A wonderful write up as always Pete. Very pleased to see you mopped up on those very localised target species and so much more. It is obviously a fantastic area. I read your report with a huge amount of envy as my wife and I had our trip to this area cancelled due to Covid on more than one occasion....

That's a wonderful butterfly David and Jon's image show it in all its glory. Looking forward to seeing some more 'eastern' specialities. I'm not sure what to make of your comment about he season being a week behind. I will be in Bulgaria in two weeks time and wonder how the mountain species may be a...

This looks to be a great trip David as I expected, with plenty of quality species, particularly the blues. I counted 13 new species if the excuse for Provence Hairstreak counted. I can't believe some of your guests were rejoicing over that specimen. Hopefully you'll be running the tour again in the ...

Hi Otep In the past I've seen Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries in the Sherbrook Valley area of Cannock Chase in mid-Jun, close to the stream in the area south of the Stepping Stones. The West Midlands Branch of Butterfly Conservation have a Field Trip to the Chase on Saturday 17 June where the targ...

A wonderful report Pete and a great series of images, you have done a great job of 'selling' David's Greenwings southern Spain for 2024. I have to say your reports always a great read as they convey your emotions to the reader perfectly, whether they are ecstasy or disappointment. I'm excited to lea...

A stunning Eastern Greenish Black Tip image Ian - well done. You certainly struck gold on your trip - are there any more goodies to come?

Hi Ian - A really great series of pictures, including two very much sought after butterflies - Inky Skipper and Grunner's OT, both scarce and very local in the area you visited, I believe. Was your trip organised by British Bulgaria Society? Their tours are always excellent and i'm looking forward t...

A great report David, on what must have been an excellent trip, which shows the work you put in last year in preparation certainly paid dividends for your group.I was wondering whether bazae might be present in Los Monegros in more 'normal' years, or is the trip timed slightly too late for them? I'm...

How times change David! I remember seeing just one Zapater's Ringlet on the first trip and it felt like finding the Holy Grail - massively exciting. Perhaps another visit is needed to get a better appreciation and to catch up on some other species that you've found since. The Southern Hermits, while...

I recognise some of those site pictures David, and I'm looking forward to reading your report and finding out what those 'special' ones are.

Very nice photographs again Ian - really liked the Camberwell Beauty. That Grecian Anomalous Blue must have caused some excitement - a very good species to see anywhere.

That's a very impressive introduction to your trip Ian, including some quite scarce species. I'm assuming that you stopped just beyond the Kresna Gorge where our list ten days later was not as impressive as yours. Looking forward to seeing some more of your highlights.

Barrie

Hi Ian A wonderful taster for everyone with your excellent photographs and I hope to read more about your trip and the array of eastern specialities undoubtedly saw. No doubt you will have many more highlights to share. My wife and I were on the last BBS tour way back in 2019 and as you no doubt fou...

Thanks for the note David, i've since found the documentation relating to the confirmed discovery of the species in Bulgaria as recently 2013, and at our site. I believe you are currently in Spain so I hope everything is in place for you. After reading your excellent tour/reccee reports over the sum...

My friend who accompanied me on this trip forwarded one of his images to Zdravko Kolev who has confirm the ID as Pygmy Skipper, and advised this is only the second site record - very pleased.

Thanks
Barrie

After three long years I made my first trip abroad back to Bulgaria. We visited a site in SW Bulgaria where I had seen Mediterranean Skipper on my previous trip. Initially, I thought the butterfly in the attachment was this species, but after reviewing my image on the back of the camera I thought it...

Hi David I've been looking forward to reading about your first trip into Eastern Europe for some time. You have started off with a couple of mouth-watering species and I can only guess what you are longing to show us. Looking forward to seeing more exciting pictures over the next few days. I wonder ...

Really enjoying reading your write up to this great and beautiful area - did you see Wallcreeper at Fuente De? From what you've said so far David, you have done well to see good numbers of the area'a specialities and i'm looking forward to see what else is on your list. There is a limestone area in ...

Very pleased to see you got away again David and what a great start to the tour - two really good lifers within sight of the airport. The inaugural tour two years ago was superb, but with flights now going to Valencia (no 4 hour trudge from Madrid) and a local Spanish guide, you've improved what was...

Guy Really enjoying reading the report and almost feeling the genuine excitement you felt finding the Desert Orange Tip (a fantastic image). In birding terms your chase up the hill might be described as 'Twitcher's Trot'. Would I be right in thinking that the sites you've visited so far, which hold ...