Happily Ever After

Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running

Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.

The Voyage Of The Admiral

by admin - 15:32 on 25 August 2014

Lack of patience is one of several reasons why I'll never be an ace wildlife snapper, but it paid off today.

Yesterday I was able to get a Red Admiral in front of the Pentax for the first time. Although the distance was too great, and the sharpness too dull, I was tempted to add it to my butterfly collection because it was the only example I had. I resisted.

Today began warm and sunny before becoming hot and sunny. Just right. I patrolled the usual local butterfly haunts, finding a plethora of Peacocks and a scattering of Speckled Woods and unidentifiable Whites (too fast, too far) but the only Red Admiral sped past and away without settling.

I tried again later and struck lucky in a patch of thistles where a huge Admiral sipped nectar, not bothered by the lens which watched it flit from head to head. At one point it even took a short rest on the lens hood.

So my butterfly collection now numbers seven, which I'm told is not bad for these here parts. If I'm ever able to sort out the Whites, and catch the Orange Tips I see earlier in the year, I might just make double figures.

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