www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Here is just a few photos taken on a trip to The Picos region of Spain ,any help with I.D. would be much be appreciated especially with the small Fritillaries. I am still trying to sort out the many Ringlet photos so will post at a later date.
John

Hi John

Can't help with the ID's but would just like to complement you on a great set of photos from a place I am hoping to visit in the next couple of years.

Someone like Guy or Roger will probably be of help with the ID's.

Please put a full trip report on this site including details of the sites you visited as I would be very interested in reading it.

Did you see any Wallcreepers?

I'm looking forward to seeing some more of these excellent photos.

Regards

Paul

I can confirm identification of Blue-spot Hairstreak and Pearly Heath. I don't ID other photos, but I can say they all are excellent.

Hi John,

The hairstreaks, Esper's marbled white, pearly heath and the knapweed fritillary are all spot on. The grayling is surely H. semele ('the grayling').

The first butterfly you've labelled 'Provençal fritillary' is a male meadow fritillary, but the second does have a lot of Provençal frit about it! Do you have an underside for that one?

I think the last one is, as you say, a male meadow fritillary. The Spanish populations of this butterfly are much darker and more completely marked than the typical Alpine form.

I'm looking forward to the ringlets!!

Guy

Hi Guy
Thanks so much for the ID'corrections, I am really struggling to identify the small Fritillaries correctly of which there were large numbers flying. Sorry no underside shot of that Butterfly but posted two more for your thoughts .


Hi Paul
Yes very good view of Wallcreeper within 15mt on path, plus all alpine birds easy to see.


John

Lovely photos John. For me, the Hairstreaks in particular are great to see. From the date on the photos - did you go in September? It looks like there was still quite an abundance of flowers. If you have any Landscape shots, that would be interesting too. Thanks for sharing these either way!
Michael

How about Provencal then False Heath for the latter frits?? Absolutely love the Spanish Purple... were there many, or was that the only one. Lovely shots all in all.

These are brilliant pictures John.

I agree, quite beautiful!

Thank you so much for the comments, I will try and get round to the requests . Firstly there were a good number of Spanish Purples I have included a shot of one open ,plus some views of the country . Paul I hoped someone would agree with what I was thinking regarding the ID.
John

Another beautiful shot of a wonderful butterfly... never seen a Spanish Purple yet. .. where(ish) and when were you in the Picos?

Hi Paul
We were there in late June , it has been this long for me to finally get round to sorting my photos out. The main town is Potes, and Hairstreaks of all kinds can be found in all lanes and pull-ins in this area .
John

That last frit certainly looks like false heath, vernetensis, and the one before is convincing for Provençal frit too. I wouldn't like to say for certain, because I've been caught out in the past by bright celadussa, but it does seem to tick all the boxes.

Guyy

Thanks Guy
I have been searching though my fritillary photos hopeing to find a Provencal, the False Heath was a bonus find.
John