Lee Hurrell

[David M]

I'm very much enjoying this continuation, Lee, especially given that Bugboy and Guy Padfield have recently been posting from southern Spain as well.

It's surprised me just how green things are looking in some of your images, particularly with your visit being in late May!

[Lee Hurrell]

Thank you, David. It was quite a trip.

The next sequence was taken at a higher altitude, where it was even greener!

Best wishes,
Lee

[Lee Hurrell]

Los Romanes, Spain, May 2016 - Day 5 (part 2)

Moving on from Ventas de Zafarraya, I carried on along the A402 towards Alhama de Granada. As I drove on, it gradually got higher. Stopping at any likely looking places, first up was a small pull in, on a bend near some fields and near the Alto del Navazo nature reserve.

I was amazed at just how green it was, given this was southern Spain at the end of May. This was higher than I had been of course, but still, it could have been the English countryside.

The views were stunning. On the road was a Knapweed Fritillary, while Lorquin's Blues danced along the roadside margins. Excitingly though, a Provence Orange Tip was in a field nearby.

Provence Orange Tip, male, Alto del Navazo, Alhama de Granada, Spain, 26th May 2016

Lorquin's Blue, female, Alto del Navazo, Alhama de Granada, Spain, 26th May 2016

Seen here were: Knapweed Fritillary, Speckled Wood, Provence Orange Tip, Western Dappled White, Large White, Small White, Clouded Yellow and Lorquin's Blue.

[Wurzel]

Some stunning views Lee - it could indeed be England although a worryingly declining bit Love the shot of the POT - cracking It's got a little bit of all my favourite shot 'types'

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Lee Hurrell]

Thanks Wurzel
Declining indeed

[David M]

That's beautiful habitat, Lee. I'm really surprised to know how green and floral things are at that time of year. I will certainly pay this area a visit at some point.

[Lee Hurrell]

It certainly was, David. It's well worth a visit! Let me know as and when you do and I will point you in the direction of the sites I stopped at.

Best wishes,
Lee

[Lee Hurrell]

Los Romanes, Spain, May 2016 - Day 5 (part 3)

A short distance further along the A402 I stopped at a small track that led past some orchards to a stunning viewpoint.

Notice the beehives in the second image above. These would play a big part in my visit to this location...

There was a beautiful female Meadow Brown hispulla near where I parked.

Meadow Brown, female, Alto del Navazo, Alhama de Granada, Spain, 26th May 2016

Clouded Yellows were also nearby and unusually approachable.

Clouded Yellow, Alto del Navazo, Alhama de Granada, Spain, 26th May 2016

There were two Scarce Swallowtails hilltopping around a small flowering tree next to the beehives. They were an absolute delight to watch.

Scarce Swallowtail, Alto del Navazo, Alhama de Granada, Spain, 26th May 2016

Unfortunately for me, the resident bees from the hives pictured above decided that I was not equally delightful to watch and opted to see off the unwelcome human. This led me to walk, jog and run a little faster than I wanted to and I ended up going flying, landing on my head and banging my camera. I made it back to the car, bruised, battered and bleeding, but in one piece. I sat in the car for a short while, a bit dazed and reflecting on how perhaps being in the middle of nowhere in a foreign country was not the most sensible of decisions, in the event of an accident happening.

In the end, I decided bugger that, I have butterflies to find

[Wurzel]

That is an absolutely cracking shot of the Scarce Swallowtail Lee I had a run in with a few hives myself a few years back and wasn't able to escape theirs stings - the Apiarist had just been and they were a bit riled up Mind you I reckon you came to the right conclusion - that should be the motto of every butterflier

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

I have a 100 metre rule with beehives, Lee. That's as close as I will go and it seems to work.

Thanks for the offer of site information. I may well take you up on that (and will return the favour should you be visiting areas I'm familiar with).

