France/Spain Early 2016.

[LancsRover]

Hi All, back on the road again, be it 5/6 weeks later than last year.
We came down through Rouen, Orleans, Clermont-Ferrand, over the Massif Central(A75), very cold as you would expect at this time of year, going down to -4c at night.
First sightings of the year, Wednesday, 17th February 2016, just south of Clermont l'Herault on the A75 service area near junction 58, Aire de Paulham, 1pm and just 10c, but the sun was out,

1) Small White(male), very pale markings, but good to see my first b/f for 2016, it felt good.

2) Bath White(male), the least markings I've ever seen on a "Bath", very faint on fore wings and nothing on hind?

We are up and running in 2016.

Russ.

[David M]

Wow! That Bath White sure is washed out, Russ.

[Chris Jackson]

Glad to see you're on the road again, Russ.
Being 5 weeks later than usual should make it very interesting because one would expect more species to be around. Also looking forward to any other scenery / activity / quirky (off-beat) / bird / animal photos you can come up with. Anything to keep my mind off work when I'm at work.
Cheers, Chris

[LancsRover]

Being 5 weeks later than usual should make it very interesting because one would expect more species to be around.
Cheers, Chris[/quote]

Yeah Chris, I'm hoping to pick up the ones I missed last year by going home the 3rd week in March 2015, and maybe something new in 2016 by stay until early April.

Cheers Russ .

[LancsRover]

Vilanova(south of Barcelona), Friday 19.2.2016. Sunny 14c.
We went for short walk around a rough dry field just outside our camp site entrance, it was about 2pm, although the field looked sparce, we found 7 different types of butterfly and a day flying moth, which wasn't bad for our first "sortie".

Positive ID on the following;
Red Admiral,
Small Copper 3+,
Mallow Skipper
Speckled Wood 3+
Bath White,
Small White 10+,
Humming-bird Hawk-moth
and possibly a Lang's STB but no positive ID on it.

Photo's to follow

Russ

[LancsRover]

Photo's from 19.2.2016.

Due to internet probs.(I have tried 5 times in the last couple of days---500 INTERNAL SERVER ERROR, whatever that means?)

So here are the photo's I managed to get.
Russ

[LancsRover]

ALCOSSEBRE(150 miles south of Barcelona)

Monday, 22.2.2016. Hazy sunshine, 16c.

We are back at Alcossebre a small seaside town and the campsite is 2km south of it and on the coast road.
I went for a short 45 minute walk around the scrubland, a 10 minute walk to the south of the camp site entrance, it's a place I have visited on numerous occasions in the past.
There has been some changes to the first field that is closest to the sea, here I have found different and unusual butterflies that I haven't seen anywhere else on my trips out, so I was a little disappointed at first. All the shrubs have been taken out and burnt on site, with the ground having been turned over, quite a few of the wild plants have dried out and died but some have survived and could do ok?
I went further into the thick scrub area and saw 2 or 3 Holly Blues and 4 or 5 Speckled Woods both flying about 15 to 20 feet up in the high shrubs, I managed to get a photo of the Holly Blue up high and the Speckled Woods came a little lower for a couple of shots.
Further in I found Walls(8+) flying around quite fast, I did get some half decent shots when they would settle for a split second.
I came back out onto the tilled field and saw a Clouded Yellow and a Small white, so maybe all is not lost.
Russ
Photo's to follow.

[LancsRover]

Photo's from last report, 22.2.2016.(poor internet, can't download together)

[LancsRover]

Wed. 24.2.2016. 10.30am, Sunny 14c.

A short walk to the scrub south of the camp site, Speckled Wood, Wall Brown, Holly Blue, Small Copper(5 weeks early this year) and a Painted Lady(1st this year), making 11 species to date, including a Geranium Bronze seen on site.
Russ

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Russ,
Eleven species already, that's not bad.
If the early season in the South of France is anything to go by this year, you should make some interesting observations in Spain.
Perhaps a Provençal Hairstreak on the cards ? I'll keep my fingers crossed for a Swallowtail for you.
Have a close look at the "whites" to see if there is something different.
Can't wait 'till I retire.
If by chance you pass near my workplace in Vitrolles, Bouches du Rhône, on your trip back, let me know.
Chris

[NickMorgan]

It's great reading about the butterflies you are seeing. It makes the butterfly season seem that little bit closer!

[LancsRover]

Hi Chris, thanks for your comments, I see your up to 14 , you rascal
I'm hoping to see Green H/S, Pro. Orange Tip, Spanish Festoon and if I'm really lucky a Prov. H/S. all seen in 2014 but not last year(2015).
I've not decided on our way home yet, prob. thru. Andorra, I must get some pics of those T/T Pasha's soon ,that you keep tempting me with those great cat. pics. so we will have to meet soon

Cheers Russ

[LancsRover]

Hi Nick, thanks for your comments, it won't be long now before the Orange Tip's will be flying about.
Cheers Russ

[LancsRover]

Tuesday 1st March 2016 11am, sunny 15C
B/f's seen in scrub area south of camp site, as well as the usual suspects,
three new for this year:
Swallowtail,
Long-tailed Blue
and a Green Hairstreak.
Russ

[LancsRover]

Cont'd from last report (1st March) due to internet probs.
Short reports only at present with photo's later.
Russ

[LancsRover]

Thursday 3.3.2016.
Sierra de Irta Nature Reserve, north of Alcossebre
Sunny 17c but windy.
B/f's seen today(9 in total)
Swallowtail,
Mallow Skipper,
Holly Blue,
Small White,
Speckled Wood,
Geranium Bronze
and 3 new this year,
CLEOPATRA,
PANOPTES BLUE
PROVENCE HAIRSTREAK

Russ

[LancsRover]

Photo's of PANOPTES BLUE from last report(3.3.2016)

[LancsRover]

More photo's from 3.3.2016.

[Chris Jackson]

Nice Panoptes Blue and Provence Hairstreak, Russ. Not everybody has photos of these
Chris

[LancsRover]

Cheers Chris.

Saturday 5.3.2016. Sunny 17c.(Part One)
Trip back to the scrub south of our camp site.
3 or 4 Lang's Short-Tailed Blues flying(1st definite sighting) takes the running total to 18.
Russ