Day 6 – From a car park at 1100m, in a different side valley, we took a long and intermittently steep walk on a baking hot day to 1600m. Conifer predominant mixed forest gave out to Alpine flower meadow grassland at 1400m. The first part therefore showed off mainly Fritillaries.. Titania’s and Lesse...

Thanks for that Guy, those Pyrgus frustrate me+++. I didn't dare think amoricanus... but I'll take it as my first of that species, albeit battered a bit .. and the car...
Stand by for the next weary instalment

Day 5 – A trip across the Beaufort pass in Savoie to a site I had been before at 1500m. This turned out to be a relatively bad day. Most species were to active to photograph, until the sun went in at lunchtime, not really to re-appear. Almond-eyed Ringlet was definite and numerous, and my first witn...

Day 4 – A visit to the head of the valley at 1000m. After driving as far as we could go, a long brisk walk bought us to unstable mountain grassland which one felt was basically a boulder field on which lush vegetation constantly tried to smother the expanding collection of rocks as they dropped off ...

Here are three from Cormet de Roseland, ID issues... Large Grizzled, Dusky, Oberthur's, I'm perplexed! ( no suprise there ) Roger or Guy.. please help me again - Oh, and sorry - no undersides
1/ 2/ 3/

Thanks Guy, you can see why I thought Eriphyle!! Interestingly Lafranchis does suggest it being in French Alps, so my hopefulness had increased!!

is there anyone out there ?

well... I'm going on my own instincts then!

02/07/11 Day 3 - We ventured early, up to a ski base at 1600m and walked slowly uphill, steeply at times to a lofty 2100m. At 1600m the first Erebia visible turned out to be Manto Ringlet, my first experience of this one. Images as usual were difficult to accomplish well. Glorious Sooty and Purple E...

Thanks Guy, thought I must have seen melampus, but not sure which!!!... now I know. Look forward to hearing how your current group do.

I would like to receive the benefit of opinion regarding the true identities of these erebia from French Alps. I have my ideas, but wish confirmation or otherwise. I appreciate it aint that easy from only pics... IMG_9324.JPG IMG_9344.JPG IMG_9485.JPG IMG_9476.JPG IMG_9518.JPG IMG_9524.JPG

Have a great time!

Day 1 – Spent the morning along the riverside in our Haute Savoie base at 700m with weather gradually improving. Investigated any rough waste ground and gradually accounted for Marbled White, Small Heath, Small and Large Skipper, Small and Large Whites, Wood White, Short Tailed Blue, Provencal Short...

Sorry, I meant the marking in S1b, discally... sort of cartoon dog-bone shaped.. if you squint long enough.. ... I was thinking ssp. vernetensis or codinai, - but wait for Guy or Roger Gibbons... don't believe me

In your first set of photos, does the dumbell not indicate the subspecies of diamina in that part of the world?

... and your final pair... oblique line... > parthenoides??

just a thought from a rank amateur!

I can just imagine how Paul W is enjoying it... Guy... what a BEAUTIFUL Silvery Argus... may I ask if it was at your Nickerl's site? If not, I know you won't give locations, so yes or no is fine. I cherish the thought of seeing that one for the first time, especially if it should be that fresh. :mrg...

Sat 24th June - Lake District, Hartsop Dodd. In the company of Roger Harding, made the climb to the high fells to see mnemon, and despite not quite ideal conditions achieved the following. Apologies to those who hate photographers and who hate butterflies on sticks... I suggest you look away now :tw...

Looks like Poplar Hawk to me, or possibly Elephant Hawk.

Sunday 5th in Devon. Not great weather but some Fritillary success... first time I have seen Heath Frit in this country, and seem to be darker than their European counterparts to me... lovely to see and thanks indeed to Roger and Rose for their wonderful hospitality. IMG_8438.JPG IMG_8475.JPG IMG_85...

Well, judging by Saturday... there weren't that many around, and I know there were comments about the lack of wing opening... I was there from 7am, until 2 ish, and spent a lot of time carefully wandering around the slopes after them... they were quite jittery and did not settle for long, and flew v...

Collard Hill pilgrimage Saturday 4th June.
Great to finally meet Mr Hulme and to bump into Roger again