Vignette

For several years now (since May 2012 having looked back) I've been using the Raynox DCR-250 macro lens attachment, first on the Lumix FZ-45 bridge I had at the time and since October 2014 on a Nikon Coolpix P600 bridge. I'm not going to ever pretend that it's as good as working with a proper macro DSLR set-up, but I love it and for the cost it is unbeatable. As with any macro lens, depth of field can be an issue when the camera is fully zoomed in but for most inverts and especially reasonable sized micromoths it's great.

Actually the only problem I have endured is when photographing slightly larger moths, especially some of the geometrids if they sit with wings splayed out a bit. The problem is that as with any lens attachment there is an element of vignetting. Depending on the size and posture of the moth, I can either zoom through the vignetting, or crop it out. So for web purposes the only issue really is that sometimes I am having to crop to a size that means I'm losing a fair bit of the original image size. I'm also sometimes constrained on the aspect ratio which is why I tend to use a variety of image sizes on here - it's not all for artistic purposes, sometimes I have no choice but to crop at a 1:1, 3:2 or 3:4 ratio instead of 4:3.

Here's an example ......

Maiden's Blush - full image with no cropping, vignetting in corners

So as you can see with this example, I can easily crop this image to either a 1:1 square or a 3:4 portrait, but in both instances I'm losing half the original image size. Of course in this example it doesn't help that I opted for an arty on-the-skew framing rather than photographing the moth 'straight-on'. Here's a better example ......

Dotted Border - full image with no cropping, vignetting in corners

Same image showing how much I lose from cropping to a 3:2 ratio to lose vignetting

Where it becomes more of a problem is that I am sometimes forced to crop the subject a bit more tightly than I'd like, and this in conjunction with the contraint on cropping ratio means that images might not be great for future publications.

Anyway, you get the gist. So after years of this I suddenly thought this week that maybe I could just get hold of the lower magnification DCR-150 lens which will give more scope for larger/odd shaped moths. So I got one and had a quick play today. Here are two shots of the same Clouded Drab from last nights trap - not an ideal subject but shows the potential. There are subtle focal length and focussing differences between the two lenses, so what I have done is zoomed the camera to the point where I have nearly lost the vignetting effect (just a slight shadow in the corners).

Using DCR-150

Using DCR-250

Neither of the above is what I want. To get a better surround to the subject on the DCR-250 I need to zoom out ... which will increase the vignetting. On the DCR-150, there is plenty of scope to zoom in and improve image size whilst losing any vignetting but I might lose some depth of field. I'm going to have to play around over the coming weeks to see if I can get a nice balance, but I think I'll be using DCR-150 for most macro moths and DCR-250 for most micros and beetles, bugs etc. Anything larger like Hawk-moths, butterflies and dragonflies are best photographed without any attachment.

The other realisation is that the Coolpix P600 is getting on for five years old now, and although I'm still very happy with the image (a lot cleaner sensor than the Lumix) it is starting to play up a bit with some of the button/dial functions being flaky. Quite possibly time for a new camera this year - no idea what but will have to start looking.

Before I go, here's my best effort with that tiny weird beetle from yesterday - a not very compliant subject and hard to get a nice balance between depth of field and image size (I repeat it was very tiny!).

Cartodere nodifer - Narborough Bog 26/03/2019

Pen-sieve

Managed to get myself out today for an hour, not overdoing anything and taking it easy. Weather not so great, a bit more overcast and cooler, so I fully expected a dearth of invert action unless I looked for it. Something I've never properly bothered with is sieving; I bought a set of gardening sieves and a large round pot saucer a couple of years ago but I usually can't be arsed to get them out of the car and carry them around. So today I thought I'd have a go, albeit tentatively.

Sieve with plant pot saucer below

I headed over to Narborough Bog, figuring that there would a chance to sieve some cut-reed litter, riverside 'tide' litter and also poke around dead wood. Turned out alright, with a couple of new beetles for me including a right weirdo. I imagine a more prolonged and vigorous effort would have been more productive.

Aside from lots of Tachyporus spp. that I ignored, I managed to sieve a few Coccidula rufa, one 16-Spot Ladybird, one Paradromius linearis that I've not seen before, and an all-black Bembedion type carabid to key out. Also a Clubonia sp. and Theridion sp. spider that I might have a go at.

