Today was a day when the pace slowed just a little, only because the weather was just a little unkind. The plan was to ascend the Col de la Bonnette but as we approached you could see the weather closing in on the summit. Never mind, it was a gamble worth taking for the Sooty Ringlet that dwells at the very top. It was much cooler too, everyone in the group put warm clothing on, I even saw a beanie. I have to admit I did succumb and donned a light cotton sweater, it was the only time on the tour where I felt truly comfortable - I don't do heat very well.
The upshot is that four of us took the path to the top and were rewarded by stunning views rather than a diminutive butterfly. The sun came out briefly and we heard bees and saw a lone high altitude Red Admiral.
At the foot of the climb there is a sign stating that the road is the highest in Europe, unfortunately this is being a bit economical with the truth. Wikipedia begs to differ - Col de la Bonette (el. 2,715 metres (8,907 ft)) is a high
mountain pass in the French Alps, near the border with Italy. It is situated
within the Mercantour National Park on the border of the departments of
Alpes-Maritimes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. The road over the col is the
seventh highest paved road in the Alps.
The road around the Cime de la Bonette reaches an altitude
of 2,802 m (9,193 ft), this is not a "pass", but merely a scenic
loop. It is, however, the highest asphalted road in France and is the highest
through road in Europe.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvTX8GBTlYCF1LM6iRzG9TEEWCLDPzFhkOmCfltWInUdjQkSMtmE77yit-qDSb4whz11uP3T_m_hqBK2tSjK_Y_XsLAAUcsAcLfiHWD9R8wGjnGmd9WC2wsbxlSv_lFpwi_8XkJI1sDvp/s640/coldebonn.jpg) |
A tribute to the road builders |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3I-0_ZyJEm-iqc_UyekOzS8Ryy-Lx_EYymFSdUtfB1o53dNaNQ6DoeLeWkRLr3OqRIuGmUxkpngzDPZB0SAwEupDmDzoQLi5BNBPK9tIL-VZlr4VhUIJm-UUEvFUicQDRjKWC6YUkBUEI/s640/top_2665.jpg) |
Stunning views |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXs__6ByRkUtBmjlrAERoX9P5JDcmGB00t4S3PolpyPRfasP0lO44NhfmxSgOfYcD8rH9StkkDDxDHRYfPun6nqhkrRhOpkOMMOzBIsJdJl9HTJPgenIZAUTTMU9sAf1sFx6PRbMEBm7h/s640/cloud_2670.jpg) |
Just too cloudy |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqLa95bis6xwv-vOnITbn0o0sUFqrIQoURylY40-WUhasrdSVZog2t0z0W69WoZy8xeDweRsq93r7lW-zuw0QT7ux6EdDJ2PCD0D0IAhC48Z1W-p5VSr4clhVlyHxz6doUOdZ4NiA02-c/s640/lead_2675.jpg) |
David searching for a "sooty" |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72kZY_TZd_GYgN2BnJciDefHSjy-87KMvihCmu-YyHlRI5bWFiCOL6yjByd-nG-OXT0VgBC3kuZaIitsjWOauX-ireanuGjaMsJLjIJTyQllDYXOjb7fmdAYskfY8S8uXM8ZQQDAQO6Ho/s640/ed_2678.jpg) |
Ed looking for eagles |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16b3JoHV1Zkuma0LSaRDqYyNCrMFnbGDODbGejBHdIOO2kt60wobSWxomRF0KX9HX43dodU-AVchD42XJzDx0SmjudeaeHU94lPxTkKmb43E3p7Ec__n2iGxjoARTqfYVGGNLC_gItXyq/s640/cairn_2684.jpg) |
I tried to add at least one stone to every cairn |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0g61bCGWwQTBdkS3KmJungFPjLJHcRhUpnMjLlr0fUFxuw3AMcY77tPOfmNSCH9WFa6HR3v7WTBEsFMaWdjRD0vbMCb4FcOUTUMRoR9CsdkhzohFiBgheKsA7v4OfThRs3znCV0rzv1w8/s640/camp_2690.jpg) |
I know why the plants up here are short - the wind is real mean. |
So we abandoned the high ground and descended to Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage for lunch and some warmer butterflying.
