Tircis

<< Previous Next >>
Tircis
Photo Information
Copyright: Nigel Deacon (Merlin) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 373 W: 219 N: 288] (894)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-09-01
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 4500
Exposure: f/5.4, 1/200 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): European Butterflies 2, Satyrinae - Worldwide [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-02-19 11:37
Viewed: 1752
Points: 56
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Speckled Wood, Pararge aegeria tircis (Linnaeus, 1758)

The aptly named Speckled Wood flies in partially shaded woodland with dappled sunlight. The male usually perches in a small pool of sunlight, from where it rises rapidly to intercept any intruder. Both sexes feed on honeydew in the tree tops and are rarely seen feeding on flowers, except early and late in the year when aphid activity is low.

The UK range of this butterfly contracted during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, but has spread back since the 1920s. It has continued to spread over the past two decades, recolonizing many areas in eastern and northern England and Scotland.

The tircis subspecies, which occurs throughout most of the UK, has the wings spotted with cream. The aegeria subspecies, found throughout much of Europe, has orange spots.

European/world range
Widespread throughout Europe; also in North Africa and eastwards to the Urals. It has expanded in several European countries, and its range has extended northwards.

Foodplants
Various grasses are used, including False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum), Cock's-foot (Dactylis glomerata), Yorkshire-fog (Holcus lanatus), and Common Couch (Elytrigia repens).

Habitat
Towards the northern and eastern margins of its range, the Speckled Wood breeds only in woodland habitats, but elsewhere it also uses lanes and tracks between tall hedgerows, parks, gardens, and scrub. It seems to prefer slightly damp areas where there is tall grass and some shade.

Another photograph taken in my garden, where this butterfly (and others) was feeding on Ivy flowers under the big Ash tree. Cropped about 25%, sharpened a little and resized for posting. I tried a number of crop options, but this one was the most pleasing, to my eye at least ....
dew77, ALIRIZA, phlr, livios, peter_stoeckl, scottevers7, honza, fiyo, coasties, sandpiper2, red45, marhowie, goutham_ramesh, PDP, wallhalla15, cedryk, firelord, RII, RAP has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To antonio_costa: Bird IDMerlin 1 03-29 14:09
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2006-02-19 11:39]

Hello Nigel!
Excellent close up.POV,crisp clear details,sharpness,
colors,framing and composition are wonderful.
Tfs...:-)

Hi Nigel !
Excellent macro, very beautiful. It's very close and well detailed. I liked POV, colors and lighting also. Thanks for the good shoting!
ALIRIZA

  • Great 
  • phlr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1293 W: 133 N: 866] (2750)
  • [2006-02-19 12:04]

Very good photo of this common Satyridae!
Very good on colours!
Very nice POV!
Very good BG too!
TFS!

wow! tis a beautiful butterfly shot, wonderful kind

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2307 W: 324 N: 4310] (16834)
  • [2006-02-19 13:20]

Nigel, another very nice macro.

I do enjoy composition, sharpness and the blurred bg.

Great contrast between the main subject and the bg.

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2171 W: 124 N: 2580] (8206)
  • [2006-02-19 13:37]

you captured it very nice Nigel,
the composition is not spectaculair but The quality standaard is nice, the pov is good and the dof is great. a little cropping can improve the shot, nice job.
gr. jaap

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3085 W: 231 N: 5879] (19530)
  • [2006-02-19 14:47]

Wow, what natural beauty captured with technical perfection, Nigel. An unusual butterfly with interesting markings and colors. TFS. : )

Hello Nigel,
very telling, beautiful portrait of the Speckled Wood. Very lively, your picture takes me right out into the woods - or into your garden. Just a few weeks, and we will have a chance to meet that little beauty again. The soft colours of the wings and the green iridenscence of hairs have been delightfully captured. Notes very instructive and good to read, too. Thank you for that fresh and lively contribution, Nigel.
Have a very good week! Best regards,
Peter

La nettetée et les détails de cette photo m'impressionne. On peu męme voir un fil d'araigné qui traverse l'image.
Bravo
Nicolas

Hi Nigel,
The composition, crop, and framing look great. The light was excellent here. Very subtle and beautiful colors. Detail is sharp, and your control on the DOF was perfect for this shot.
I really like that green hair he has growing.
Scott

  • Great 
  • honza Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 549 W: 0 N: 682] (4047)
  • [2006-02-20 2:49]

Very nice photo of the interesting butterfly. I like composition, sharpness and perfect BG.

