Thanks Wurzel and David, I'll leave the Southern Festoon cats to mature a bit and I'll get back to them in a couple of weeks. This coming week I'll go and see how the Spanish Festoons are getting on. Meanwhile, down in the olive grove behind work, there has been progress with other cats. For the las...

Here is the latest instalment from my Southern Festoon site. This week in particular there is a lot of activity. In a very short period during my lunch break, I observed fresh adults flying (despite my dismay during recent bad weather), including females laying on leaves that already have many eggs,...

Excellent early stage images, Chris. There's so much going on down your way with your extended species range, meaning there is plenty to find even when the weather is not conducive to butterfly activity. Surely you'll get some respite from your office seat over the Easter break? :) Thanks David. I ...

Interesting to see the SWA cat Chris :D - I'm used to seeing images of the WA but I don't know how they compare appearance wise - this looks a little more 'stripey'? :? :D Have a goodun Wurzel Hi Wurzel, I have very little experience with 'standard' White Admirals, they do not fly down my way. When...

Your diary has taken on a slightly different slant for me now that I'm familiar with several species you follow down there :) That's great bugboy. Its nice to be able to concentrate on these effemeral early species before the high season BFs emerge. Your Gib. report has got me thinking about a poss...

Hi Folks, On January 13th I posted photos of a Southern White Admiral cat. in his hibernaculum. Today he is out of hibernation on his host plant. L. reducta 3rd instar on Lonicera implexa: reducta33 catepillar 3rd instar after hibernation Parc Bruyères 07Apr19 (5).JPG his hibernaculum is still hangi...

..... Are adult numbers in excess of what you are used to seeing this year? .... Ah David, unfortunately I am stuck to my office chair 99% of the time. I consider myself lucky to see what I actually do see. I cannot judge the populations. I wish I was out and about more often to get better statisti...

Wurzel wrote: ... we look like having un-butterfly friendly weather for the long haul over here .... Wurzel

Spring is often a dodgy time weather-wise, just when we need to see those spring species.
Chris

A pleasant spring day in the south of France yesterday, with a hi of 15°C. Making the most of it I set off in search of a reported new colony of Provence Hairstreak, a species which barely reaches west across the border into my département . One individual does not make a colony, but its a good sign...

... Those aristolochia plants are properly ‘peppered’ with ova. Will they eat their way through the entire plant once they all hatch? Hi David, In my short experience I have never seen so many eggs together. I would say that on average I would expect about 4 eggs per leaf. With 4 eggs on one plant,...

A chill wind of 12 - I'd settle for that at the moment - we've had sleet and hail :? :mrgreen: :wink: Have a goodun Wurzel Hi Wurzel, Despite a fine spring day yesterday, today Saturday 6th we are rained out in southern and south-east France - this must be the tail-end of what you are experiencing....

Hi Folks, This is to bring you up to date with my local Southern Festoon colony not far from work. My first sighting was on the 21th March, which means that today we are 15 days through the flight period. I went to the site at lunch time but the conditions were not favourable - a chill wind (12°C) a...

David M wrote: ... Amazing to see Glanvilles on the wing so soon. Is this the earliest you’ve ever recorded them?

Hi David,
Up to now the earliest I've seen a Glanville is the 10th of April.
This year I can't determine whether the season is early or late - it seems bit of a mix depending on the species.
Chris

Wurzel wrote: ... Cracking shot of the Glannie .... Wurzel

Thanks Wurzel.

Well done Greenie for all the hard work.
That species owes it to you.
I would have been proud to have participated in the effort.
Chris

Hi Folks, Today, Tuesday 2nd of April. Just before some bad weather is due to set in - probably the same you are getting in Blighty. Behind my workplace during the lunchbreak, I finally spotted some of the Spanish Festoon host plant coming through - Aristolochia pistolochia . Although this plant is ...

... Great shot of the Camberwell I've got a single shot in my collection of a very distant, white edged triangle .... Wurzel Hi Wurzel, Now that I know the location of this site I hope it will be a yearly sighting - I bet they have the same habits, generation after generation, in the same location,...

Yesterday, the last Sunday of March, I had my 2nd only ever photo encounter with a Camberwell Beauty in the west Var at 490 metres altitude. Often these fly past overhead, patrolling their territory, without a photo opportunity. However we noticed this one, by the side of a dried up river bed, that ...

... This is one of those 'out of season' species that require a great effort to see for we UK dwellers ... I intend to make precisely that effort in the not too distant future! David, End of March to end of April is a critical time for those early species down here. Once its over, its over. The bad...

Is that a Spring Ringlet - Erebia epistygne Chris? :? If it is then it just proves how good the Butterflies of Europe app is :D ... Wurzel You are right Wurzel !! Spring Ringlet. Although I have encountered this species a couple of times, its sudden unexpected appearance on the path in front of me ...