Butterflies and Snowdrops

Bishops Palace – Wells, Somerset, UK. ID IMG_1893

A few weeks ago I broke by camera and lens in a accident falling several feet down a bank onto a road.  So until these are fixed or replaced I using a spare camera.  It is good, I got it a couple of years ago, but all the controls are different and it is a steep learning curve to get used to it.

So it was time to get out snow-dropping with this strange camera.

Bishops Palace – Wells, Somerset, UK. ID IMG_1890

The Bishops Palace in the tiny Somerset city of Wells is a beautiful location.  The chance to photograph these flowers on a glorious sunny morning a few days before their snowdrop festival could not be missed.

Snowdrops – Bishops Palace, Wells, Somerset, UK. ID IMG_1902

The low winter sun highlights the snowdrops and crocuses.

Snowdrops – Bishops Palace, Wells, Somerset, UK. ID IMG_2151

The dew created pearls of light.

Snowdrops – Bishops Palace, Wells, Somerset, UK. ID IMG_2072

Even a few daffodils are coming out.

Snowdrops and Daffodils – Bishops Palace, Wells, Somerset, UK. ID IMG_1986

And finally…

The biggest surprise was a February butterfly.  A red admiral had come out hibernation to feed on the snowdrops.

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) – Wells, Somerset, UK. ID 825_2497

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) – Wells, Somerset, UK. ID 825_2369