Hello Guy
Could you tell us why Meadow Fritillary as I've been struggling with this species in the Picos de Europa and this one doesn't really show an oblique mark on the upper forewing. Please state other ID characteristics.

Many thanks
Paul

To provoke a bit more interest in these difficult to ID species I thought they may have both been males and that the first could have been Shepherd's with the light markings and more unparallel spots on the upper forewing whilst the second could be Mountain Fritillary with thicker markings and sligh...

I'll have a go as nobody else has so far. Although very worn there appears to be insufficient black on the upper wing for croceus helice and possibly even afacariensis. The lack of dark spotting towards the outer margins of the underwings also rules out these two species unless the wear and tear has...

Some absolutely stunning images on display here. You'd have to look very hard to find any better anywhere on the net.

Good call from Mikhail. Similar pattern but different colour and body shape is also slightly different shape to diadematus.

Your spider looks like a pale colour form of the Common Garden Spider Araneus diadematus.

Your Hoverfly looks like a Sphaerophoria scripta male.

Hi Sylvie I'm no expert but I visited Bansko and other areas of Bulgaria four years ago and missed out on Russian heath which yours certainly appears to be, with the spots on the hind wing being adjacent to the orange sub marginal border. On Chestnut Heath they tend to be in amongst the grey of the ...

Thanks Pieter

I am hoping to find a few sites at various altitudes where I can walk if anyone knows of any.

Cheers
Paul

Thanks for the information gents I am now planning on booking the first two weeks in July for our trip. I've looked at the Naturetrek trip reports and the Iberian Wildlife website. I've also sent a request to Teresa a few weeks ago but have had no reply as yet. I will send her another email. There a...

I am thinking of visiting the Picos de Europa next year and wondered if anyone has any information on the best time to visit for butterflies and other wildlife. Information on walks especially good butterfly sites would also be very helpful as it would be my first visit to the area. Please message m...

Citril Finch is a high mountain bird and does have a slimmer bill than the photographed bird.

With regard to our yellow feathered friend. The Serin is only a vagrant to Madeira whilst according to internet sources both Siskin and Atlantic Canary breed on Madeira. Given the large bill I think this is likely to be a Canary and is definitely not a Siskin.

I know this is well off the subject but I thought that some of you avid wildlife watchers may be interested in a new DVD I've co-produced with Steve Evans of Isabelline Films, called The British Mammal Guide. Badger Cover Final web extra small.jpg This DVD covers all of our terrestrial mammals and b...

Mark is spot on, definitely a Reed Bunting.

I think the gulls could be Lesser Black backed an adult and a juvenile going by bill size and the yellow legs of the adult. Plus the second shot is a Coot.

I think your dragonfly could be a Violet Dropwing or another of this family, possibly Red-veined Dropwing

Hi Allan

Your ladybird looks like Harlequin Ladybird H. axyridis f. conspicua

Hi Colin Not sure about the first caterpillar but looks similar to some Burnet Moth caterpillars but they normally look shorter and fatter. The second caterpillar is probably a Vapourer Moth Caterpillar and the slug could be a leopard slug although the spots look a bit too small. Hopefully someone w...

When I visited the area I found good numbers along the large path across the fields towards the quarry in the vegetation at the edge of the path beside the hedgerow and also in the area of fenced off mounds just after the fields as you head towards the quarry. If I remember correctly Dukes were in t...