Guy. I have Trivia photos from Sierra Nevada in Spain with the same antennal club markings.

Montes is going to be interesting in a couple of weeks David. I would almost prefer it to be a little late so that everything is fresh. But it may mean sacrificing Zapater’s

I was also lucky enough to see fresh Large Tortoiseshell and Pasha at the telecommunication masts above Benalmedina 1485DE00-7870-469E-95B4-465FB5971AE4.jpeg That is incredibly early for a fresh Large Tortoiseshell Andy! We had a very ragged overwintered one near Grazalema. Yours must have been the...

I was also lucky enough to see fresh Large Tortoiseshell and Pasha at the telecommunication masts above Benalmedina

Great read David. Your experience matches mine. I have never experienced such a contrast in seasons comparing last May with this. Last spring , no skippers , gatekeepers, and only Green Hairstreak in coastal Andalusia. This spring , dozens on skippers of the species you list , clouds of Spanish gate...

Surely , if they are hatching onsite and there were no adults onsite last summer , they must have been artificially introduced to site. Or am I missing something here

By the 5th May , David , this was the only Spring Ringlet I saw. However , it was more than compensated for by the 30+ De Prunner’s Ringlet around the water troughs at Moscardon

And I am just coming to the end of my 18 days here. It’s been unusual to say the least. Seen very little I expected to see and lots I didn’t. A complete contrast from last spring.

Padfield wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 7:31 pm

Andy02 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 29, 2023 8:46 pm A small Heath from Sardinia this summer. Always amazed by the regional variations

This is form/subspecies/species lyllus. Its taxonomic status is very confused but morphologically it is quite distinct, in the summer broods at least.

Guy

Thanks for the information Guy

A small Heath from Sardinia this summer. Always amazed by the regional variations

My , so far , fruitless search for this species in Spain , which I will continue this spring , means that my comments are based on information from those that have had more success. The identification features that would make me look in more detail are 1. The lack of Orange lunule as previously ment...

petesmith wrote: ↑Sat Dec 31, 2022 7:04 pm Nice, Andy - I am mildly envious!

Thanks Pete. Prior to this I saw three Nettle Tree Butterflies , having never seen this species in December previously. Winter in Malaga throws up regular surprises. Happy new year all

My last butterfly of the year in Malaga today. A stunning , fresh , African Grass Blue Zizeeria knysna.

B629C0A7-2FF0-46BA-A5F5-385EA50109E1.jpeg 1BF79BB5-6B58-4F40-8DDC-AF185D13FD37.jpeg It’s always joyous to get my winter fix in Malaga at Christmas. As usual there are plenty of Spanish Festoons on the wing , and also my first December African Grass Blue. Plenty of worn Painted Lady’s left over from...

Still going strong in my garden today in London

Simply because it made me smile in March

Spanish Festoon Malaga

Orange Tip London

Iberian Sooty Copper Spain

F24D7D4E-B1AC-4233-A7DF-AAE44772312A.jpeg A trip to Kent this morning rewarded me with fantastic views of Queen of Spain Fritillary. The cool , cloudy weather made for easy photography. There were 6-8 individuals Hi, do you have specific directions for the site? Thanks It’s on the Kent butterflies ...