[Lee Hurrell]

That is an absolutely cracking shot of the Scarce Swallowtail Lee I had a run in with a few hives myself a few years back and wasn't able to escape theirs stings - the Apiarist had just been and they were a bit riled up Mind you I reckon you came to the right conclusion - that should be the motto of every butterflier

Thanks, Wurzel

[Lee Hurrell]

I have a 100 metre rule with beehives, Lee. That's as close as I will go and it seems to work.

Thanks for the offer of site information. I may well take you up on that (and will return the favour should you be visiting areas I'm familiar with).

Thanks, David I do intend to explore further, so any site information will be most useful!

Best wishes,
Lee

[Lee Hurrell]

Los Romanes, Spain, May 2016 - Day 5 (part 4)

I did decide to go further (and be careful). A little further along the A402, I turned off onto the A4150 and stopped at a wooded carpark that led through to a very scenic lake, Presa del Rio Alhama, which I walked a good way around.

Along with Common Blue, Small Heath, Meadow Brown and Clouded Yellow, I found a mating pair of Bath Whites and a female Southern Brown Argus.

Mating Bath Whites, Presa del Rio Alhama, Alhama de Granada, Spain, 26th May 2016

Brown Argus, female, Presa del Rio Alhama, Alhama de Granada, Spain, 26th May 2016

My next find was a surprise though!

European Pond Turtle, Presa del Rio Alhama, Alhama de Granada, Spain, 26th May 2016

[Wurzel]

Lovely shot of the Bath Whites Lee I'm hoping to pick this species up in August in Portugal, fingers crossed

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

You did well to find a mating pair of Bath Whites, Lee. That's probably one of the few occasions when they'll stay relatively still!

[Lee Hurrell]

Thank you, Wurzel and David.

[Lee Hurrell]

Los Romanes, Spain, May 2016 - Day 5 (part 5)

For the last stop of today, I went back to the lovely habitat in front of and down the hill from the hotel. In the first photo, you can see the village of Los Romanes at the top of the hill and my hire car in the middle of the picture.

I was looking for more roosting whites, and I wasn't disappointed

Green-striped White, Los Romanes, Spain, 26th May 2016

Mallow Skipper, Los Romanes, Spain, 26th May 2016

Spot on for Polyommatus celina, or Austaut's Blue.

Austaut's Blue (Polyommatus celina), Los Romanes, Spain, 26th May 2016

I also found a large and colourful wasp and a little orange moth I haven't been able to identify.

Unknown wasp, Los Romanes, Spain, 26th May 2016

Unknown moth, Los Romanes, Spain, 26th May 2016

Seen here were: Bath White, Green-striped White, Small White, Clouded Yellow, Meadow Brown, Southern Gatekeeper, Mallow Skipper, Common Blue and Austaut's Blue (celina).

[Lee Hurrell]

Los Romanes, Spain, May 2016 - Day 6

This was my last day in Los Romanes and I opted to spend longer in the scenery I finished up at last night, below the village. I did this in two stints as it was so hot in the middle of the day.

Over the two trips, I saw: Clouded Yellow, Bath White, Small White, Meadow Brown, Southern Gatekeeper, African Grass Blue, Common Blue, Austaut's Blue and Large Skipper.

African Grass Blue, Los Romanes, Spain, 27th May 2016

Austaut's Blue, Los Romanes, Spain, 27th May 2016

Common Blue, Los Romanes, Spain, 27th May 2016

Southern Gatekeeper, Los Romanes, Spain, 27th May 2016

Bath White, Los Romanes, Spain, 27th May 2016

The last view though must go to this stunning vista. I will be back.

[Wurzel]

More cracking shots Lee - those Blues are pretty special, the markings on the Grass Blue are subtly beautiful - cracking shot I'm most envious of the Mallow Skipper - 8 days in France and 7 in Lisbon and not one seen Here's hoping for this year

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Yes, Lee, that last vista is something special. I would never have guessed it was southern Spain had I not known.

The range of butterflies is good too, with some that won't be seen anywhere outside of Spain.