I reckon I found the site by 90% luck and 10% research inasmuch I expected to find it in the general area behind Grasse in craggy warm areas with abundant red valerian. From field guide guessed the best time would be late June. The specimens I saw seemed very fresh. I later noticed a female taking a...

According to Google Earth the altitude was 1004m; in fact not far from or much above the main road.

The abundant Red Valerian at the Escragnolles site (23/6/2014) attracted many species apart from P.alexanor; the most common being Black-veined White: bvwhitesmall.jpg and Cleopatra cleopatrarestsm.jpg departingcleosmall.jpg Also seen was an Apollo/Small Apollo(?) apollosmall.jpg and rather worn spe...

I was probably rather naive in publishing the location and extending British standards to continent. For example Butterfly Conservation actively encourages reporting of precise locations of the endangered Duke of Burgundy in my county of Gloucestershire and assumed same principles could be extended ...

In case it is helpful to those who happen to be in the area, this is a detailed google map showing the site where I saw alexanor flying 4 days ago:

I was able to get these photos of Southern Swallowtail ( Papilio alexanor) above a disused quarry (alas now an unofficial rubbish dump) beside N85 near Escragnolles, Alpes-Maritimes (NW of Grasse). These butterflies were very active in the hot sunshine; pairs (male/male or male/female?) chasing each...

When following life histories some events can be elusive and require close monitoring unfortunately as they occur quickly and often at "unsocial" hours! To this end I have found a remote control timer useful which are relatively inexpensive - about £20. An example can be found on Amazon : ...

I have seen them in Overley Wood (eg SO971056) in north part of park during recent fine spell 26-28 May, also some Duke of Burgundy.