Wildlife mid 2009

[Paul T]

Thanks Robin.  Interesting about the cloudy days and them moving less often.  We don't get a lot of butterflies around here, but I do see them from time to time.  Thanks for the link.

[Lesley Cox]

Rob,

Fantastic shot of the grouse.

Everyone else.... I'm definitely feeling less stressed about the constant danger of Kangaroos on the roads around here at night (they are a big hazard at night, the larger ones can come through your windscreen if they clear the car bonnet).  I'd rather the Kangaroos than hitting a moose! 

But a moose is such a little, inoffensive thing Paul, even small enough to have some in the hoose, though bigger than a loose of course.

[Paddy Tobin]

Paul,

Re photographing butterflies. On lazy days, when I have time to fool about with the camera, I dissolve some sugar in water and put this onto a suitable flower to attract the butterflies. Of course, sedum will attract them when the flower develop further.

Then, there is another trick commonly used by professional photographers - never tried it myself - and that is to catch the butterfly and put it into the refrigerator for an hour or so. Then take it out and  place it on the flower of choice. They take a while to warm up again and so will stay still on the flower, making photographer easy.

Paddy

[Paul T]

Lesley, you're a goose!!  But I still loves ya.

Paddy,

I wouldn't like to catch them first.  I wouldn't want to take the chance of damaging them somehow.  Would rather photograph them "wild" that artificailly.

[Kees Green]

The only problem with the fridge method is the eyes, you can tell something is not right with them. I do that often to photograph my cicadas and it works really well.
The other thing that sometimes happens is moisture on the subject and by the time this has dissapeared so has the subject.
I will take some pics of the birdwings and Ulysses butterflies that breed at my mothers for you all when there in Jan next year.

[FrazerHenderson]

some more ladybirds from Lynn's camera......

[Lesley Cox]

These little guys aren't into camouflage are they?
 
Kees, is your mother in New Zealand? The thought of birdwings bred here is very attractive. I've only seen them in the Otago Museum's butterfly display.

[Maggi Young]

My compliments to Lynn for these further super photos, Frazer.
Wood surfaces are so sculptural, are they not?

[Kees Green]

Lesley, no unfortunately my mother lives 50km's north of Townsville in North Queensland. It would be fantastic to have these two specis of butterflies here in New Zealand but the only place we will see these is in Museums.

[Roma]

I have a pot of Busy Lizzies sitting on old bricks by the back door.  Today I moved the pot so I could dig up a couple of Begonia sutherlandii which I wanted to move.  I found quite a mini menagerie on the bricks including this little newt which I think was one of last year's babies.I had the begonia at the back door in a pot three years ago an was quite surprised when little plants appeared the following year.  I was even more surprised to see them this year as we had temperatures down to -12 on a couple of nights this past winter.

[Maggi Young]

Grand pictures of the wee newt, Roma.... one of my most favourite garden creatures.
 Little dinosaurs, to my mind. Beautiful markings, soft skin, those adorable little feet and lovely eyes...... just the nicest wee things! We have a healthy population of them here, I am delighted to say. Their predecessors came from the curling ponds at Banchory nearly forty years ago  and some have been moved around the family ponds ever since.

[Kees Green]

I have always wanted to see a newt, thanks for the pics. I envy you having them in your gardens.

[cohan]

..on the blue Scabiosa it's body looks even more velvety

great shots, robin--the orange butterfly especially looks great on the blue!

[Ragged Robin]

Roma, your newt is really cute and it's great to know that it's at home with you in the garden - it looks very happy  

[Ragged Robin]

..on the blue Scabiosa it's body looks even more velvety

great shots, robin--the orange butterfly especially looks great on the blue!

Thanks for your comment Cohan, I find it such a challenge to photograph butterflies and probably spend far too long just watching their wonderful flight patterns and social gatherings