Australian lepidopterist assistance (and C&C too please)

[billtils]

I am currently visiting my daughter and family in Margaret River in Western Australia. Sitting out on the deck all prepared for some birding shots it became obvious that there were a lot of one kind of butterfly fluttering around - but with little or no intention of alighting.

I finally got one resting on a Bird of Paradise plant leaf:



Early next morning I was out to try and get some more bird shots, and discovered that these butterflies do like to rest - on the ground among the fallen leaves. Not sure if this is for disguise or because the ground heat is warmer, but here's one sunning itself:



Both were taken with the Tamron 150-600 lens on the Nikon D7100. If anyone can enlighten me as to the name of the butterfly that would be great thanks.

And of course C&C welcome - but please remember these were shot with the gear set up for birding and not with my macro lens.

Thanks


Bill

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Bill,

I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that focus on the first one is on the farthest wing, not the eye, which detracts somewhat, but I know getting it right with a telephoto lens can be quite a challenge in the time available (not much easier with a macro lens either for that matter).
If mine, I would crop #1 on the left hand and lower edges; giving the subject more space in front and above in relation to the edges of frame.

#2 is good in this respect and given the circumstances of the shot, the only suggestion might be some PP blurring of the more textured leaves to reduce their 'competition' for attention of the viewer's eye. That said, I also appreciate you may not have access to your usual photo editing set up while away from home.

Can't help with ID I'm afraid.

Enjoy the rest of your trip down under.

Happy New Year, Dave

[billtils]

Thanks Dave

Yep, the DoF with the long lens was negligible and frankly I was just so pleased to find one at rest it was catch as catch can!

The circumstances for the second were much better and I took some time on the composition and focus - with the obvious results. You are correct in that it needs work to quell the competition around the butterfly - which makes what happened with the first one somewhat ironic as (to me at any rate) it is an altogether better composition - pity about the DoF/focus!

I don't know if you've ever been here but this is a really nice part of the world and we love to visit not only for the family catch up but just to enjoy the place. And of course this year we are especially pleased to be away from the wind and rain - I blame the Met Office for naming the storms (removes tongue from cheek ). Here's a touristy shot of the vines where we had lunch on Hogmanay:



Regards

Bill

[billtils]

Seems like there are not too many Aussie lepidopterists around here ... However, I did find what appears to be the bug in question here.

It is a common brown butterfly. I didn't think it was new species but was hoping for something more than "common" Oh well, better concentrate on the focusing and forget about discoveries.


Bill

[DickyOZ]

Hi Bill,
Definitely Heteronympha merope merope or Common Brown, found on the southern coastal fringe from just north of Perth right round to Rockhampton in Queensland (excluding the Great Australian Bight). Plus a small outpost on the Atherton tablelands. The both specimens are males IMHO. An interesting fact is the female mates soon after emerging but doesn't lay her eggs for up to four months.