Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,796
...The name "Gatekeeper" may refer to its frequent occurrence near field gates and to the man who was responsible for the toll gates in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries when butterflies were more numerous than they are today.....
This is from Wikipedia for some reason the url would not work
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Gatekeeper...
http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?species=tithonus
"Etymology
The name "Gatekeeper" may refer to its frequent occurrence near field gates and to the man who was responsible for the toll gates in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries when butterflies were more numerous than they are today. As indicated by its alternate name, the gatekeeper butterfly prefers the habitat of meadow margins and hedges; field gates are often in such locations, and thus the Gatekeeper can be found much more frequently in such locations than the Meadow Brown for example."
http://www.butterflyfacts.net/butterfly-facts/gatekeeper-butterfly/
I suppose, if the Gatekeeper likes hedges the gateway is the most common place for it and man to meet?
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
thanks for info jan and tom, there has to be a logic behind the names.
these 2 were taken by phil at temple ewell recently.
the silver spotted skipper.
kestrel.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
A visitor from outer space munches through the raspberry leaves
Claxton, Norfolk: The find of the week was an emperor moth, in its weird larval stage
"This has been a strange year for moths. The cold weather in the first half meant that trapping was largely a wipeout. I normally rush down to inspect the contents of my moth box like a child on Christmas morning. Yet there were few gifts on offer. Some nights in April I caught just six species but on one memorably bad May morning there were just five individuals of four species. Normally there would be six or seven times as many.
Then the hot spell came and I have been in moth heaven. Last weekend there were 90 species in my trap..."
The above is about a third of the total text, (so there is not a great deal to read through). I thus encourage you to use the link below so you will see the accompanying photograph...
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/aug/05/moths-visitor-outer-space-raspberry Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 756- Registered: 6 Jun 2012
- Posts: 727
The Hummingbird Hawkmoth is a regular visitor to my Butterfly bush every summer. He arrived this afternoon and my son just managed to get these few pictures before he flew off.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
lovely colours lesley, i give up on trying to photograph butterflies.
Guest 756- Registered: 6 Jun 2012
- Posts: 727
This looks more like a bee at first glance and you can clearly hear the vibration of its wings. Very difficult to catch the pictures as he flits from flower to flower.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#85
Scary looking things, about a foot long, are they?
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 756- Registered: 6 Jun 2012
- Posts: 727
No Tom, just about an inch, quite a rare visitor so I feel very honoured that they come to my garden.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
2 more flutter bys from the magic lens of phil smith.
small tortoise shell
clouded yellow.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
2 more from phil.
peacock.
white helliborine.
Guest 756- Registered: 6 Jun 2012
- Posts: 727
Howard, the butterfly pictured is not a Peacock, its a Painted Lady.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
thanks for pointing that out lesley(said through gritted teeth), here is the correct photo.
Guest 756- Registered: 6 Jun 2012
- Posts: 727
Those teeth again Howard!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i shall have them sharpened just for you lesley.
Alec Sheldon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 18 Aug 2008
- Posts: 1,036
Beautiful photos. They won't stay still for me.
Guest 767- Registered: 30 Aug 2012
- Posts: 458
Thought I'd throw my hat into the ring! These are from my wildlife files, I hope you enjoy them.
Guest 767- Registered: 30 Aug 2012
- Posts: 458
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
great stuff phil, trust that your recovery is going well.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,796
I love the last one it looks just as if it is saying 'what do you want I'm busy'.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Phil Wyborn - Brown at www.wybornphotography.co.uk
Phil Wyborn - Brown at www.wybornphotography.co.uk
