Thanks, David and Vince.

This morning I saw at least three male and three female Provence Orange-tips, including this courting couple. Heavily cropped and a bit blurred due to the wind, their activity and my shaking hands, but beggars can't be choosers .
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Colin

I finally got a photo of a Provence Orange-tip, which have been eluding my camera for two weeks or so. This female is on Biscutella laevigata, the larval food plant of this species. IMG_3467.JPG Also seen were regular Orange-tips, IMG_3465.JPG some Small Coppers, IMG_3471.JPG a Green-veined White, I...

This morning along the Piste du Collet des Espéres I saw several Baton Blues, including this female IMG_3434.JPG and this male, IMG_3463.JPG a couple of Wood Whites, IMG_3448.JPG at least one Black-eyed Blue, IMG_3449.JPG and, at last, two Spanish Festoons. IMG_3452.JPG There were also many Brimston...

Chris,

That Southern Festoon is terrific, as are its caterpillars.

I think that the orchids are Early Spider Orchids (Ophrys sphegodes). There's quite a colony of them in the garden.
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Colin

During the last week or so I saw the following firsts of the year: Small Heath IMG_3384.JPG Scarce Swallowtail (in the garden) IMG_3414.JPG Comma (I don't see many of these) IMG_3363.JPG Green-underside Blue IMG_3406.JPG Also seen but no photos were Berger's Clouded Yellows, a Geranium Bronze (in th...

Nice Provence Orange-tip photos, Chris. I have been seeing them regularly since March 30, but zero photos . I am still waiting for Spanish Festoons to appear. But I did see a Geranium Bronze in the garden yesterday.
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Colin

Yes David, I was invited to upload it to the species specific section, which I so did.
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Colin

Allan, Thanks for the ID. It certainly looks like that in the various photos I looked at on the net. Guy, Thanks for your help. In fact I found out how to edit just after I sent my post. David, I thought it might be a rather rare sight. What I didn't say was that they were in the same place for well...

How can I edit the post I just sent?

For "garding" read "garden".
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Colin

I seem to have been neglecting my personal diary :( . So here is a list of first sightings: Feb 16 2017: Red Admiral Feb 16 2017: Brimstone (Many of these were seen) Mar 07 2017: Clouded Yellow Mar 10 2017: Cleopatra (And many of these also) Mar 10 2017: Wall Brown Mar 10 2017: Holly Blue Mar 10 201...

I have also had reports of Holly Blue... Hello Chris, I saw two or three Holly Blues this morning, but they were very active, so no photos. I also saw one female Wall Brown, a few male Brimstones and two male Cleopatras, and several females which were either Brimstones or Cleopatras, it being diffi...

That's a good start for the year Chris. I've only seen one, or possibly two, Red Admirals and a male Brimstone, but no photos. So I took some photos of flowers instead, including Crocus versicolor , IMG_3115.JPG Globularia alypum , IMG_3127.JPG and Anemone hortensis . IMG_3135.JPG Cheers, Colin

Hello Chris,

Unfortunately I don't have any colonies where I've seen specimens in August to October, but not in April to June .

Hello Pieter,

Thanks for the link. Unfortunately I don't speak German at all .
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Colin

It was a bit cooler this morning along the Piste de Darbousson. I saw many Spotted Fritillaries, several Provence Chalkhill Blues, Weaver's Fritillaries, Meadow Browns and Silver-spotted Skippers (at one point there were three of them on this flower), IMG_2839.JPG a couple of Adonis Blues, Heath Fri...

Is it possible to say which species this is? Seen today at about 200 metres altitude in the Alpes-Maritimes.
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Colin

David,

I think it's a bit abnormal, probably due to the heat, which in itself is not exceptional but has been the same more or less every day for the last couple of months, with very few clouds and hardly any rain.

Just a few butterflies seen today, and even fewer photographed. One Silver-washed Fritillary, IMG_2768.JPG a couple of Adonis Blues, IMG_2775.JPG IMG_2776.JPG and a couple of Weaver's Fritillary, this one allowing me to get a close-up of its intricate under side. IMG_2786.JPG Seen but not photograph...

Yesterday: I saw very few butterflies until I reached my local quarry where I found a crop of scabious amongst which there were many Spotted Fritillaries, including this couple, IMG_2725.JPG just one Bath White, IMG_2713.JPG at least one Southern Gatekeeper, IMG_2704.JPG a few Small Coppers, IMG_272...

Chris,

I was very sorry to hear about the fires, but pleased to hear that you and your workplace are still intact.

Best wishes,
Colin

Hello David,

I hope that your weather gets warmer and dryer, and that our's gets cooler and wetter in the near future .
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Colin