I spent some time last week at the Kiplincotes Chalk quarry YWT nature reserve with the objective to capture some nice photos of Marbled White butterflies.
Armed with my camera with flash and 150mm macro lens on tripod I parked up in the small layby, big enough for 2-3 cars and walked into the reserve.
Straight away I saw a worn Common Blue and dozens of Large Skippers, then one single Marbled White, I followed it but it did not land and flew off over the Hawthorns.
I headed towards the sunny side of the quarry on the left slopes and saw quite a few Marbled whites.
I climbed the steps to the meadow field on the upper level and the place was alive with Marbled Whites, more Large Skippers than I have ever seen before, dozens of Burnet Moths and odd Red Admiral passing through.
The wind was a bit strong and the sun didn't come out much. The butterflies tended to stay on the wing most of the time with only very brief moments perching, mostly in the long grass.
I managed to photograph a quite confiding one as it fed on Field Scabious.
The Soldier Beetles were busy too.
