France/Spain late 2015.

[LancsRover]

Russ, you must have had what we are routinely due.

It's been unseasonably glorious here for at least a week. I think Scotland has broken records today for October temperatures. I'm sure I saw 23c on the early evening bulletin.

Hi David, only 2 days of rain in 5 weeks, can't complain, back up to 22c & sunny today, plenty flying

Cheers Russ

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Russ,
Those flooded campsite photos are impressive. You should take up kayaking as a sideline to butterfly spotting
Lots of buddleia in good condition I see - its about all dried up in Marseilles now.
As for your shield bug, I'll wager Carpocoris mediterraneus. Stick that in Google.
Cheers, Chris

[LancsRover]

Friday 11.9.15 Col du SOULOR(1474 metres ASL). A very warm day 26c.
A drive up the ACUN valley to the col du Soulor and down the Arbeost valley to Lourdes and Agos.
Only Small Heath & the odd Clouded Yellow flying at the top of the col. but on the drive down the other side at around 1200 metres I found, numerous Chalk-hill Blues, Adonis Blue( I think), Lang's shot-tail Blue, Walls and a Glanville Frit.
Poor internet connection so pics to follow, I hope.

Russ

[LancsRover]

pics from last report(C du Soulor)

[LancsRover]

More from col du Solour report,

[LancsRover]

Col du Soulor report last instalment,
I drove further down the valley past ARBEOST village and spotted some rather large b/f's flying around the tops of 4/5 high buddleia bushes on a small patch of scrub land, there were Silver-washed Frits(most in poor condition), 3/4 Peacocks and 10+ Swallowtails( the most I've every seen in one place) but none of these b/f's would keep still in the late afternoon hot sunshine and so I've only got one pic of a Swallowtail to show.

Russ

[Charles Nicol]

very nice pics Russ !

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Russ,

Quote "Wall with 2 white dots in the eyespot, not seen before?"

I think it is a Large Wall, which puts a different angle on things !

Cheers, Chris

[David M]

Well spotted, Chris. The paler ground colour of the underside of the hindwing also gives it away.

[LancsRover]

Cheers Charles.

Chris, Yeah I think your right, I only got one shot at it with all the "Blues" around, it could be a male Large Wall, they have 2 dots,.... well dotted I mean spotted

Cheers David,



Russ

[LancsRover]

Sunday 13.9.2015.

We arrived at Aquarius camp site today, it's on the northeast coast of Spain, near St. Pere Pescador, some 40 miles south of Perpignan.

A quick visit to the fields, a little south of our camp site, produced the usual suspects inc. what I think are Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper(please feel free to correct), but no Plain Tigers unlike last year when I saw 10+ on my first visit

Russ

[LancsRover]

17.9.2015.Thursday 27c.Sunny & hot.
A trip to the AIGUAMOLLS N/R, a couple of miles north of the site with my mate Mike a birder but he's getting into butterflies slowly.
This N/R is really a birders site but there are plenty of b/f's about as you would expect, b/f's seen today included Speckled Wood(orange variety), small whites, green-veined, walls, clouded yellows, 5-spotted burnet(moth), grizzled skipper(Oberthur's???), common blues and a "golden" skipper (again ID needed) but could just be a large skipper, no above shot available sorry.
Birds seen Marsh Harrier, White Stork, Grey Heron and Cattle Egrets.

Russ

[David M]

Looks a nailed-on Large Skipper to me, Russ.

They must be double brooded down there.

[LancsRover]

Nothing seems to go by the "book" in Spain, dates wise David, but a few people have told me over the years that butterflies don't read books

Russ

[Padfield]

Hi Russ. Both your 'Oberthür's' from Sunday, 13.9.2015 look like malvoides to me.

Guy

[LancsRover]

Thanks Guy for your correction, there is more white on the ups hind wings on the Southern GS, you probably spotted other things as well?

Another "new" one for me

Cheers Russ

[Charles Nicol]

Egrets, you had a few....

Lovely pics Russ.

[LancsRover]

Nice one Charles

Russ

[LancsRover]

20.9.2015. Sunday 26c Sunny and very warm.

We went for a picnic with some friends, so not much time for the b/f's really but we did stop half way up the hill to the view point/picnic spot to "stretch our legs"
We wondered down a dusty track where I'd seen b/f's before, here we found Bath Whites, Small Whites, Clouded Yellows, Swallowtail, Common Blues(male & female) and a battered Tree Grayling.

I kept seeing large orange coloured b/f's crossing the track at speed but never stopping, I've seen these before in previous years here but the vegetation is so thick here that it is impossible to follow them for a pos. ID.

I've been thinking that they were T/T Pasha? but now I think they could be Lesser Purple Emperors? If they are, they on the edge of their area, but we are only about 30-40 miles into Spain. I've only ever seen these b/f/s in this area of Spain.

Any comments welcome

[LancsRover]

cont'd from last report,

Views of the bay of ROSES from the top of the hill/picnic spot,
Russ