My Blog - Jeff Clarke

Eye Spots & Orange Tips

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All images unless otherwise stated © Jeff Clarke 2011

Part of yesterday was spent carrying out some survey work in Sankey Valley Park. The weather was glorious and once I'd completed my task I couldn't help but be distracted by the number of butterflies emerging to sunbathe. Peacock butterflies abounded and I was soon photographing one with chunks taken out of its under-wings. it was noticeable how they related to the eyes-spots and in so doing gave away the function. They help to distract predatory birds from the vulnerable body. The birds peck at the eye, take a chunk out of the wing but leave the butterfly relatively unscathed to escape and live for another day. This one had been doubly lucky!

Orange-tips soon began patrolling the rides and grassland edges. The french name means 'The Patroller', which is an apt description of the habit of the males as they scour the area in search of females. This is a true 'spring-time' butterfly and these were my first of 2011.

Perhaps most fascinating of all was the behaviour of a couple of Holly Blues. They were clearly looking for nutritious food and spent time sucking up a liquid diet of bird droppings and horse manure. They were very flighty and I only managed a rubbishy shot of the one feeding at the bird dropping. I've reproduced it above only because it illustrates some interesting behaviour and not for any other reason.