My discussions with others 'getting on in years' suggests that we all make a determined effort to reduce to a minimum our carrying weight on butterfly trips. 'Can we leave the food in the car?' is probably one of the most common questions at the start of a meeting. In my case this has recently extended to my camera and I tend now just to carry binoculars and a small, lightweight monocular.
This was my undoing, on 13 May, 2000. I had every reason to have a camera, since I had planned to look at Green Hairstreaks on Rushmere Common then go into Ipswich for shopping, including the purchase of a cable release for the camera. My excuse for leaving the camera at home was that it would be a standard fit anyway.
While searching likely bushes I came across a Small Copper, very still and perfectly posed for a photograph. What was different about it was that the usual markings were replaced by a creamy white, which covered much of the upperwings and part of the lower ones. This is the rare aberrant albino form, alba, though at the time I wasn't aware of its rarity. I also neglected to mark the spot properly and a camera-laden return the next day was fruitless.
Richard Stewart
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(Typically under 700 kb) ~ See the top menu.