Jason Sargerson

[jasonsargerson]

On the second day of my holiday - Friday 7th July - I met up with Gyorgy Liptovszky again.

Gyorgy very kindly offered to take me up to Grimentz in search of the Asian Fritillary in particular.

He collected me from Sierre railway station and we went high into the mountains.

I suggested we walk down to the site rather than up to it - this is what I have done in the past.

The path is very rocky and stony and progress is slow - you have to watch your footing - don't want an accident.

We eventually found at least 4 Asian Fritillaries - nectaring on the the Wild Thyme mostly.

Other key butterflies were Pearl-bordered Fritillary (but no Titania's or Lesser Marbled), Alpine Heath, Alpine Grayling (all very worn), False Heath Fritillary, Northern Wall Brown, Chequered Skipper and Purple-edged Copper eurydame. I was very pleased to get some photos of puddling blues - including Cranberry, Small Blue and Alpine Blue.

At the bottom of the path we found Turquoise Blue, Heath Fritillary, Almond-eyed Ringlet and Dark Green Fritillary. In total I made it 24 species.

[jasonsargerson]

On the third day of my holiday - Saturday 8th July - I met up with Gyorgy Liptovszky again.

Gyorgy took his car up to Chatelard Frontiere and I took the train from Brig to Martigny, then the Mont Blanc Express to Chatelard Frontiere.

There were not as many butterflies as usual - though good for Apollo and Black-veined White. Also seen were Meadow Brown, Marbled White and Heath Fritillary. Gyorgy was pleased with the regular Apollo sightings here - he can bring friends here that particularly want to see Apollo.

I left Gyorgy and headed back to Martigny and down to Visp and up to Tasch hoping to see more butterflies.

At Tasch there were no Silver-studded Blues, or Idas Blues or Spotted Fritillaries on the path. In the meadows I did find small numbers of Turquoise Blue, Scarce Copper and Knapweed Fritillary. Also seen were Black-veined White, Brimstone, and Almond-eyed Ringlet.

[David M]

Sounds like you had a similar experience to me, Jason, i.e. counting the species you didn't see!

Nice that you had Asian Fritillary, Scarce Copper and Cranberry Blue though. The range is still there even if numbers aren't.

[jasonsargerson]

Yes David, it is a rather negative approach, I did see almost 70 species on my holiday, but there should have been more.

On the fourth day of my holiday - Sunday 9th July - I set off to my next base early - on the 0748 from Brig to Zurich, then on the ICE 4 to Chur and on to Filisur in Graubunden by 1300. I went to my hotel, but there was no-one there, so I left my suitcase and took the 1400 train to Pontresina.

At Pontresina I walked up the Val Roseg in search of butterflies. There were fewer in number than usual, no Niobe Fritillary, Lesser Marbled Fritillary or Scarce Copper. The butterflies that were flying were mostly flying and not settling - it was very warm (considering the altitude is 1800m). I kept shouting settle - but they didn't of course. I did find Amanda's and Cranberry Blue, Titania's Fritillary, Dark Green Fritillary, Alpine Heath and Large Ringlet - seemed to like my legs! Next year I must visit in the morning.

[jasonsargerson]

On the fifth day of my holiday - Monday July 10th - there was a good forecast, so I went down the Bernina Vallley.

I stopped off in Ozpizio Bernina - Lago Bianco was very still, very little wind. Here I was supposed to walk around the lake looking for Cynthia's Fritillary, but I realised it was too far for me. I did find Purple-edged Copper, Alpine Heath and Shepherd's Fritillary. I was very pleased with a couple of photos of Glandon Blue.

I went down to Cavaglia, where there were more butterflies flying but not settling much. Here the highlight was Thor's Fritillary - no photo though.
I did see Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Titania's Fritillary, Sooty Copper - subalpina, Large Wall Brown, a very worn Large Blue, Alpine Heath,
Dark-veined White and Large Ringlet.

Returning to Filisur I managed Southern White Admiral (no photo), Spotted Fritillary, Chalkhill Blue and I think Escher's Blue - for the first time in 6 years.

[jasonsargerson]

On the sixth day of my holiday - Tuesday 11th July - I went further down the Bernina valley to Brusio.

Brusio used to be a fantastic place - 3 buddleias near the railway with Silver-washed, High Brown, Dark Green, Spotted and Heath Fritillaries, Swallowtail and Scarce Swallowtail, Red Admiral and Comma, with Purple-shot and Small Coppers in the meadows with Clouded Yellows and Marbled Whites. However, the buddleias have all been cut down now - all the places I visit are unprotected, so the locals often cut down the flowers and shrubs.

So all I managed at Brusio were Brimstone, Meadow Brown, Marbled White and Spotted Fritillary. Next year I may go in August, but this site is not very productive now.

I returned back to Cavaglia in the hope of a photo of Thor's Fritillary - but no luck here - not as good as the previous day.

Back at Filisur, I found Chalkhill Blue, Scotch Argus, Holly Blue and another sighting of two Southern White Admirals.

[jasonsargerson]

On the seventh day of my holiday - Wednesday 12th July - it was forecast very wet.

I left Filisur in a tremendous downpour and headed back to Chur and Ziegelbrucke for a train day.

On returning to Filisur there was some sunshine - Filisur in the afternoon often turns sunny and warm.

I managed to see Large Skipper, Spotted Fritillary and Wood White.

[jasonsargerson]

On the last and eighth day of my holiday - Thursday July 13th - it was again forecast wet and cloudy.