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 966 W: 5 N: 2187] (7950)
  • [2006-02-20 3:23]

Hello Nigel,wonderful capture.POV,colors,sharpness and composition are excellent.

Hi Nigel

Fantastic shot. Good POV and light. Tack sharp with crisp, clear details. Good work. Thanks.

Good shot, great POV and DOF. Good composition and exposure.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2741 W: 75 N: 7390] (24735)
  • [2006-02-20 7:47]

Hello Nigel!

Beautifull, fragile composition with this butterfly and leaf. Detailed and sharp, with good light. Most of all I like POV. I tried to capture these insects few times, but you did it much better! Great note also.

Very nice Nigel.
Outstanding sharpness, detail and exposure.
Composed well - Very well done.

Hello Nigel
I like this picture very much like i like most of the pictures in your portfolio.
I love butterflies and birds.
This one is a sharp and clear shot, well composed and good POV and BG.
Congratulations and Regards
TFS!!!!
JC

Hi Nigel,

Great capture!
Excellent colors , dof and composition.
A spider's slik can also be seen in the picture,

TFS
Goutham R

Nice detail, well done.

Greg

Hello Nigel,
This is a very good picture. It's very clear, has nice framing and details.
WELL DONE!

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2966 W: 366 N: 3849] (11733)
  • [2006-03-07 15:10]

Hello Nigel, nice shot. I've spent many a lunchtime chasing these around brambles. Not always wasy to pin down and even less easy to find them somewhere photogenic. I think you did a great job, well done.

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1549 W: 0 N: 1182] (6478)
  • [2006-03-08 13:56]

Hi Nigel,
Excellent shot!
Very good sharpness and details,
great composition and good work on DOF.
Thanks for sharing!

Hello Nigel,
i like this composition. Good colors, details of this nice butterfly. Complete and useful note.
Regards
Hernán

  •      
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1250 W: 103 N: 4157] (18915)
  • [2006-03-25 14:57]

So sharp and clear, a beautiful composition. Very well done. Thanks Nigel.

Mario

Sorry no more smileys (they should give us more)

Beautilful butterfly shot nigel. Very good colors, great POV/DOF and very good sharpness. Very good informative note too. This is a great composition. TFS.
Gr.
Heinz

Hello Nigel, thanks you very much for your information. I'm only an amateur photographer with small knowledge about biology, but I'll try to learn more from you and other biologists.Regards

Hi Nigel!
Very nice shot with great composoition and good technical! Excellent use of DOF to isolate the background.
Tanks for posting.
Regards, Amir

  • Great 
  • cedryk Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 956 W: 57 N: 1608] (4945)
  • [2006-04-01 16:03]

Hi Nigel,
Very nice composition and colours. Never seen this subspecies - very informative shot and note!
Best greetings,
Michal

  • Great 
  • RII Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 470 W: 0 N: 838] (2634)
  • [2006-05-21 15:32]

Hi Nigel.
Great capture and very nice composition, good colors details and contrast, is a great photo.

Saludos desde MEXICO...RICARDO.

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2006-10-12 7:51]

Esta es otra de la imágenes Nigel que tengo pendiente de criticar anteriores a mi regreso a TN.
Me gusta mucho la composición, por el encuadre, por el correcto DOF y agudeza, por los suaves tonos y el perfecto despegue de la mariposa del fondo.
Una bonita presentación.
Saludos... Ricardo

This is another of the images Nigel that I have pending of to criticize previous to my return to TN.
I like the composition a lot, for the framing, for the correct DOF and sharpness, for the soft tones and the perfect takeoff the butterfly of the bottom.
A beautiful presentation.
Greetings... Ricardo

... smile in next days

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF