A Butterfly Watcher's Field Kit

by Steve Goddard

For those real close-ups you'll need some form of magnification

Whilst packing my rucksac recently I thought to myself, 'I wonder what other insect watchers carry around with them?' It then occurred to me that this could be an interesting theme for our newsletter. It would be particularly interesting to see what guides to identification we use. So let's share the contents of our pockets and bags. To gee us started I will reveal the contents of my field kit. In no particular order:

Binoculars:

For birds and butterflies (particularly tree-top Hairstreaks).

Monocular:

For real close-ups when binoculars fail. (See Volume 3, October 1994 for more details).

Notebook and pencil:

Policeman style for easy noteraking of those all important species numbers, descriptions and habitat notes.

Hand Lens:

For examining eggs in particular. (JO x Mag recommended). Alas, much under-used since I rarely look for them as I should. (Often an easier way of recording the presence of some species such as Orange-tip).

SLR Camera and 100mm macro lens:

To capture those special moments.

Light weight stool:

For resting a while!

Mini notebook:

Containing identification notes of Suffolk dragonflies lifted from my copy of the excellent Suffolk Dragonflies, (Howard Menr.k!).

Monthly Life Cycles of Suffolk butterflies:

Composed from my copy of the ever helpful Suffolk Butterflies, (Menr.kl & Piotrowski).

Collins Pocket Guide to insects of Britain & W. Europe, Michael Chinery:

Note this is the paperback (inc. Western Europe not Northern. ISBN 0-00-219137-7. £9.99). I carry this not so much for the brilliant Lewingcon butterfly illustrations but more for identification of the many other insects we meet on our expeditions. All illustrations are of the highest standard and the amount of textual information is remarkable in a handy-sized guide. The large number of moth illustrations are superb for the home moth-trap.

The Mitchell Beazley pock.et guide to Butterflies, Paul Whalley:

A superb mini-pocket version of Butterflies of Britain & Ireland ( Thomas and Lewington) but for the coverage of the whole of Europe. (ISBN 0-8533-348-0 £6.99). I like this guide for its perfect illustrations and concise text and all in a slim volume. The main benefits for me are access to condensed diagnostic characteristics and descriptions along-side each accurate illustration (including male and female differences) without the need to wade through long text whilst in rhe, field. Although it covers the whole of E1.1rope, this is not a problem in the UK if cross-checked with an appropriate county guide which narrows down the species you are looking for.

Lens doth and sting relief!

Well that's my lot, I just have to carry it now! I look forward to dipping into many of your field kits in the next few issues.