Bhutan Butterflies

Sonam Dorji · Post by **Sonam Dorji** » Fri May 26, 2017 11:00 am

Hi,
I have been on small trip to central and western Bhutan. Posting some few pics from the trip.

rgds,
Sonam

Sonam Dorji · Post by **Sonam Dorji** » Fri May 26, 2017 11:09 am

Hi all,

Some more pics from the trip.

Rgds,
Sonam

Tony Moore · Post by **Tony Moore** » Fri May 26, 2017 11:38 am

HI Sonam,

I've just been close to the Bhutan border in Arunachal Pradesh. I'm very jealous of your Striped Punch

. I saw Lesser, Tailed, Orange and MIxed, but missed what is arguably the most beautiful - nice find!

Tony M.

Sonam Dorji · Post by **Sonam Dorji** » Fri May 26, 2017 1:21 pm

Tony Moore wrote:I've just been close to the Bhutan border in Arunachal Pradesh. I'm very jealous of your Striped Punch . I saw Lesser, Tailed, Orange and MIxed, but missed what is arguably the most beautiful - nice find!

Tony M.

Hi Tony,

Thanks a lot. The striped is also common here. All the species mentioned by you can be seen here. Of course, the main highlight was seeing this Athyma punctata (White-patched Sergeant). Could be a new record for the subcontinent. For Bhutan, it is definitely the first. It was seen and photographed first by Mr. Antanio Giudici from Thailand who I was accompanying.

rgds
,Sonam

Sonam Dorji · Post by **Sonam Dorji** » Tue May 30, 2017 4:58 pm

Hi All,

Some more pics from the trip. Hope you all like it!!!

rgds,
Sonam

Tony Moore · Post by **Tony Moore** » Tue May 30, 2017 5:41 pm

Great stuff, Sonam,

Please can I come to Bhutan...

Tony M.

trevor · Post by **trevor** » Tue May 30, 2017 6:23 pm

I envy the access you have to some very beautiful, exotic Butterflies.
Many thanks for posting your superb images of species most of us will never get to see.

Best wishes,
Trevor.

Post by **Padfield** » Tue May 30, 2017 8:47 pm

Just catching up on your latest photos. Really wonderful butterflies and brilliant pictures too.

Congratulations on Athyma punctata! Bozano (2013) doesn't show it as flying anywhere closer to you than Myanmar. How amazing if it has lived in the Himalayas unnoticed until now. Or is it spreading its range? Beautiful insect anyway.

Guy

Martin Jenkins · Post by **Martin Jenkins** » Tue May 30, 2017 9:28 pm

Just wanted to comment on the quality of your photographs...truly stunning!

Martin.

Sonam Dorji · Post by **Sonam Dorji** » Wed May 31, 2017 3:46 am

Tony Moore wrote:Great stuff, Sonam,

Please can I come to Bhutan...

Tony M.

Anytime Tony. People say Bhutan is expensive to visit but if you cut down the cost, not that expensive. Bhutan is trying to maintain is natural and cultural resources. Atleast 60% of the forest to be maintained under forest cover under the constitution.

trevor wrote:I envy the access you have to some very beautiful, exotic Butterflies.
rgds,
Sonam

Many thanks for posting your superb images of species most of us will never get to see.

Best wishes,
Trevor.

Hi Trevor,

Thanks for the compliment. But you know, UK also has great butterflies which I would greatly like to see and photographs. Have always admired the works of British researchers on butterflies.

rgds,
Sonam

Padfield wrote:Just catching up on your latest photos. Really wonderful butterflies and brilliant pictures too.

Congratulations on Athyma punctata! Bozano (2013) doesn't show it as flying anywhere closer to you than Myanmar. How amazing if it has lived in the Himalayas unnoticed until now. Or is it spreading its range? Beautiful insect anyway.

Guy

Dear Guy,

Thanks for the kind words. I think the the evidence of Athyma punctata clearly shows that it has great range extension as mentioned by you. Maybe it was already there. I am told that this butterfly hardly comes down so to sight it becomes really difficult. It came down for about 2-3 hours flying around and then never came back. Hope we can unveil more species as not much work has be done on butterflies of Bhutan.
rgds,
Sonam

Martin Jenkins wrote:Just wanted to comment on the quality of your photographs...truly stunning!

Martin.

Hi martin,

Thanks for the compliment and it is a great encouragement.

rgds,
Sonam

Sonam Dorji · Post by **Sonam Dorji** » Fri Jun 16, 2017 3:21 pm

Hi all,

I am here at Chukha, Western Bhutan for few days. The monsoon has started and rain is frequent. But I did capture some winged jewels.

rgds,
Sonam

Sonam Dorji · Post by **Sonam Dorji** » Sat Jun 24, 2017 5:23 pm

Hi everyone,

Rain is now constant in Thimphu (2400 masl), the Capital of Bhutan. But I did get a break yesterday. I was able capture the following species. Another common species was Bhutan Blackvein (Aporia harrietae) but they mostly fly on flowers and difficult to photograph them. Hope to shoot them soon.

rgds,
Sonam

David M · Post by **David M** » Sun Jun 25, 2017 10:42 pm

You really are spoiled in your part of the world, Sonam. You seem to have a never ending supply of exceptionally beautiful species.

I'd love to visit one day and see a few for myself (maybe when I retire).

Sonam Dorji · Post by **Sonam Dorji** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 4:49 am

David M wrote:You really are spoiled in your part of the world, Sonam. You seem to have a never ending supply of exceptionally beautiful species.

I'd love to visit one day and see a few for myself (maybe when I retire).

Dear David,

I would love to go butterflying with you as well. From tommorrow, I start one new jounrey for 10 days in western and central part, hopefully more butterfly pictures to post. Am worried about the rain and but then again, the season is best for single brood butterflies.

rgds,
Sonam

Mark Tutton · Post by **Mark Tutton** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 12:19 pm

Hi Sonam
The variety of species and their stunning appearance leaves me in wonder with every post you make - Bhutan is definitely on my list of go to places following your posts - please keep them coming

Good luck with your latest trip and I hope the rain lets up - I'll await the photos with interest.
Kind Regards
Mark

Sonam Dorji · Post by **Sonam Dorji** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 3:07 pm

Mark Tutton wrote:Hi Sonam
The variety of species and their stunning appearance leaves me in wonder with every post you make - Bhutan is definitely on my list of go to places following your posts - please keep them coming Good luck with your latest trip and I hope the rain lets up - I'll await the photos with interest.
Kind Regards
Mark

Hi Mark,

Thanks for going through my pics. Will definitely post the pics. Hope to atleast have few days of sunshine. Please find attached my route map.

rgds,
Sonam

Sonam Dorji · Post by **Sonam Dorji** » Thu Jul 06, 2017 3:50 pm

HI everyone,

have concluded my trip. Rain was a BIG problem. I did manage to photographs some butterflies. here are some of them and will keep posting more from the trip after some little cropping and all.

rgds,
Sonam

Sonam Dorji · Post by **Sonam Dorji** » Fri Jul 07, 2017 10:46 am

Hi all,

Some more pics. from my trip.

sonam

Tony Moore · Post by **Tony Moore** » Fri Jul 07, 2017 1:10 pm

Wow!!

Tony M.

bugboy · Post by **bugboy** » Fri Jul 07, 2017 3:13 pm

Stunning! That Common Copper (or Small Copper as we call it, assuming it is L. phlaeas) looks somewhat out of place amongst all that exotica!

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