Hi David, I don't know where you have been looking for renting a car in France but £300 for a week is very expensive. I always rent a car when I go on holidays and I book with Argus Car rental. Their prices are very competitive (on many destinations more competitive than autoholidays.com) and I can ...

Hi Roger, Maybe you know or have it already, but there is an excellent identification guide on Orchids by Pierre Delforge : guide des Orchidées d'Europe, d'Afrique du Nord et du Proche-Orient published by Delachaux et Niestlé. It is in French but since I bought it, it may have been translated in Eng...

Hi Roger, I agree with the following identifications: 1/ Morimus Asper (as antennae are longer than the apex, it is a male) : this longhorn beetle is common in the South of France and the larvae lives in beech but can also be found in conifers. 2/ Libellula depressa or Broad bodied chaser (female) :...

Hi Roger, Thank you for sharing your pictures. I realise that it now seems a long time since I've seen spanish gatekeepers, in fact the last time I've seen these was when I lived in the South of France 10 years ago! Time is flying and seeing your pictures makes me want to go back there for a while.....

Yes, I definitively agree with you Vince for the identification of the first skipper as Millet Skipper (pelopidas thrax). They are quite common in this part of Turkey at this time of the year.
Sylvie

Hi Roger, Stunning images! I will have to start using a tripod for butterfly photography to get pictures as sharp as yours. I really like your picture of the Glandville, a lovely little butterfly... brought back some very nice memories of my first sightings in the Alpes Martimes some years ago! What...

Hi, I do appreciate reading comments and travel reports on this website but I am a bit concerned when I see people giving names of sites for such coveted species as chameleons. Chameleons are a very sought after species mainly for the market and also for private collection and name of sites should n...

I don't trust this government, once they change the law they can do whatever they want, all this in the name of benefit!! This selling off will represent only a tiny percentage of what the government needs to cover the debt anyway. For me, this does not make sense at all. There is a already a very s...

A T, I do agree with JKT, I don't like zoom lenses either. I have a Sigma 300mm APO/MACRO lens f/4.0 - minimal focusing distance 1m, and I am happy with it. I use it for a lot of wildlife and I love it for reptiles and dragonflies. It is a very versatile lens and the focusing distance allows me to g...

Hi Pete,

I have signed up and have forwarded the link to some relatives in Germany, France and a friend in Turkey. So hopefully, this petition will travel a bit.
I think if people do the same, then there is a chance of increasing the amount of signatures.
Sylvie

Hi Vince, Thank you for posting such a detailed report. I am glad you enjoyed your trip there. I see that you went to Dalyan. Did you see any dragonflies there? Turkey is indeed a beautiful country, I certainly fell in love with it when I went there last year. We are planning a second trip there nex...

Hi Guy, You are right to say that Provence Hairstreaks should be flying already at this time of year. I was in Andalucia first week of April of 2007 and it was there that I saw them for the first time, I was surprised to see how hairy these butterflies were. I saw them in the Benalauria area further...

Hi Vince, I have not seen the book by P Hope but I use a very good book for identification: Fieldguide to dragonflies of Britain and Europe by Dikstra and beautifully illustrated by Richard Lewington, the plates, photographs and descriptions are all excellent. You can order a copy on: http://www.nhb...

Hi Vince, Sorry I should have been more specific. By Lake Dalyan I meant Koycegiz lake (pronounced like koycheese!). This is a very good area. Dalyan is the closest town. It was about 1 hour's drive from Goecek where we were based. So from Olu Deniz I guess it will take another hour to reach. If you...

Hi Vince, Congratulations !! You picked the right place for a honeymoon. Unlike the Bodrum Peninsula, the coast around Olu Deniz is very unspoilt and beautiful, you will not be disappointed! Sites for dragonflies: Lake Dalyan and surroundings is a good spot, there are a lot of small rivers and ponds...

Hi Vince, Don't be fixed on one place only and if you have a car you should explore further inland and higher up. I was near Fethiye last year for 2 weeks in May and I found interesting species at about 1200m (but you will need a car): grecian coppers, inky skippers, eastern festoons, bavius blues e...

Hi John,

I was in Turkey the last 2 weeks of May this year.
Butterflying was good there. If you want more info, please contact me by email.
Sylvie

I don't want to engage a battle but why get rid of thistles in your garden? I would not consider them as weeds as when they flower they attract a lot of wildlife!! :D My neighbourg decided to spray some weed killer on nettles at the bottom of her garden and off course, she killed my nettles as well ...

Hi Dave,

It looks like a male Stelis Punctulatissima (Megachillinae group). Bees and Wasps are always a very difficult group to identify and I suggest that you look in the following website (which is excellent by the way!):
http://www.bwars.com/index.htm
Sylvie

Hi Denise, Thank you for posting your link and I am happy for you that you managed to see so many butterflies in one week and had an excellent time! I have one question: how did you manage to identify Assmann's fritillary / Nickerl's from Heath fritillary or even false Heath fritillary? I've had a l...