Pages

Monday 28 May 2018

Butterflies of the French Pyrenees, Força Réal, Py and Col de Jau





It was all about trying to dodge the weather, yet again grey clouds and rain spoilt the day, We should have seen loads of Spanish Gatekeepers. We had to search hard for them, nothing was going to fly in the cool conditions that prevailed. Our ace "butterfly wrangler found the first specimen and it was coaxed to sit on the end of a finger for all to see. Then more diligent searching rewarded most of the group with individual finds. Most had to use flash and the possibility of an open wing shot was almost zero. Thankfully a few whites were about which gave us something to chase.


Bath White



Bath White





Spanish Gatekeeper



Spanish Gatekeeper



Spanish Gatekeeper



Western Marble White



Apollos were rare during the week and a couple of overseas members of the group were keen to catch up with one. This one obliged but only in a fairly dense scrub which didn't allow a close approach.

Apollo



Friendly but unidentified beetles/bugs/chafers????




Burnet Companion, Euclidia glyphica




Black-veined White




Greater Butterfly Orchid



The diagnostic non parallel pollinia


Meadow Fritillary



Knapweed Fritillary



Latticed Heath Moth



Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper



Spotted Fritillary


Spotted Fritillary



Sulphur Owl Fly,  Libelloides coccajus



Sooty Copper


Our last day and for a couple of hours it looked as though the weather might be OK, so we headed off for the Col de Jau. When we arrived at some small but productive meadows it was obvious that the butterflies had not come out to play and were well tucked up in the vegetation.


Wall

Mazarine Blue


Pearl -bordered Fritillary

Finally the rain returned and we ventured higher to get above the heavy cloud. All to no avail ,as when we reached the Col it was shrouded in cloud.



High but not high enough

The heavens  opened in a deluge of biblical proportions so we turned back to the hotel amidst a very loud and active thunderstorm. The hardy botanists continued but the wimpy butterfliers went back for a beer.




Burnt Orchid



Burnt Orchid



Bird's Nest Orchid



Green-winged Orchid



Early Purple Orchid



Early Purple Orchid



Purple Toothwort



Purple Toothwort



Sword-leaved Helleborine



Sword-leaved Helleborine



Green-winged Orchid



Heath Spotted Orchid?



Elderflower Orchid



Elderflower Orchid



Elderflower Orchid


Elderflower Orchid



Elderflower Orchid



Asphodelus albus

No comments:

Post a Comment