Rejuvenated by my days' butterflying I was back on track to carrying out my plan to visit Andorra and although Sharon was in two minds about it, my eldest daughter's enthusiasm for going ensured I got my way. This was to be our last full day before returning to England and more than anything I was determined to ramp up my list with a few more species. Secretly I was hoping for Apollo as a friend had told me he'd seen "big white butterflies" there whilst out walking in the hills some years back.
The drive to was not as far as Perpignan but still some distance nevertheless, with most of it climbing. The final stage when we reached Andorra was the most amazing as we avoided going through the tunnel and instead drove into El Pas de la Casa. The sharp contrast of this Andorran town to those in France was immediately apparent
![Surprised :o](./images/smilies/icon_surprised.gif)
. To be honest I preferred the slightly dilapidated look and Rustic rural charm of France to the more modern clean-cut feel of Andorra. Unlike France though (and increasingly in England) there was no problem finding a petrol station
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
.
For those leaving Andorra, El Pas de la Casa provided a stop-off to stock-up on duty free (cheaper booze, cigs and other stuff). We continued without stopping and zig-zagged our way up the mountain pass on excellently surfaced roads, to eventually get over the summit at Port d'Envalira (nearly 8000ft) snake downwards and then be greeted by a stunning views of the mountains and valleys beyond.
![2015.08.28 IMG_5175 Grau Roig, Andorra.jpg (511.81 KiB) Viewed 893 times View of Grau Roig, Andorra](./files/thumb_10062_d537ed422a690cfb7a67673abb2f7072)
- View of Grau Roig, Andorra
![2015.08.28 IMG_5185 Crag Martins.jpg (110.73 KiB) Viewed 893 times Crag Martins](./files/thumb_10062_978cddf521e898cacb0ef23f57f1d37a)
- Crag Martins
Our stopping point was approximately at 2000+ m. Over the edge on a scree slope I spotted an Erebia Ringlet. I'm not sure which species it was (a very difficult group) but my initial assessment is Gavarnie Ringlet (Erebia gorgone)
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
. Whatever it turns out to be it will be a lifer as I've not seen any of the UK's erebias. The picture is not very good but some of the ones I took later (at the end of this series(in Part 7)) may be more useful
![Neutral :|](./images/smilies/icon_neutral.gif)
. In addition to the Erebia ringlet I spotted a white which I hoped would be Peak White (
P. calladice) but it turned out to be a female Bath White
Pontia daplidice, a species I've seen and photographed a lot of in Tenerife.
![2015.08.28 IMG_5196 (Gavarnie) Ringlet (Erebia gorgone) off CG-2 nr. Port d' Envalira (2000+m), Andorra.jpg (490.05 KiB) Viewed 893 times Erebia sp .... more (hopefully conclusive) pics in Part 7](./files/thumb_10062_7dd56313054b487c4b939763dc017196)
- Erebia sp .... more (hopefully conclusive) pics in Part 7
![2015.08.28 IMG_5208 Bath White (Pontia daplidice) off CG-2 nr. Port d' Envalira (2000+m), Andorra.jpg (396.98 KiB) Viewed 893 times Bath White](./files/thumb_10062_1eec253ba0cffda13ddb179dd9e06e6a)
- Bath White
Moving further along on the CG-2 we came into the conurbation of Soldeu a place which seemed to comprise solely of ski hotels. At this point I fancied a sit down and a drink. There were no small bars so we went into the Sport Hotel and the facilities; efficiency of service and prices were top notch
![Surprised :o](./images/smilies/icon_surprised.gif)
. Relaxing and soaking up the views in this alpine resort a sobering thought was seeing numerous cranes on the hillsides indicating the possibility of future overdevelopment
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
.
As we continued along the 'main road' encountering more an more urbanisation I was aware that we'd soon be driving out of the "other end", and into Spain. Is this what I came to Andorra for
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
..
No!!
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
. So, in Andorra la Vella, while Sharon and the girls went off to do a bit of shopping I studied the map for my next port of call. The ladies came back happy having found some bags they'd wanted, and I set off heading north for Ordino. In Ordino we had lunch and then I continued on my quest continuing in a northerly direction on the CG-3 all the time dropping comments like "we might as well go this way unless you have other ideas"?
