French Pyrenees - Hautacam

Day 5 Hautacam, Gave de Pau and Cheze.

Today dawned with not a cloud in the sky, forecast temperatures were 30 degrees and it was warm in the car park before the mad English butterfliers set off. First stop was a bracken covered slope before the summit at Hautacam where we found Meadow Fritillary, Short and long-tailed Blues, Purple-edged Copper and a stunning Scarlet Tiger moth.

Meadow Fritillary

Meadow Fritillary

Scarlet Tiger



Dock Bug, Coreus marginatus

On to the summit where we had the now commonplace HBHM and some great views of 20+ Griffon Vultures

Purple-edged Copper



Short-tailed Blue

 Next stop was Gave de Pau, just below the Lac des Gaves at Prechac. Lots of picnickers about, one  particular French lady was intrigued at Jason's antics with the butterfly net as he swiped at a Small White. I turned to her and said in my best stage French accent - "Zey are delicious" not sure she got the joke but her husband smiled.

However, even with lots of people present, it was productive and we managed distant views of Lesser Purple Emperor and "in the hand" views of Provencal short-tailed Blue. Unusual to see a roosting Humming Bird Hawk Moth, something I have never seen before, perhaps it was the heat. Great fly by of a Black Kite concluded the visit.

Lesser Purple Emperor

Provencal Short-tailed Blue

Provencal Short-tailed Blue

Next up was the village of Cheze where we searched the wooded roadside verges, I noted Comma, Silver Washed Fritillary, Holly Blue and a tailless European Wall Lizard. Other members got glimpses of a White Admiral and we all got to see a single White-letter Hairstreak in the trees.

We finished the day early and back at the hotel, in the adjacent meadow there was a Bob Luge run and some intrepid members gave it a go.

Ian in full control.