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Grayling


Grayling
Photo Information
Copyright: Gert Paassen (Gert-Paassen) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1172 W: 2 N: 4398] (13360)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-08-22
Categories: Insects
Exposure: f/8
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-07-16 21:32
Viewed: 601
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Dutch]
Today a Red list butterfly in Belgium and the Netherlands and so protected.

it is a well camouflaged butterfly and ou see him only when you disturb him.

Latin name - Hipparchia semele

Grayling
Widespread on coast of Britain and Ireland and on heathland in southern Britain. Rests with wings closed. Underwing mottled-brown. Appears larger in flight when pale yellow-orange bands can be seen.
Latin name: Hipparchia semele
Family group: Browns
Countries: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland
Size: Medium, Large
Resident
Range declining in some areas.

Cryptic colouring provides the Grayling with excellent camouflage, making it difficult to see when at rest on bare ground, tree trunks, or stones. The wings are kept closed when not in flight and the fore wings are usually tucked behind the hind wings, concealing the eyespots and making the butterfly appear smaller. In flight this is a distinctive, large butterfly with a looping and gliding flight, during which the paler bands on the upperwings are visible.

The Grayling is widespread on the coast and southern heaths, but is declining in many areas, particularly inland.

Conservation status
UK Biodiversity Action Plan: Priority Species
Butterfly Conservation Priority: High
European threat status: not threatened
European/world range
Through Europe as far north as 63B:N, but absent from parts of south-east Europe, and extending into western and northern Asia. It is declining in many European countries.

Foodplants
The main species used include Sheep's-fescue (Festuca ovina), Red Fescue (F. rubra), Bristle Bent (Agrostis curtisii), and Early Hair-grass (Aira praecox). Coarser grasses such as Tufted Hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa) and Marram (Ammophila arenaria) are occasionally used.

Habitat
Many colonies are coastal, on dunes, saltmarsh, undercliffs, and clifftops. Inland, colonies are found on dry heathland, calcareous grassland, old quarries, earthworks, derelict industrial sites such as old spoil heaps and, in a few areas, in open woodland on stony ground. It occurs on a wide range of soil types, but all are dry and well-drained, with sparse vegetation and plenty of bare ground in open positions.
Jamesp, siggi, Juyona, viv, zulfu, xTauruSx, haraprasan, rkailas, anel, bahadir, jaycee, eqshannon has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16520)
  • [2008-07-16 22:10]

Hi Gert

A great shot od this well camoflaged butterfly. Excellent detail and exposure here. Well seen and captured.

James

  •      
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3260] (14687)
  • [2008-07-16 22:39]

Hello Gert, How did you manage to spot this? The color of the fly and the sorroundings are same. Well done Ganesh smiley shortly

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2252 W: 10 N: 2594] (15451)
  • [2008-07-17 0:40]

Hola Gert,
magnífica macro,
perfecto pov y camuflaje...
detalles excelentes.
saludos
Pl.

  • Great 
  • viv Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 297 W: 3 N: 653] (3307)
  • [2008-07-17 0:49]

Hoi Gert,
Mooi shot, daar moet je oog maar opvallen, mooi scherp en veel details.
Heel apart.
Groet
Viv

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1019 W: 0 N: 162] (858)
  • [2008-07-17 0:55]

Hello Gert, wonderful shot of a rare butterfly. TFS. Regards,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1336 W: 56 N: 4502] (15508)
  • [2008-07-17 1:31]

Hello Gert,
great use of the light here and as usual very well done with the selective sharpening. I also like the patch of stone you have in focus too, it adds some very nice detail. The composition is excellent.
Siggi

Hello Gert, wonderful macro capture of a a endangerad butterfly. TFS.
G's, Deniz

Hi Gert,
A wonderful shot of this beautiful grayling butterfly. Sorry to know that this beautiful species is endangered. Very well composed with sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hi Gert

Very well seen! The camoflauge of the texture and color are captured superbly. Maybe it is redlisted because they are difficult to find :)!

TFS and Best
Ravi

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1689 W: 0 N: 3811] (15342)
  • [2008-07-17 5:41]

Hello Gert,
Unspectacular subject but very interesting to see its camouflage possibilities on this bark.
You must have good eyes to have seen it.
Thanks also for yourgood note on the Grayling
Best regards
Anne

Hello Gert, a fine macro capture of this butterfly. TFS.
Regards, Bahadır

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-07-17 8:40]

Hi Gert,

I don't know how you even spotted this - you must have seen motion. This is the best camouflaged butterfly I have seen. The exposure is so good that you show excellent details.

Jane

A fascinating wheres Waldo image Gert. It is so important to get these Red flags just in case for posterity. super cammo capture!
Bob

The BG almost camouflages it, gert!
Beautiful shot!
Goldy

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