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Puddling skippers


Puddling skippers
Photo Information
Copyright: Monika MvJ (thistle) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1317 W: 77 N: 3012] (9272)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-07
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 4200, Nikkor ED 38-114 F/2.8-4.8
Exposure: f/4.8
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-12-06 3:46
Viewed: 867
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
One of the most amazing summer views - a group of paddling butterflies.

What is paddling?

When a butterfly lands on the ground and sips water from a puddle, it is called puddling. At the muddy or sandy puddle (often located near animal dung), the butterfly sips water rich in mineral salts and other essential nutrients (mostly sodium chloride and nitrogen-rich solutions) that have leached from the surrounding soil and rocks.
Usually male butterflies do more puddling than females. The dissolved salts and minerals may be used for example to make pheromones that attract females.

Maybe the view from my photo isn't very spectacular but imagine a sandy road in hot day after summer storm. It is almost always full of different kind of butterflies. When you walk such road these colourful creatures are flying everywhere around you.
The butterflies from my photo are probably some kind of Skippers. There was plenty of them on the road near my house and on the photo you can see only part of them.
I saw also other species doing paddling for example Blues, Cabbage Whites or Brimstone b'flies, but they were quite shy and I don't have any good shots. Only the skippers allowed me to came close enough to capture quite big group.
phlr, Mousehill, Janice, cedryk, red45, petrudamsa, Nico, scottevers7, wallhalla15, marhowie, Dave, liquidsunshine, alejandroguzman, Luc has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Xplorator: :)thistle 5 12-06 05:44
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6167] (21074)
  • [2005-12-06 3:48]

Beautiful montage of these golden skippers. Original presentation. Sharp details and good light and great composition. Well done and TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • phlr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1241 W: 129 N: 881] (2814)
  • [2005-12-06 3:52]

WOW! Excelent composition with this Hesperiidae!
Very good job indeed!
Lucky one with this wonderful momment of Nature!
Perfect on details!
At the right time on the right moment!

Wonderfull composition with great golden colours against the background, good not to go with the image(s).

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2005-12-06 4:12]

Monika, this is fantastic! The day does look hot and dry, and I can feel the thirst they must be feeling. This is an excellent composition and your POV from the ground is the best. Well done, and TFS...
Janice

Hi Monika,
The lighting is very good, and very sharp details,
excellent presentation.
Very well done!

Not much time for a decent comment. I am running late but points are here to stay.
Radu Xplorator

Tak, to bardzo czesty widok - zadajacy klam ze motyle spotkac mozna tylko na kwiatach. Czasem motyle siadaja tez na konskich i krowich odchodach a nawet na spoconych turystach :-) Nadaje sie wszystko co ma wode :-)
Jesli o motyle chodzi to sa to przedstawiciele rodzaju Thymelicus z rodziny Hesperidae (powszelatki).
Bardzo ladna fotka, z dobrymi zblizeniami i swietnym komentarzem!
Serdecznosci,
Michal

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2005-12-06 5:23]

Great presentation Monika! Real paradise for nature photographer here :-) Nice butterflies [but I don't see any spider ;-)], group drinking and changing of gossips ;-) Very interesting note.

A great compo with skippers (Hesperidae family). They came in numbers to have a sip!

Regards, Petru

  • Great 
  • Nico Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 209 W: 1 N: 332] (1313)
  • [2005-12-06 5:54]

Very, very nicely done, Monika. I don't think any of the three on its own would have made quite the same impact. POV and DOF is excellent as is the colour.

Hi Monika,
An outstanding montage here. All the photos have excellent colors, and sharp detail. Exposure was right on the money in the bright light. Very interesting subject with great notes. Nice work!
Scott

Hi Monika,
they are sooooo lovely, the eyes are so big compared to the body, that's so nice.
Also a pretty collage, I like it very much, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • Aramok Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 886 W: 101 N: 1431] (4954)
  • [2005-12-06 11:36]

Don't have much time at the moment, hence short post - but very nice.

Great montage and close up shots of these paddling puddlers Monika. The note is very interesting. :)

  • Great 
  • Dave Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 525 W: 47 N: 674] (2173)
  • [2005-12-06 23:04]

Very nice montage Monika!
Artfully done and quite pretty!
Interesting to see these on the sand instead of some flower...
Excellent note! The picture is spectacular to me...;-)
You have done well!
Thanks,
Dave

Hi Monika,
you have made an excellent collage with great pictures. It´s a super work. I like it. Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • Graal Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 755 W: 31 N: 20] (5032)
  • [2005-12-07 4:26]

Witaj,
trafiłaś na konferencję? Fajnie złapane, dobre ujęcia. Podobają mi się. Super robota wraz z opisem.
Pozdr. Al.

Very nicely presented Monika,
Each image is excellent. Colours, sharpness, POV, DOF and exposure are ..mmmmm....PERFECT;)
It must be really good to see this, I've never seen this before.
Thankyou Monika, a very SWEET post;)
Have a wonderful night.

What a WONDERFUL collage Monika !!!

u got a grea shots..


hugs
alejandro

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2005-12-08 0:44]

Personal assessment of the photo: very good. My screen moves of life.
Capacity of evocation in me: strong.
Strong visual impact.
Personal assessment of the note: complete and very interesting. You lived a great moment.
Thank you very much Monika. Great work!

Excellent presentation Monika. All great views but I like the group shot the best. Instructive notes -
Well done! Thank You.

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