Common Blue (and a question)

I have recently found a good local site for Common Blues. It's a small meadow which forms part of a nature reserve and during the day at least 4 or 5 can be seen flitting about over the various grasses and flowers. Tonight I thought I would see if I could find any roosting in the evening sunlight. But I couldn't find a single one. It was quite breezy and by the time I arrived (about 7:10) there wasn't much heat left in the sun but I couldn't see one anywhere, despite looking through the grass as best I could. So I was wondering whether anyone knows what exactly are the roosting habits of Common Blues - do they simply bed down singly in long grass in areas where they normally feed or do they all tend to go, together, to a separate area? Do they normally drop right down to the base of the grass?

I will try going a bit earlier and maybe I'll actually see them as they're starting to wind down.

Anyway, after that lengthy preamble, the shot above is one I did get the other day

Sigma 150mm, f9, 1/200, ISO 400 and a bit too much breeze.

All C+C welcomed.

Matt

Hi Matt,

Sorry, I can't help with your question! However, you've managed to capture this Common Blue very nicely indeed! Lovely capture!

I'm no help either, Matt

An excellent shot though

Alan

Matt I am Captian clueless as well so no help but it is a very nice shot


Ian

Sorry but can't tell you much either but you've done very well here despite the breeze!

Matt
In the meadow at the back of our house I find them on the top part of arching grass stems. They can be really difficult to see. If you gently walk around at the right time( and don't ask ! ) Its just that period after warm sunlight and dark time. You will put them up and they will quickly land again in a similar position.
Cheers
This shot is good enough for me.
JohnR

I can't answer your question either Matt, but I can tell you that I think it's an excellent shot. I notice that the body hair is a lot paler than that one I posted the other day in which it was a strong blue colour. I wonder if they are M&F?
Eric

Eric a female common blue is brown more like a small copper, they are sexually dimorphic

Mike

Hi Matt,

I can't help with your question either - butterflies aren't my thing! However, this is a lovely shot!

Clean & simple, the best way

Perhaps the 'brown' dapple at the rear of the butterfly in the FG could be cloned out as I find it a little distracting, but then i am being picky

Steve

Hi Matt. Nice clean shot. No nits for me. RE: Roosting - I think it would be worth trying on a still evening. If it is breezy, most butterflies and day flying moths will crawl further down the grass stems if they are swaying about too much.

Lovely clean sharp image, I have seen these climbing up the grass stems early in the morning-i.e roosting at ground level

Dave

many thanks for the comments. As Elliott says, the fact it was so breezy last night probably caused them to crawl further down the grass stems.

Matt

Hi Matt,

A great Blue, I might have allowed a bit more room to the bottom but that is personal, I do believe they will roost lower down if it is breezy... if you locate them in the evening then place a marker, (a little flag on a stake or similar) you should then be able to return early am and your subject should still be in the same place so you can get early morning light shots as well....