Art Frames

[Wurzel]

A cracking shot Peter, I especially like the way you've caught the upturn on the antennae

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Art Frames]

Our summer holiday to France this year was a little later than previous years and also not as far south. So my expectations were not overly optimistic.

In preparation I had prepared a list of what was likely to be on the wing in the Dordogne in August together with a few recommended locations from a local expert. It was a list with some interesting species on there but I tried to keep my enthusiasm in check. As we left the UK it was raining but the weather forecast for the Dordogne was 30+ for the whole week (with some showers on the two day journey down). Each year I go to France I say we can't keep doing these huge distances (and then have such a great time change my mind... ). It is a compulsion and a dilemma. This year I booked us into two Chateau B&Bs on the way down, and one on the race homewards (mistake should have done two back as well).

Our holiday was staying in a small pretty village surrounded by walks into lovely countryside. There was the traditional Dordogne fare of caves and canoes should we have wished it, but we didn't. We stick to peace and rural solitude.

The weather was initially OK 30-34, but on some days the temperature hit 38 degrees and that tended to keep even mad dogs inside for a few hours. It seems wrong to moan but our house was at the top of a hill and I am built for comfort, not speed.

So I have a few pictures to share and one video. I'll do my best at uploading them with a few comments to see if I can share what we saw just a couple of weeks ago...(seems like last year! )

There were many hundreds of fritillaries. Biggest numbers were of - Silver-washed Frits
Silver-washed Fritillary, France by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

Weaver's Frits
Weaver's Fritillary - Boloria dia, France by Peter Willmott, on Flickr
Violet (or Weaver's) Fritillary - Boloria dia - underside by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

A good few Meadow Frits
Meadow Fritillary - Melitaea parthenoides, France by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

Pearls
Pearl-bordered Fritillary by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

and Knapweed
Knapweed Fritillary - Melitaea phoebe by Peter Willmott, on Flickr
Knapweed Fritillary - Melitaea phoebe by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

Sometimes together...
Silver-washed and Knapweed Fritillaries sharing flowers. by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

One of my personal favourites the Queen of Spain Frits
Queen of Spain Fritillary, France by Peter Willmott, on Flickr
Queen of Spain Fritillary, France by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

As you can see most were in pretty good condition and most of these pictures were taken in quite unremarkable meadows and waste land.That is the one thing that makes France a personal joy to me - the amount of good open ground there is teeming with butterflies. There were the 'dead' areas probably sprayed and farmed the 'modern' way but plenty of old and untouched meadow and scrub to walk through full of insect life. I wish we had it in Northants!

One of the highlights for me were the Lesser Purple Emperors. Both the dark and orange (Clytie) forms. I saw more than I could photograph as they were quite active in the heat and often high unless there was something smelly to bring them down. I was a partial draw with one enjoying some sweat (sorry no pictures!)

Lesser Purple Emperor - Aparatura ilia (form Clytie) by Peter Willmott, on Flickr
Lesser Purple Emperor - Aparatura ilia (form Clytie) by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

Lesser Purple Emperor- Aparatura ilia by Peter Willmott, on Flickr
Lesser Purple Emperor- Aparatura ilia by Peter Willmott, on Flickr
Lesser Purple Emperor- Aparatura ilia by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

Alongside the LPE's were Southern White Admirals and Maps.
Southern White Admiral - Liminenitis reducta by Peter Willmott, on Flickr
Map butterfly second brood (dark form) by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

Another highlight was to see a number of Dryads. A butterfly I struggle to depict well. It is always ungainly and clumsy in landing. I was actually fairly pleased with this shot...
Dryad - Minois dryas, France by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

This one displaying the more usual ragged and torn specimen. But they are still lovely
Dryad - Minois dryas, France by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

Speaking of ragged and torn. Here was a late surviving Large Blue. I had hoped for better but am glad I kept this shot as it was my only sighting.
Large Blue - Maculinea arion, France by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

But some specimens were in absolutely super condition. Including this Sooty Copper
Sooty Copper - Lycaena tityrus by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

And this Small Copper
Small Copper by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

Dozens of Adonis Blues
Adonis blue - France by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

Hundreds of Holly Blues
Holly Blue. by Peter Willmott, on Flickr
Holly Blue - Celastrina argiolus by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

Berger's Clouded Yellow
Berger' Clouded Yellow - Coleus alfacariensis, France by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

The one Swallowtail that slowed down....
Swallowtail - Papilio machaon, France by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

And I'll stop part one with a picture which I love as a picture... . Just shows what good light can do for a photo and why artists love the European light...

Peacock on Lavender by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

[Wurzel]

Fantastic shots as per usual Peter especially the Knapweed and Silver-washed side by side

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Tremendous, Peter. I shall thoroughly look forward to seeing further images from your trip (Dryad and Map are particularly appealing from your first selection).

[Goldie M]

Great shot's Peter, especially the Swallow Tail and the size of the shot's make them even more impressive Goldie

[trevor]

Classic images once again, Peter. Keep em' coming.
I particularly like the Southern White Admiral.

Trevor.

[Art Frames]

Thank you Trevor, Goldie M, David M and Wurzel, for those kind comments. I am thinking I might put these pictures and especially the video elsewhere as well as here as it may have wider interest (I can't imagine many people looking at my diary... ). If that breaks rules then I apologise.