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
The climb was gentle and the area became less built up, with the chalets/hotels becoming noticeably smaller. At a place called La Cortinada (1400m) I spotted a promising looking meadow to check over
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
. "Be 5 minutes" I told the others, grabbing my camera + long lens and almost immediately on stepping onto the meadow I spotted a pale Blue-grey butterfly. I ran off two shots then the shutter stopped clicking
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
. Glancing at the screen indicated "card full" and glancing back at the butterfly revealed it had gone
![Crying or Very sad :cry:](./images/smilies/icon_cry.gif)
. Heading back to the car for my other camera I started deleting some of the older stuff and checked over the pictures I'd managed to get. It was only then that I identified my find as either a male Chalk-hill Blue
Lysandra coridon or a Province Chalk-hill Blue
Lysandra hispana.
![2015.08.28 IMG_5236 IMG_9440 (Provence) Chalk-hill Blue meadow off CG-3, La Cortinada (1400m), Andorra t.jpg (350.35 KiB) Viewed 893 times well-marked hindwing lunules ... could it be hispana?](./files/thumb_10062_e137fc531f689e91ce6c36db5ca38600)
- well-marked hindwing lunules ... could it be hispana?
After returning with the same camera and free card space, I couldn't find the Blue again
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
. My only lepidopteran was this Humming-bird Hawk-moth
Mindful of the time I hurried back and we continued on the CG-3 road heading north. Soon we came into a small village Llorts where I spotted what appeared to be a tourist knack-knacks shop
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
. Persuading the ladies they might like to do some (one shop) shopping, I made my way over to a promising looking meadow albeit on a steep embankment. It didn't take long before I got my first butterfly and my second Sooty Copper (
Lycaena tityrus) of the holiday. Soon after I was homing in on a brightly coloured blue and this was the familiar Adonis Blue
Lysandra bellargus frequently seen on chalklands of South England. 'Chalk-hill Blue'; Adonis Blue
![Surprised :o](./images/smilies/icon_surprised.gif)
Home from home in Andorra
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
.
![2015.08.28 IMG_5243 Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus), meadow off CG-3, Llorts (1400+m), Andorra t.jpg (621.89 KiB) Viewed 893 times Sooty Copper](./files/thumb_10062_1b036d952ba8a824026f32a7c06cc59e)
- Sooty Copper
![2015.08.28 IMG_5253 Adonis Blue, meadow off CG-3, Llorts (1400+m), Andorra t.jpg (1.03 MiB) Viewed 893 times Adonis Blue](./files/thumb_10062_ae4f2ba61363041243916474cf3be777)
- Adonis Blue
This home from home theme was about to continue when I spotted a large looking 'Marbled White' ... or was it
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
Whatever it was it was very alert and all I caught was this blurred image of a part of the hindwing and it made off
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
.
![2015.08.28 IMG_5258 t.jpg (502.95 KiB) Viewed 893 times Melanargia sp.](./files/thumb_10062_dbc7a0d3e913070d506ec8e4d23f1005)
- Melanargia sp.
I would like to believe it was/is a (female) Iberian Marbled White
Melanargia lachesis rather than
galathea so that I can add it to my lifer list. Again (like the 'Chalk-hill') it seemed different (size bigger and stronger flight) but the picture doesn't reveal much.
The next butterfly to appear kept the home from home theme going, another Common Blue. On this holiday this butterfly definitely lived up to it's name "common".
![2015.08.28 IMG_5266 Common Blue, meadow off CG-3, Llorts (1400+m), Andorra.jpg (478.56 KiB) Viewed 893 times Common Blue](./files/thumb_10062_aea737a9a9cb49dbb184b8254a28ae0e)
- Common Blue
In between the Marbled White and Common Blue was another 'Beast of Durlston' a Great Green Bush-cricket, an impressive looking insect that I'd seen for the first time only a couple of weeks earlier in Durlston nr. Swanage when looking for Lulworth Skipper.
After checking that the others were not making their way back to the car I dashed back over to the embankment to have a final fling at getting something that wouldn't be found in the UK. This turned out to be a good move as the next butterfly was indeed something I'd never seen before. A female copper with the underside giving it away as a Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae) What a little beauty
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
.
