Glowworm weekend

RobinP · #1 (**permalink**) 12-07-2008, 01:57 PM

Intending to lurk around a known site later tonight, unfortunately my green led key-ring hasn't arrived yet, but no worries, will still stake out aforementioned patch hopefully without attracting the attention of the local constabulary. If I get a usable pic I will post it on here.

tigger · #2 (**permalink**) 12-07-2008, 02:42 PM

I did a bit of "lurking" a couple of weeks ago (with 37 other people) out on our local heath in Dorset.... we found 5 glow worms in total! See a writeup by clicking here

Brilliant creatures. I didn't manage to get a good photo - difficult to get!

Jane

shirl · #3 (**permalink**) 12-07-2008, 03:23 PM

I am out tonight as well, first visit 3 females, last 2 visits 2 females (hope the other was succesful in mating) but so far there have been fewer here than last year. Fingers crossed for a cloudy but dry evening

Shirl

tigger · #4 (**permalink**) 12-07-2008, 04:30 PM

For those that are out looking at Glow Worms did you know that you can record your sightings at the UK Glow worm survey website - click here for info

Well worth sending your records in.... or send them to your local Environmental Records Centre

ollyk · #5 (**permalink**) 12-07-2008, 05:51 PM

Has anyone thought about their photographic techniques with regard to glow worms?

I am thinking it would be best to have the camera on a tripod and expose for the 'lantern', and hand hold your flash some experimental distance at a low power level?

shirl · #6 (**permalink**) 12-07-2008, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ollyk

Has anyone thought about their photographic techniques with regard to glow worms?

I am thinking it would be best to have the camera on a tripod and expose for the 'lantern', and hand hold your flash some experimental distance at a low power level?

John Tyler (the glowworm expert) has an online "book" which can be accessed from the UK Glowworm Survey ( Glow-worms Part 3 ) there is a section on part 3 about watching and photographing)

Shirl

ollyk · #7 (**permalink**) 12-07-2008, 07:08 PM

Thanks Shirl, just read that yeah sounds like I got things about right

djackso · #8 (**permalink**) 12-07-2008, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobinP

Intending to lurk around a known site later tonight, unfortunately my green led key-ring hasn't arrived yet, but no worries, will still stake out aforementioned patch hopefully without attracting the attention of the local constabulary. If I get a usable pic I will post it on here.

Thanks for the timely reminder - just found a possible site within a couple of miles of where I like - looking forward to a torchlight investigation.

zail · #9 (**permalink**) 12-07-2008, 11:46 PM

On the bat walk I was on tonight we saw 1 glow worm

Very bright it was too! First time i've seen one for years

RobinP · #10 (**permalink**) 13-07-2008, 03:51 PM

Didn't get a glimmer last night, might try again tonight though!

shirl · #11 (**permalink**) 13-07-2008, 04:23 PM

Two females again last night, they have been there for days so I hope they find a mate soon or they will be dying off before they lay eggs, might have another check tonight.

Shirl

djackso · #12 (**permalink**) 14-07-2008, 05:54 AM

We went out last night to a local common that was once supposed to have glow worms. We walked round and round a field where I thought they might be. Then, nearly giving up, we thought we'd try another field. (I say we, but my partner had no faith in seeing them at all.) I turned the torch off and hey presto - wow! I saw the first two. I was overjoyed. I didn't know what to expect. They were brighter and smaller that I thought they'd be. We found 4 more after that. I took some pictures, but they may need tweaking before I post.

I'm a tired but happy bunny this morning.

wildlifesnapper · #13 (**permalink**) 14-07-2008, 08:53 AM

Hi

something I have never seen. To be honest I wouldn't know where to look as I don't think they are very common around here, but I may be wrong.
Has anyone any tips or could PM me if they are in my area. It would be much appreciated as I'd love to see them

Thanks,

neil

tigger · #14 (**permalink**) 14-07-2008, 09:36 AM

Have a look at the Glow worm website for Counties that they have been seen...

Looks like they are in Derbyshire... the reports are pretty old, but hopefully they should still be there!