Poking about in dead wood revealed 4x Silpha atrata, 2x Ocys harpaloides and a tiny (<2mm) weird black thing with a pale edge to the pronotum and bumpy bits on the elytra that was intent on mainly playing dead with legs and head tucked in.

So, checking various web resources I finally worked out what this wacky beetle is, Cartodere nodifer. I've not managed to point the camera at any of these beetles yet, but felt that this last one needs to be seen so I've robbed an internet image off Wikipedia to save you the bother of searching.

I will try and photograph some of these if I get a chance tomorrow afternoon. In the meantime I've also sorted the weevils from Huncote Embankment at the weekend, they are Notaris scirpi.

Classic Brindled

Another nice day here in the middle of the midlands. One that I've not been able to make the most of for one reason or another.

Not much in the trap last night, but this was NFY ....

Brindled Pug - 24/03/2019

The passing of Scott Walker reminded me of another occasional theme I used to post about, and this certainly is a classic track.

I discovered that you can add little feedback buttons at the bottom of posts, so I've added some. If you don't feel the need or inclination to comment, you can let me know what you thought with these. You may be able to click multiple buttons, I have no idea.

Sprung

Today was a really nice sunny spring day; plenty of sunshine, light breeze and moderate temps. I needed fresh air and some exercise, so Nichola drove us over to Huncote Embankment for a bit of a leisurely amble. And very nice it was too, with Blackthorn and Gorse in full bloom, Chiffchaffs in full song and with a bit of invert action to boot.

The smell from the abundant Blackthorn was great, and there was plenty going on around the blooms. I failed to successfully point the camera at a few hoverflies, flies and bees but I managed to get these: 

Small Tortoiseshell

I'm pretty sure this is Andrena flavipes - Yellow-legged Mining Bee

 

Plenty going on around the gorse too, with abundant ladybirds and Gorse Weevils, plus a fair few shieldbugs.

Sloe Bug / Hairy Shieldbug

Gorse Shieldbug

Around the pool I had a bit of poke around the reedmace heads, finding larvae of Limnaecia phragmitella in the process along with a couple of Water Ladybirds and Bulrush Bugs.

I decided to collect a fallen stem, cut into foot-long sections so I could fit it in my bag. When I got home I had a poke about in the stem and found a few more bits.

Think this is also Limnaecia phragmitella, though actually in the stem-sheath.

Think this is a pair of Notaris spp. weevils, either N. acridulus or N. scirpi - retained to key.
Keyed to Notaris scirpi

European Cinchbug (Ischnodemus sabuleti)  - micropterous adult

Bulrush Bug (Chilacis typhae)

Egretta garzetta

Remember when Little Egrets were actually rare birds in the UK? And then seeing them more regularly and further inland started being normal, and then they started breeding in small colonies, and then they're everywhere like small pointy white sticks wherever you look .......

Whilst I was being ferried about by Nichola we headed through what used to be Whetstone village (but is now just the middle of a sprawling sub-urban metropolis called Whetstone). Being a passenger means you notice things, like small pointy white sticks looking out of place high up in a tree above Whetstone Brook. As it was still there when we drove back past, I insisted that Nichola ought to bring me back in a few mins with my camera. It was still there, though trying to get anything like a half-decent shot was not easy with crappy lighting and obtrusive twigs in the wrong places. I got it looking both ways. I expect Great White and Cattle Egret, Squacco Heron and Little Bittern in the brook during the next decade.

'Pointy White Stick' in 'Whetstone Village'

Not much excitement in last night's moth trap, but there was a total of 7 Small Quakers. It feels like I usually only see one or two of these in the garden each year, so I checked back. Five or less in all years except 2010 (7 individuals) and 2012 (13 individuals with the highest garden count of 5 on 23/3/2012). I've had 12 so far this year.

Small Quaker - 22/03/2019

Agonopterix alstromeriana - 22/03/2019

Agonopterix heracliana/cilliela agg. - 22/03/2019

Alive and Kicking

Yay, I survived. Home just in time to enthusiastically get the moth trap on before fatigue and reality hit me hard this morning. Still, better to be sore and alive than possibly be not feeling anything.

Not much to shout about in said trap, but a knackered Acleris cristana and these two were NFY.

Shoulder Stripe - 21/03/2019

Diurnea fagella - 21/03/2019

Here's some pertinent 80's classics ......