Monday 3 August 2015

Tenacity.

An overcast and windy morning today so definitely not ideal conditions for seeking out any wildlife around the margins of a local grassy meadow that I discovered on arrival had been mowed a few hours earlier! Unperturbed I wandered until a small blue flutter dropped into the vegetation to ride out the gusty conditions.

A quick search revealed this male Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) gripping on tightly to the dried seed pods of a grass stem. I was amazed at the tenacity of this tiny, flimsy butterfly, as the wind blew the stem and its rider in all directions, often bending to within inches of ground level, thereby posing the 'watcher' with a few challenges including keeping the subject in focus.
  
Both images taken handheld with the 70-300mm lens plus 1.4x converter [ISO 400; f/11: 1/320-1/500 @ 330 & 420mm respectively].

Linking to:
Nature Notes hosted by Michelle:
Through My Lens, a new meme hosted by Mersad. 

6 comments:

  1. A gorgeous butterfly!! A terrific sighting and stellar photos. :)

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  2. I love the common blue, it is a beauty! Enjoy your new week ahead!

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  3. Wow! I can see all the detail and fuzz. What a stunning insect.

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  4. I watch ODES in the wind too and am amazed at their strength.... Pretty butterfly... Michelle

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  5. Pretty moth! You got some great macro shots! Sad the field had been mowed just before your arrival.

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