I set off on a train day again - but at Ziegelbrucke it brightened up. I explored the path at the back of the railway station.

Here there were some nice Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) in flower and I found Meadow Brown and Small Heath.

I decided to go back to Filisur - where it had turned sunny and warm.

At Filisur I explored a little further than usual, finding Chalkhill Blue, Spotted Fritillary, Niobe Fritillary, Heath Fritillary, Marbled White, Dryad, Southern White Admiral, Comma, Large White and Wood White.

Overall I was slightly disappointed with my holiday - I didn't really take any memorable new photos.

I was pleased to visit Graubunden for the first time since 2019 - to find Amanda's Blue, Escher's Blue, Southern White Admiral and Thor's Fritillary at their usual sites was very pleasing. In Valais it was good to visit Grimentz and see the Asian Fritillary for the first time since 2017. Next year I will have to visit Graubunden in August.

[selbypaul]

Thanks as ever Jason for sharing your trip report. Always interesting to read. It's been such a strange year of weather in Europe this year, and your disappointment overall reflects the impact that weather has had on many (not all) butterfly species.

[David M]

Shame you weren't especially enamoured with your holiday, Jason. I have to confess, most of my European jaunts this year have been on the disappointing side too.

You still saw some good stuff though, and I particularly like that fresh Dryad from your final post - a species that I have still yet to see!!

[jasonsargerson]

I have put videos of Southern White Admiral at Leuk (noisy because of waterfall) and Asian Fritillary at Grimentz on my youtube account.

Also, when I came down to breakfast yesterday, this Sparrowhawk was enjoying a Blackbird for breakfast.

I have put the video on youtube as well.

[jasonsargerson]

I forgot to say - the Sparrowhawk was feeding in the pouring rain.

Since I have returned from Switzerland - 21 days - it has been heavy rain on 11 days, rain on another 3 days and not a single day of good sunshine.

This is very poor for July and poor for the best butterfly month of the year.

In a little sunshine I have seen a few Red Admirals, a Peacock and two Commas. There was a Small Skipper at the Pearson Park Wildlife Garden.

So, no visit to Chambers Farm this year to see the Purple Emperors, I am hoping to visit Kiplingcotes for the first time next week!

[jasonsargerson]

At last some sunshine - I went to Kiplingcotes near Market Weighton in East Yorkshire today.

I managed 14 species - very good - Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Marbled White (one only), Small Skipper, Small Copper, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Peacock, Red Admiral, Comma and Small Tortoiseshell.

Many of the butterflies were the worst for wear - especially the Red Admiral, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Small Copper and Green-veined White.
The Peacocks and Gatekeepers were in good condition though.

Hopefully I will visit again later in the month to look for Brown Argus and Brimstone.

[jasonsargerson]

A second visit to Kiplingcotes today. Traffic was poor - Beverley Races on a Wednesday - must remember next year.

It had clouded over by the time I got there, so I did not have great hopes.

However, I did manage a few butterflies, including some new for this year.

There were Large Whites, Small Whites and Green-veined Whites, along with Gatekeepers and very worn Meadow Browns.

The admirals were represented by Peacocks - still looking good, a worn Red Admiral and a fresh Comma.

There was a very worn Small Copper and some nice Common Blues.

The new butterflies were Brimstone and a Small Heath.

At home, when I went to the kitchen to start my evening meal, Mr Fox was relaxing on the back lawn.

[David M]

...At home, when I went to the kitchen to start my evening meal, Mr Fox was relaxing on the back lawn.

Looks like he owns the place, Jason. Is it a young one?

[millerd]

Good to see what was flying on your visits to Kiplingcotes, Jason - I usually mange at least one visit each year when I'm up in East Yorkshire, but haven't made it so far in 2023. In past years I've seen Essex Skipper, Wall Brown and even a Clouded Yellow on August visits. It's a great little spot - I keep expecting Chalkhill Blues to appear!

Cheers,

Dave

[jasonsargerson]

Yes, I would like to see Chalkhill Blues and Adonis Blues at Kiplingcotes.

It is a prime site for re-stocking with butterflies - but Butterfly Conservation are so short sighted - they could work with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust at this reserve and stock up Small Heath, Small Copper, Wall Brown, Brown Argus - to name a few. Otherwise places like this will have fewer and fewer butterflies over the next years.

I think the fox is an older one, there was a much younger fox in my garden yesterday lunchtime - see photos.

There is a difference in the colour reproduced by my video camera - first two photos and camera - last two photos. I think this is due to the light levels, when photographing or videoing the same butterfly in good light there is not too much difference.

I have put the video on youtube.

[jasonsargerson]

I am fortunate in that during the year some of my correspondents send me their photos.

This year John Williams sent me photos of Poplar Admiral seen at Chatelard in Switzerland in June - see previous post.

However, he went one better in France photographing this Poplar Admiral - the more powerful white markings indicating probably a female.

Gyorgy Liptovszky has also sent me photos of Poplar Admiral - one seen near Evolene in Switzerland in July.

But on the very day I went with him to Chatelard he stayed on after I left for Tasch, and saw another Poplar Admiral - not the same one as John Williams earlier!! Just goes to show I need more patience and perseverance!!

[David M]

Absolute belters, Jason.

[jasonsargerson]

European Butterflies Magazine Issue Seven Spring 2024 is now published.

Please see the European Butterflies Magazine diary in the Overseas section for more details.