would be nice to think so.






Long tailed Blue

7 comments:

  1. This was before you got the Sigma Macro lens Marc ? I wonder if the images would improve with the Sigma, cant do much better!

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    1. I would like to think so Warren. These were taken with the Canon f4 300mm lens. Still pleased with them though.

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  2. They are amazing results with a 300mm!! It was a great finale to the butterfly year of 2013 wasn't it.

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  3. Never heard of him/her, excellent images Marc.

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  4. With images like these they will publish yours Marc. Professional photographers get good money for this, time to ask about cheques on their way to you in the post Marc. Although looking at the Antropos magazine on the internet, I note they don't pay fees....well!!

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  5. Two days beautiful weather Marc, that you was crying out for, did you not get out and find something up to date, there's quite a bit out there.

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  6. I just love this series of photos!
    Can't wait for next summer :)
    Keep well and enjoy the festivies!

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