This morning I went out to see if the Spanish Festoon larva from yesterday was still there. He was :D :D :D: IMG_3711.JPG Today's mating couple were Adonis Blues: IMG_3721.JPG Those were the only butterflies I photographed, but I did see a Green-veined White, a few Small Skippers, some Pearly and Sm...

Thanks for the kind comments, Trevor .
--
All the best
Colin

You should always be prepared to sacrifice quality for a simple 'record' shot. Thanks for those words of wisdom, David. This morning I encountered my first Small Skipper #43 of the year. In fact there were several of them. Here's one on a Aphyllanthes monspeliensis flower. IMG_3621.JPG An unexpecte...

Here's the bluest one I've ever seen, in the Alpes-Maritimes in May 2012.
--
Colin

Even though it was cloudy and windy this morning I went to see if there were any Chequered Blues near a quarry the other side of Roquefort les Pins. I saw one Chequered Blue, my first of the year #'42, and no other butterflies at all :( :( :( . This is the best photo I managed to get. It's not easy ...

Roger Gibbons wrote:Spanish Gatekeepers may slowly be working westwards their way to you, Colin

Roger, I guess you meant eastward . I'll be keeping my fingers crossed.
--
Colin

Hello Chris,

Wow, Spanish Gatekeepers. These don't come anywhere near me .
--
Colin

This morning in the Parc de la Brague I saw my first Heath Fritillary #41 of the year. At least I think it is a Heath Fritillary. IMG_3503.JPG There were also many Provence Chalkhill Blues, a few Glanville Fritillaries, a couple of Meadow Browns, Southern White Admirals and Blue-spot Hairstreaks, a ...

This morning I saw my first Spotted Fritillary #40 of the year. Presumably I shall soon find them all over the place. IMG_3453.JPG I saw a few Pearly Heaths, and this photo makes up for the poor one of yesterday. IMG_3484.JPG There were some of its cousins, the Small Heaths, as well. IMG_3471.JPG An...

During my walk this morning along the Piste du Castelas in Roquefort les Pins I took this out-of-focus (or did I move?) photo of my first Pearly Heath #39 of the year. IMG_3448.JPG There wasn't much flying at all but I did see four or so Swallowtails, although it could have been the same one seen fo...

Hello Chris,

The Curry Plant here is only just coming into flower both in the garden and in the wild. Perhaps that's why I only saw one of them (Blue-spot Hairstreak not Curry Plant ).
--
Colin

Even though it was hot this morning with very little wind, there were not many butterflies to be seen. I did however see my first Swallowtail #37 of the year. I didn't manage any decent photos of it because it never stopped moving its wings even when feeding (?) on Aphyllanthes monspeliensis . Anoth...

Not much wind today, just lots of sun :) . There are still some Spanish Festoons in prime condition. I photographed this one twice with 40 minutes between each sighting :o . IMG_3396.JPG I saw two Scarce Swallowtails. This one was taking a rest from being chased by Spanish Festoons. IMG_3420.JPG The...

Today there has been a very strong wind, as a result of which there were very few butterflies in flight. But I did see a couple of Southern White Admirals, this being one of them. IMG_3385.JPG Also several Glanville Fritillaries, this one being on the road :o . IMG_3388.JPG Also seen were a few Adon...

cjackson wrote:I don't think the Mistral reaches as far East as chez toi.

Well strictly speaking it doesn't, but today we do have a very strong vent d'ouest .
--
Colin

Hello Chris,

Nice to see that you are taking advantage of the four public holidays this month. Are you "doing/making the bridge" tomorrow?

All the best,
Colin

Even though it was quite cloudy this morning there was a reasonable selection of butterflies around. One of the first seen was a Scarce Swallowtail enjoying the thyme. IMG_3288.JPG Another one indulging itself in the thyme was this Knapweed Fritillary. IMG_3291.JPG The only other Fritillaries seen w...

This afternoon, down by the quarry, I saw my first Brown Argus #36 of the year, a female (?). It spent most of its time chasing, or being chased by an unidentified blue. IMG_3255.JPG I also saw two Western Dappled Whites, a mating couple. Half an hour later they were still there. IMG_3243.JPG Also, ...

This afternoon, down by the quarry, I was looking at the Biscutella laevigata plants (there are not all that many of them) to see if there were any Provence Orange-tip ova or larvae. I didn't find any, but on one plant I did find a mating couple of Western Dappled Whites. They were very difficult to...

Hello Goldie,
If you send me some of your Dukes of Burgundy (or should that be Duke of Burgundys or even Duke of Burgundies ) then I'll send you some of my Painted Ladies .
--
Colin