First up were some charming Damon Blues, a life tick for me.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAajvQeitfIAytTBB3OLIh6xtkiI49jmZrnseGlxBwiPSccteYObXL7Qow3mV7vQZG0LMPbFQEl-Vp01s6-W3zVsj3c_wGndF9YGF1T5MjV4lUa4530qOvRbrjEZTxMQS0kIhimJqedkdS/s640/db_2698.jpg) |
Damon Blue |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqU9_9uD06NvswqUfa2GwyVGRNM6vM1deZvPkvAe_d5inXOvO6SWFd9i34rLWAFn3LbPXBVkb8XXBFirUMFfo9c94WsszGl2BpreBXje9dwcKmQvgdr6_Ldi7W_YmC6FxW7TGa87tCwr3h/s640/db_2771.jpg) |
Damon Blue |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2so1d_X5vqpKc1d4A_5AbgAaVOT7gJ3pTFlcWVyZ5l-5us6LJsdzRCueiB9Jd2leeHc49iGRcp9t_oO7LGxb2dDnAFZKh3gWm_m9FTtyYDADwpAJC5M9sLvQOaNzyLDJVK5a9wOexZTG/s640/db_2925.jpg) |
Damon Blue |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmjKWslT1lsm08QJvCEFe09nwvc6DgkD-PIXX4zsLxDS8fB-uwpvPgsMdd0uIxRfKPWH7OOH0bsEWy_0xaoJQyuw2pc3vyfYOatW9ZWsobuorFwnhE2_KJCjtT05GBGIjo1G6kulJBbVQ/s640/db_3067.jpg) |
Damon Blue |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeTuubWPlKzSpaAiAAhSACnmECfn_wx7opsIiD1_DC5975E7n-NXy2847rug5iEB6jYMhb9s4roVMGXbZ8hOSLE83dK0zhyphenhyphenHdeny1bhE4NtojlphM1w0qzt6CWSW4g0uykpGhjIqKPr-b/s640/cb_2734.jpg) |
Common Blue |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhey0bM-oRMKGlmx1z2Ykc9tbeQ8bQbE1BrOHjHv10OdcvccNfhIht-BQcD3cD919wkwRq_HyzGBdDK5HeSp7eP_u2xQ3tmVHieDWA4bj14w8RDF2HsTnm6nrWdwWmHXqC1EiuxsMsMByZ/s640/ch_2919.jpg) |
Chestnut Heath |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jViaV27hO8c47Zkv4JMIrMqYf0af1InlN9vyiZDHbS7XeCp2t6ZZz-CTo9EygzgPi8_MLM-f6IhiBNj6xZng8xaPELvVlrtWK_RwbmMkaPyJZpR_abxyQ7VBsE2yPJDFf3Jht7XXfFv9/s640/ch_2943.jpg) |
Chestnut Heath |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVhJpjhjP24GZ9i9xQQwLSocykCFq-h7bLQda1thZA-sI-1uBF-YLGDQIoYXopPUO04MMXw-wyWQpnUIDnrC8zO6kVEnuoVOgeTXoxNlOy-tt4QdNNdbGQS-vLMvu0AkZ0z8jj-mC3MHr/s640/chb_3087.jpg) |
Chalk Hill Blue |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04b6rkBYWra36wz3pdkfX1S28L1XM57FZfMSuNY-yxLI-8SkXD8mJuZcFgwgdwSUiQpZLodGN1zvwNffL_LSCvDw_pTCMcPytBU5l4XzBSNZTVFhfOcbN-zfUp-LEKwO2Qhh7RAOyEZh2/s640/fhfrit_2797.jpg) |
False Heath Fritillary |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynAY9ZMcu9NFzAflB0GanGguJ7Vx_S6lqTXVnjm0ceLbf7hK9CQMoxBypSGIeAeblysHp4V5Ws5w2ZtGecCkNHV1pciPBMq70ieSRQ-pQ-k0CpQvZGkjhsreZrVSRbQdVBEs9kJLyxm_n/s640/marfrit_2874.jpg) |
Marbled Fritillary |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQipSl4qdLgRRMXo7mOVlbGEkFkMhBS5bqdpD_tILq3q1QSLDcLfV4rm_PoOlOzTeHx_G1qAEEbENfJ5jTnoYGIJzpD1bEQG-uQeg6aLmI5cTJwIdj1qRSxeR0hvIBRueMu-wjSlerXDC/s640/sb_2889.jpg) |
Small Blue |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkzRc8dA2EuLlkwcNhZfDWkFgmwzimGG7CfwmwgGYJ37ElTLHeyCFhWR_tou1VhyphenhyphenNL6F68n3p8U4-gw0jaOHzDhxXt8xntBAOJZWdHZ1wHFcbBUJEUN_ADMaCCchxBpxf1BJuCJq_GPYA/s640/sf_2937.jpg) |
Spotted Fritillary |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoZBBCXjenTcKfVJEIx8fQlDNxZRYA5xg6ikHKuKsP0R2ZuOkEXSiT9cqZSd-d73rLI_QqSHDLQVlzekaYXoWqwOnZGS4Lgu4FFRtMLbnQeB9UOX_fxd_1iWarGtW1Pnf2_tjXaEymtTl/s640/sf_2907.jpg) |
