Martins Down – Skipper Time
The weather was brighter on the Bank Holiday Sunday, but still far from warm. I went on a hopeful first visit to Martins Down, in the hope of seeing some Skippers. However the first thing I found was a Ruby Tiger moth which zoomed past me and then landed on an ants nest, which it crawled up, and then sat in some grass.
Canon EOS 50D (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO100)Ruby Tiger Moth on ants nest. Taken on Canon 50D with Canon MPE-65mm Macro Lens. ISO 100 F11 1/200. Flash from Canon MT-24ex Twin Macro Flash.
Canon EOS 50D (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO100)Ruby Tiger Moth about 1.5x Magnification. Taken on Canon 50D with Canon MPE-65mm Macro Lens. ISO 100 F11 1/200. Flash from Canon MT-24ex Twin Macro Flash.
I did eventually find a resting Skipper. This one being a Dingy Skipper. As it rested still I was able to shoot a close up of its head on my MPE-65mm lens. I then allowed it to crawl onto my hand for some warmth, and managed to take a shot of it one handed with my 100mm lens.
Canon EOS 50D (65mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO100)Dingy Skipper Head about 2x Magnification. Taken on Canon 50D with Canon MPE-65mm Macro Lens. ISO 100 F11 1/200. Flash from Canon MT-24ex Twin Macro Flash.
Canon EOS 50D (100mm, f/11, 1/250 sec, ISO100)Dingy Skipper on my hand. Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 100 F11 1/250. Flash from Canon MT-24ex Twin Macro Flash.
Lastly I found a male Grizzled Skipper roosting. I took a shot of it on the tripod with my 100mm Macro Lens and then a close up portrait shot on the MPE.
Canon EOS 50D (100mm, f/8, 1/160 sec, ISO400)Grizzled Skipper. Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F8 1/160. Tripod in Natural Light.
Canon EOS 50D (65mm, f/13, 1/250 sec, ISO100)Grizzled Skipper about 2.5x Magnification. Taken on Canon 50D with Canon MPE-65mm Macro Lens. ISO 100 F13 1/250. Flash from Canon MT-24ex Twin Macro Flash.
Map of Location.
Car Park off main A354 road for the reserve.
