March Fraser’s Hill trip – Part 1

A few of us went back to Fraser’s Hill in March.  As usual, I saw a few lifers and many magnificent butterflies and moths.

We reached FH in the evening, unloaded our luggage and set up the moth screen before we had our dinner.

This is Mr Lim preparing our dinner, sweet and sour fish.

and Mireille serving up white vine.

After dinner, we went to check out the moths.  We had a few big moths but no Saturnids yet.  Johnny the DIY extraordinaire came well prepared this time with a moth-veil and a new and improved flash diffuser and bracket for his Coolpix P5000.
The last time Johnnie join us, his P5000+SB40 setup yielded less than acceptable results for close-up shots. This time he had a new setup.

His new contraption drew ooh and wow from everyone !  The double handed grip, the double diffuser and LCD screen hood for taking under bright sun are all professionally made.

Copyright 2009 Johnnie Wong, Patent pending..;-) 

His new setup worked like a charm and allowed him to take wonderful close-up otherwise impossible with the P5000.

Close-up of a beetle taken with Johnnie’s new Flash diffuser

Green Dragontail taken under bright direct sun.  The LCD hood allowed Johnnie to compose and check his picture there and then without having to retreat to a shaded area.

 

Sunrise at Fraser’s Hill

Laurence taking photo of Atlas moth (Attacas atlas) in a misty morning

 

These are some of the butterflies we saw during this trip.

Athyma selenophora selenophora – The Staff Sergeant.

Lethe vindhya luaba - The Black Forrester.  This freshly emerged individual was photographed at a bamboo bush near our bungalow

Euthalia alpheda langkawica - The Streak Baron

Troides brookiana albescens -The Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing.  After many trips to Fraser’s Hill, I would say RBB is common but localised. Places where you are likely to see RBB include the GAP, the road to Raub and the upper gate at the old road.

Polyura delphis concha - Jewel Nawab. A tattered individual but a rare find. 

Appias cardena perakana – The Yellow Puffin, uncommon. 

Vagrans egista macromalayana -The Vagrant, a very common butterfly at Fraser’s Hill

Ypthima fasciata torone –The Straight-Banded Five Ring, easily recognized by the two straight, dark fasciae crossing the underside of both wings.

Surendra vivarna amisena - Acacia Blue, usually found near its larva host plant – The Petai tree - Parkia speciosa.

Part II will cover moths and other insects