Tormentil · #15 (**permalink**) 14-07-2008, 09:51 AM

Reading the posts they seem to be 'uncommon' these days. I recall when I was in Blandford, we used to walk up from the Langton Arms in Tarrant Monkton back to the camp and the hedge in the lane would be awash with them. Mind this was 40 years ago !!

shirl · #16 (**permalink**) 14-07-2008, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildlifesnapper

Hi

something I have never seen. To be honest I wouldn't know where to look as I don't think they are very common around here, but I may be wrong.
Has anyone any tips or could PM me if they are in my area. It would be much appreciated as I'd love to see them

Thanks,

neil

Hi Neil

They most certainly are in Derbyshire, limestone areas are particlulary good plus disused railway lines (and we have plenty of those!), even though the reports on the UK glowworm site are quite old, it's still worth checking. If you contact the UK glowworm survey or perhaps Nick Moyes Derby Museum, you may be able to get details of particulary good sites which are "open" to the public.

The National Trust shows Ilam Park and Dovedale as good glow worm sites.

Shirl

djackso · #17 (**permalink**) 14-07-2008, 04:32 PM

Taking photos was a little tricky in the dark. I hope to try again next year.

This shows the male on top of the female, who is partially hidden.

Here the female is on view, and the glowing tail is visible.

shirl · #18 (**permalink**) 14-07-2008, 05:44 PM

Wow! Absolutely fantastic, how did you manage to get the shots? Brilliant stuff.

Shirl

djackso · #19 (**permalink**) 14-07-2008, 06:23 PM

Thanks, shirl, glad you enjoyed them. I just put the camera on macro and it did the rest. Unfortunately, the focus missed the beetles and chose the twigs. But they do remind me of a fantastic evening - although nothing compares with the thrill of seeing the pure beauty of the lights of the glow worms in the pitch black beneath the oak trees.

shirl · #20 (**permalink**) 15-07-2008, 01:26 PM

Checked our glow worms again last night, only 1 female now and she wasn't glowing brightly, I fear she is nearing the end. She had moved about 0.5m from where she started off, so hopefully she will find a mate soon. Will be keeping a check for others though at least for the next few weeks.

Shirl

RobinP · #21 (**permalink**) 16-07-2008, 10:05 PM

Finally connected tonight, 2 females glowing intermittently but quite noticeable.

Attempted some pics but almost impossible to frame the shot in the dark, this is the only one I got anywhere near in focus, the bright green dot in the middle is the Glowworm! Nice blade of grass obscuring the beastie too! Never mind, I haven't given up yet, despite falling in a ditch (fortunately dry).

shirl · #22 (**permalink**) 17-07-2008, 01:26 PM

Great stuff there getting any pic, I can't focus properly in the dark and even with a torch light I can't see where the glow worms are. Just a thought, you said there were 2 females glowing intermittently, usually intermittment light comes from larvae - could your 2 be larvae? Larvae are so rare to spot and are really under recorded, the UK glow worm survey would be really delighted if they were larvae. If you managed to get a good look though and they were the adult beetle stage, then 2 female glow worms are still an exciting find.

I thought we had a larva last year, the glow went on and then off, convinced it was a larva - then after difficult investigation realised it was a female and a thick stalk was waving around from time to time obscuring the light! What fun.

Must check my one remaining glow worm again, mind you there is still time for new ones to emerge, the larvae must be gorging on all the goodies in lovely wet grass.

Shirl

RobinP · #23 (**permalink**) 17-07-2008, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shirl

I thought we had a larva last year, the glow went on and then off, convinced it was a larva - then after difficult investigation realised it was a female and a thick stalk was waving around from time to time obscuring the light! What fun.Shirl

I had similar fun, Shirl, think it was just the grass waving around in front of the female. But I will be checking regularly, apparently they can be seen right into the Autumn. I recommend an led torch though, gives a softer light than a usual torch. You don't need one with too many led's either, you can even buy ones that go over your head (like a miner's lamp) from DIY stores.

shirl · #24 (**permalink**) 17-07-2008, 05:32 PM

I will try an led torch, you never know I might be able to focus on the glow worm although I don't think that's likely. Still you have to practice these things.

Shirl

Barry3 · #25 (**permalink**) 18-07-2008, 11:03 PM

Just completed annual Glow worm walk. On first track which does suffer a little light pollution 7 females.Second track had 21 females,this is always the better spot.
Regarding photography of Glow worms,I never use flash just the outer ring of light from a torch.Any more light overpowers the glow.Camera settings for the photo attached were, 0.7sec asa400 F2.8
Barry3