During the week I saw three different Graylings: Tree Grayling - Hipparchia statilinus, Great-banded Grayling - Brintesia circe and a lot of Woodland Grayling - Hipparchia fagi. I had seen Great-bandeds before many times but not certain of the others. I believe I am now better at IDing the u/s - but you may believe otherwise please tell me...


Tree Grayling - Hipparchia statilinus, France


Great-banded Grayling - Brintesia circe


Woodland Grayling - Hipparchia fagi

But on the last day I began to see this beautiful and elaborate courtship dance. I saw three pairs of Woodland Graylings doing it and so in addition to a few photos I shot some video which I encourage you to look at as it is so delicate and touching.


Pair of Woodland Graylings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0H2c7kc0Eo

Hope you enjoy this too.

[bugboy]

Superb couple of reports Peter. I love that Peacock, it's almost 3D! The video is fascinating as well, the way the males force the females antennae onto they're scent patches, very persistent little sods aren't they !

[Wurzel]

Cracking set of Graylings - they seem quite easy to differentiate - on a tree = Tree Grayling, massive band across wings = Great-banded etc The last shot of the pair is a beaut I've not got shots like that of our common or garden Grayling

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Nice selection there, Peter. Going later in the summer gives you the opportunity to see a wider variety of Graylings. It's one family I tend to see a restricted range of given the time of year I generally visit France.

One of these days I'll shake of the yoke of work and spend a full 6 months in southern Europe and hopefully get to see more of these fascinating insects.

[Art Frames]

Cracking set of Graylings - they seem quite easy to differentiate - on a tree = Tree Grayling, massive band across wings = Great-banded etc The last shot of the pair is a beaut I've not got shots like that of our common or garden Grayling

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi Wurzel,

Love the simplicity of your technique, I must take you with me another time as it would stop me poring over books for hours and there'd be more time for drinking the vino.

But I presents another problem. I need a new book as the old ones don't even mention the Tarmac Grayling and I think there is definitely a possibility of dividing Tree Grayling into a subspecies called Post Grayling as well.

And I'd love to see pictures of your Garden Grayling. I am building a mental picture of resplendent gardens at Wurzel Towers full of exotic fauna.

cheers

peter

[Art Frames]

Superb couple of reports Peter. I love that Peacock, it's almost 3D! The video is fascinating as well, the way the males force the females antennae onto they're scent patches, very persistent little sods aren't they !

Thanks Bugboy. The peacock is a huge favourite of mine. I think the blue fringing makes the effect of pulling it away from the background. never seen that edge before. But it is good at a large size.

cheers

peter

[Art Frames]

Nice selection there, Peter. Going later in the summer gives you the opportunity to see a wider variety of Graylings. It's one family I tend to see a restricted range of given the time of year I generally visit France.

One of these days I'll shake of the yoke of work and spend a full 6 months in southern Europe and hopefully get to see more of these fascinating insects.

Thank you David. I have settled upon taking one organised trip and one personal trip a year (but more and longer sounds good too). I do appreciate the organised trips - the reports of your trip this year demonstrate all of the reasons why. A large number of butterflies, excellent local knowledge, help with the ID work. I've put it on my list!

In contrast my own trips give me the chance for personal exploration and time to enjoy the less dramatic and less spectacular as well as occasionally finding a really good butterfly. I do wonder what it would be like living in some of the places we visit. So a longer break might be good for me too.

peter

[David M]

In contrast my own trips give me the chance for personal exploration and time to enjoy the less dramatic and less spectacular as well as occasionally finding a really good butterfly. I do wonder what it would be like living in some of the places we visit. So a longer break might be good for me too.

Yes. I know exactly what you mean, Peter. Much as I enjoy the guided trips, I'm never happier than when pottering about on my own going wherever my senses take me.

[Art Frames]

This one shot of a Clouded yellow was taken in the wild garden of a chateau B&B we stayed in on the way back home. The owner was trying for an English country garden style. But I wish my Cosmos had such visitors.


Clouded Yellow on a Cosmos flower

[trevor]

A truly gorgeous shot, Peter.

[Wurzel]

Indeed Trevor it is a beaut of a shot - the colours are truly astounding

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Beautiful contrast, Peter. Yes, it'd be nice if crocea popped up in the UK as regularly as it does in France.

[Art Frames]

I have a few more from France, which I might upload....but I actually had a few hours yesterday in (relative) warmth and sunshine. Well in comparison with the damp and cold of the past two weeks... So I treated myself to a walk round Summer Leys reserve, which is local and good for Autumnal scenes. Within the limitations of the fauna of Northamptonshire it was a good day...(our Walls are all stone or brick! Trevor... )

One Small Copper. I must have taken 30 pictures and the best shots were of the underside...


A single Red Admiral, but strongly marked and in a nice place...


Commas were there in good numbers and in lovely condition...posing for me every few yards




Speckled Woods similarly in good numbers but a bit patchy, so I post this one as it is better shape...


This Migrant Hawker Dragonfly was also enjoying the day...


As a final shot...having seen just one Red Admiral there have been dozens more at home on the Ivy, but not yesterday as it was heaving with wasps..

[Wurzel]

Beautiful set of shots Peter, that first one in particular really allows you to appreciate the subtlety of the Small Copper underside in comparison to the almost brash topside

Have a goodun

Wurzel