Holiday to Spain 2017 Part 5a

[Philzoid]

Part 5a … a short interlude

14/08/17
As our last day’s holiday was the 19th I was acutely aware that time was running out for my “big trip out” . However, it wasn’t to be on this day though. My daughters were set on going out on a dolphin spotting trip so that’s what we did on a boat from Fuengirola …….. and didn’t see any dolphins . We saw a flying fish though . Understandably there was no proper refund but the policy was an offer to go again at half price for all customers who missed out. The others were keen to do so but I declined (nothing to do with sitting on a loud droning boat for 90 minutes being tossed around on a choppy sea you understand ) because this gave me the opportunity to get my big trip in while they did their thing

When the seagulls follow the pleasure boat it’s because they think they are going to see dolphins

Prior to our pleasure cruise I’d done my usual search on MP1. First of all, I searched a cleared area where I’d first seen the Sage (Cinquefoil) Skipper. No skippers but a fast flying orange-brown butterfly alerted me to the presence that a Wall Brown was about.
The Wall, as is often seen with this species, did not let me anywhere near it. The shots were taken with zoom on the FZ-72.

At the far end of the track I veered to the left and down the hill getting closer to the A-7 and discovered an old shack (where I presume someone lived) . This is something I saw in Tenerife too when exploring ‘waste ground’ near the resort: a shed constructed of bits of woods, corrugated iron, water barrels and palm leaves .. .and that one was definitely inhabited .
As well as some new grasshoppers (see pics) I came across another of those ‘Grizzled Skippers’. The plant the butterfly was on reminded me of sage and it was actually these pictures which persuaded me to revise my ID from Pyrgus cirsii to Muschampa proto.

On my way back to the others, I came across what looked like a small Gatekeeper butterfly. The butterfly was worn but nevertheless alert and difficult to get near to continually moving-on and parking itself in inaccessible places . Although the underside looked plainer, less ornate than the cecelia I was used to seeing, I concluded that this was just another Southern Gatekeeper: - but a male this time. All the other ones I’d seen up until that point must have been females .

Male Southern Gatekeeper

Male

Female Southern Gatekeeper

Female

The day finished with dinner on the veranda and another visit from a field cricket

Tomorrow would be the big day

Phil

[Wurzel]

Loving all things Hedge Brown/Gatekeeper seeing the 'Southern' in particularly envy inducing

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Southern Gatekeeper is on my wish list, Phil. I envy you for having seen it. Sadly, my visits to continental Europe tend to be over by mid-July, so I don't get the chance to see the late summer specialists. I hope to put that right over the next few years though, as there is plenty to see in August and early September in these warmer climes.

[Philzoid]

Loving all things Hedge Brown/Gatekeeper seeing the 'Southern' in particularly envy inducing

I suppose you are Wurzel getting that striking welsh aberrant too

Southern Gatekeeper is on my wish list, Phil. I envy you for having seen it. Sadly, my visits to continental Europe tend to be over by mid-July, so I don't get the chance to see the late summer specialists. I hope to put that right over the next few years though, as there is plenty to see in August and early September in these warmer climes.

I need to catch up on the earlier specialists … a holiday in June or July would suit me fine but is unlikely to happen for a while yet . The Southern Gatekeepers were quite common in long grassy areas. I’ve made a comment on them in my final posting which shouldn’t be ... too long.