![2015.08.28 IMG_5289 Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae),(female), meadow off CG-3, Llorts, Andorra.jpg (953.08 KiB) Viewed 893 times Female Scarce Copper](./files/thumb_10062_a52637234caffcc798ab00b29b039e8c)
- Female Scarce Copper
The half open wing shots were tantalising but when she opened them up fully to the sun she revealed a myriad of sumptuous iridescences
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
. A truly stunning little insect that my camera work didn't do justice to.
Feeling totally chuffed I met up with Sharon and the girls (un-impressed by their (non) shopping trip) and I continued heading north, they being mere extras in my exploratory plans
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
. At El Serrat we stopped off at another swish Hotel for some liquid refreshment and a call of nature. From talking to the hotel receptionist I was able to glean that there we a nature reserve only 2Km further on. It was nearly 5:00p.m.
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
Time to get my skates on .. "drink up"
The road leading to the reserve Parc Natural de la vall de Sorteny, narrowed and climbed more steeply. However it wasn't long before we came to a car-park at the end of the road. The others weren't up for a (strenuous) walk and preferred to remain around the picnic area near the car park. I told them I'd be back in half an hour and made off as fast as I could walk to try and see as much as I could within the time available. This time constraint was of my own making as it would be a long journey back to the L'Arize campsite, and I didn't want to have to drive too much of the way at night.
The rocky path followed a small stream, the Riu de Rialb. I hadn't gone far in when I spotted a medium sized fritillary. Although it landed I couldn't get close enough for an identification so it became just another one of those "the one that got away" moments, all part and parcel of the butterflying experience
![Neutral :|](./images/smilies/icon_neutral.gif)
.
The disappointment didn't last long because soon afterwards I was onto another copper, this time a male Scarce Copper
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
. The male has fiery red-orange iridescent wings without the upperside spotting of the female. Unlike the female this one was more active and was trickier to get a reasonable shot.
Continuing onwards and upwards I found the path littered with fungi heads, presumably picked and discarded because they were not edible or the right type. Further on I was aware of someone climbing amongst the undergrowth and although I couldn't see the person he/she might've been the one picking the fungi. Wild fungi foraging for commercial gain is becoming a big problem in the UK and probably elsewhere too. It certainly shouldn't be happening on a nature reserve
![Mad :x](./images/smilies/icon_mad.gif)
.
![2015.08.28 IMG_5359 Boletus mushrooms (picked and discarded by someone) Sorteny National Park, Andorra.jpg (481 KiB) Viewed 893 times Boletus sp. found discarded on the rocky path](./files/thumb_10062_5b9a304cfd633d4d191a07565f6d647a)
- Boletus sp. found discarded on the rocky path
As I got further up the woods on both sides of the path thinned and eventually it opened up into Vall de Rialb a valley of rocks and rockfalls with a grassy floor. Just before that I encountered another male Scarce Copper
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
.
![2015.08.28 IMG_5372 Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae) (male No.2) Vall de Sorteny nature park, Andorra.jpg (910.51 KiB) Viewed 893 times Male Scarce Copper](./files/thumb_10062_4c6cb8a7786166ca837c564c873bf57a)
- Male Scarce Copper
Moving onto the scenic valley plain surrounded by high mountains at around 2000m I was expecting to see a lot of mountain ringlet butterflies but it was a huge disappointment
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
. There were hundreds of grasshoppers in the grass but that was it. No Erebia's no Apollo or Clouded Apollo .... zilch
![Crying or Very sad :cry:](./images/smilies/icon_cry.gif)
. Then I spotted two small brown birds which I initially thought might Alpine Accentors
![Surprised :o](./images/smilies/icon_surprised.gif)
..... but all they were only Dunnocks
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
... the 'British' theme continues
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
.
So with no butterflies in the Sorteny valley it was time to head back. On the way I was able to snap a Small White but no more butterflies showed up. When I got back I found my daughters cooling their feet in the stream. They excitedly told me their huge ants encounter and also a fritillary butterfly (probably the one I didn't get to I.D.)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Species count now standing at 37 (inc the unidentified Melanargia and Erebia).