Spotted Fritillary |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-THGO1-AaLVMs_WiPF25U1TgcUgQxFjmr7_REygBWRsdY64MN72qESG9MUoTGQWbLapdV0m1_3e5V2XGs-b74A3YjR4cJZNmP5ZD69hG6M_SRHnkDjJiM30tOR3dDRHRuwaFOYcGJ-q_/s640/tit_2861.jpg) |
Titania's Fritillary |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQKipa7X3zCwdfrEiJUcDwsvHmitDRQPv8ohrMpwO5ejiGPXkJn0ix5-_XZzTUU-opdhRlZjneGoTZ8rpiAMvhZ7SnTJBo_p8CzKWH6gBusXzZiX6XewUQSNwVXkxt2oIR3sy7Wax8biH/s640/amb_3120.jpg) |
Amanda's Blue |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliVJz4fcPMuGYuW45tGcqxayiZNU6ddqsfqurnDdsMXt4QkNwpTncqu7VffRd473HGorsSFEUzziGqKvEUm3Uox6bnuvXcFo7oB-rPBjxdFLHrISDOKDJEkwjsZ75eRIR3A6kU5VmXJGh/s640/amb_3133.jpg) |
Amanda's Blue |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JYIzjepuONhGrCaHCuQtwTaa8c54s0mWfoFIjVzD55u_zOlEDweUX8wiRjttncrFwqJdtI81zBMrR_JX-S4YMtbxq6eUZtPDeNHPsLLnRtK6U-uZllc70QLcNcatSa_ZTVjED3oIymm2/s640/amb_3135.jpg) |
Amanda's Blue |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51k-wucSWv1UR563vExtedBtemDSIRz5CQCZKmmRksXZGuXtfvTS5zkB8GxCEjFSFuoC_i05v3aiGNn5zKxD0YhXmPZZuQHcPd2PUjuLwz_Nt-Em3R_RP0bRTcPiar4pxGTRNrJku_XFg/s640/lw_3045.jpg) |
Large Wall |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wO7QSz9tA-hmFsDxJDZODpZHzpoXShmCLtsMS8zTt23x8ILztFjWGXGusZL-o3IZ3mq-AogYWBDu54LS1_aRzvT1A8snZ6Kn9jnaPOHeQ1fk5ewrLIKLatkMUKMYGzwA0K_0uVcWkOHo/s640/lw_3055.jpg) |
Large Wall |
On the return to Rimplas the group stopped off at a large buddleia bush just outside the village. It was alive with butterflies but I recorded none. Then into the village and a scan of the lavender - Southern Comma!!!! "At last" said David. Now I know these pics were in a previous blog but I re-processed them and they are here for chronological correctness.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlLjRhNe3o0w7Tfux8nsoSA51dyABvoJmlCuy2pWhOYxo9KLA2iZHYIwkihLKGr2BhXDBVBEcty8m0f6HisHSADsYsV0WVn2H5bvxEQM9pMMePXva3GLaygLFfL5lydsd2IduRjqEutyH/s640/sc2_3173.jpg) |
Southern Comma |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij32_WLZxJcaxIw5qk_KkxQNmGX4AvcPTp7q-tJOIOptXji8g6ZHwkgcAD8cUEu8hXhaQF8RQHqSWGBiK-_ZbCae9Prf7olDsmFemGVE0gMjpDFKClEfTId4I58cDWoDyD97TdSkBg1WJc/s640/sc2_3160.jpg) |
Southern Comma |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ebcvBluQU04KNiWPh8MFf0elIx9WUewbEDoeeGC5AVNpwgmZOqpcoSOjPDH-4RQPTs3gllbl4VtvlbZssS9XcM5eOH73wh2Ra2vbfzkNIQUm6YQ4eNbYR3B1WvwCcVlpl1lzl3HSYNLK/s640/sc2_3171.jpg) |
Southern Comma |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqApqhrLO57z2KJyRPK6GH_wIWJ8AJAa7Gmayesg2b2yMnnGDOYvoF0ykX7ftknk8Rt-4wl4IPsir-kpy-wbVDIiu2nhyNRx1T4gJB7Kz24sSD-hlX3zsDh6AbfF72hGzPKC7kNClo9yC/s640/sc2_3168.jpg) |
Southern Comma |
Then a final, weary walk down the promenade, not too many butterflies present. The vegetation had a definite arid look about it, most of the nectaring flowers were well past their best. The butterfly season was coming to a close as was our visit. All I found of note was this pink hued grasshopper - which is actually a Blue-winged grasshopper (Oedipoda caerulescens)
No comments:
Post a Comment