Marseilles and its region 2016

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Folks,
Strongish wind from the west today which doesn't suit butterflies at my workplace.
These photos are from yesterday, showing what Meadow Brown females look like in the South of France.
Probably form hispulla (same individual in both photos):

Cheers, Chris

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Folks,
Bit of a catch-up from the South of France.
Today, a trip into the west Var came up with the Clouded Apollo.
It was seen above 900 m ASL. This subspecies is Parnasius mnemosyne cassiensis.
It is an endangered species, on the verge of extinction and is protected.
SPECIES No. 90 : Clouded Apollo ssp. cassiensis

NB: I have subsequently withdrawn context photos for obvious reasons.

Also seen, a female Adonis Blue. Lysandra bellargus form ceronus (I think).

Cheers, Chris

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Folks,
I'd like to share with you some photos from today, in the west Var, South of France.
A rather well marked Satyrium ilicis, female, form cerri:

correct me if I'm wrong

Plus Black-veined Whites in copula:

And here is an original shot of a courting couple of Small Coppers. The individual on the left may be female form elea:

Cheers, Chris

[David M]

Some lovely specimens there, Chris. Well done on your cassiensis by the way. Hope there's still a Marseille standing after the behaviour of Russian and English hooligans.

[Chris Jackson]

Central Southern France

Hi Folks,
The most recent species this week is the Southern Gatekeeper which is right on time compared to previous years.
SPECIES No. 92 : Southern Gatekeeper (male)

I also saw my first Grayling yesterday.
Cheers,
Chris

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Folks,
I hear weather is a bit naf back in Blighty at the moment. Down in the south east of France we seem to be protected by a pressure zone over the Med.
Morning temperatures are around 21°C, and between 29 and 32°C in the afternoon.
Here are my latest sightings from today, not far from my workplace in Vitrolles in the Bouches du Rhone.
I think I've got the very start of their flight periods because they are quite fresh individuals.
SPECIES No. 97 : Black Satyr

SPECIES No. 98 : Striped Grayling

Cheers, Chris

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Folks,
End of June and a couple of new arrivals. In France, both these species are pretty much restricted to a limited area.
SPECIES No. 96 : Spanish Purple Hairstreak.
I am aiming for an open-wing shot this year.

SPECIES No. 99 : Furry Blue (female) :
There seem to be many more females around than males.

Cheers, Chris

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Folks,
Bit of an update from today in central southern France.
Furry Blue male uppers and unders:

dolus male uppers, early morning shot (one of this year's goals achieved plus flight period nailed down at this altitude):

I finally have evidence of a Queen of Spain colony within 40 km of Marseilles, at 650 m ASL.

Here is a bit of context in the west Var in the South of France. These bushes are 'Sumac' and attract many flying insects.
In the distance, the mountain of La Sainte Baume:

A female? Grayling:

Cheers, Chris

[Charles Nicol]

just caught up with 10 weeks of your posts Chris !!

wonderful pics of our 6 legged friends & thier environment.

i have booked my Aude vacation & purchased some Euros ...

Charles

[LancsRover]

Hi Chris, I'm just catching up with your blog, great pic. of Striped Grayling, amongst others, well done. I'm after the "emperor" tomorrow at Fermyn Woods.

Russ

[Sylvie_h]

Hi Chris,

Ah oui la Ste Baume, when I looked at your photograph, I recognized the place immediately having been there 13 years ago.... That was the summer of 2003 with high heatwave and fires (I remember the one in the Massif des Maures as one of my favourite spots had been badly hit) and some paths in the area were closed to the public. Beautiful place indeed steeming with butterflies and other creeping and flying insects.... makes me want to go back, thanks for sharing.
Sylvie

[Chris Jackson]

Hello Charles,
Looking forward to your reports from your gourmet butterflying holidays.
I dare not wonder about Sterling - Euro exchange rates at the moment ..... Brexit has no regard for a man and his appetite.

Hello Russ,
Striped Grayling do look good if you can catch them fresh. Good luck with the Emperor - that is still on my wish list.

Hello Sylvie,
Yes, the Ste Baume is an interesting place. There are two particular hotspots that have no less than 75 species of butterfly over the season.

Chris

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Folks,
Back to work in the South of France, holidays over.
After having spent 2 weeks in the Hautes Alpes and in Savoie, I've come back down to the dried up South with temperatures reaching 33 or 34°C, and very few species of butterflies flying during my lunch break. The Southern Gatekeeper is flying but hides in the shade at the foot of the bushes.
Out in the scrub, Tree Grayling are predominant. This is the start of their flight period - they are truly a mid-July hot weather butterfly.
SPECIES No. 133 : Tree Grayling

A solitary Swallowtail braved the heat:

Context - dried up scrub

Cheers, Chris

[Charles Nicol]

just arrived in Carcassonne... have seen one or two Walls & HBHMs....will set up a Flickr page soon



Charles

[Chris Jackson]

Welcome to France, Charles.
Looking forward to your reports.
They say that with this heat-wave, you should drink at least one and a half litres per day.
Chris

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Folks,
End of July, central southern France.
Here is a brief view of some different species one can see in my region at the end of July.
Weaver's Fritillary

Furry Blue, female

Rock Grayling (perhaps). H. hermione hermione

Small Heath, form lyllus

Chalk-hill Blue, male

Southern Marbled Skipper

Oberthür's Grizzled Skipper, female

False Grayling

Black Satyr, female

Cheers, Chris

[David M]

None too shabby a list, Chris. I merely wish that we could see butterflies at all in the UK right now.

Things are bleak like never before!

[Charles Nicol]

the Papillons in the Aude are similar to last year but no Apatura spp yet.

i was dismayed to find that a large stand of poplars where they lived has been clear felled with only about 10% left

[Chris Jackson]

Hello David and Charles,

Today it took a 2-hour round trip to get my yearly fix of Lesser Purple Emperor, about 50 km north east of Marseilles.
I walked up the side of the river, stood next to the same tree as last year, waited 2 minutes, the butterfly came down (the same male clytie form as last year), I took a few photos, then went home. I didn't think it would be as predictable that
Difficult however to get close, and underwing shots nigh impossible.
Here is a bit of context as well.
SPECIES No. 138 : Lesser Purple Emperor, male, form clytie

Cheers, Chris

[Charles Nicol]

Hello David and Charles,

Today it took a 2-hour round trip to get my yearly fix of Lesser Purple Emperor, about 50 km north east of Marseilles.
I walked up the side of the river, stood next to the same tree as last year, waited 2 minutes, the butterfly came down (the same male clytie form as last year), I took a few photos, then went home. I didn't think it would be as predictable that
Difficult however to get close, and underwing shots nigh impossible.
Here is a bit of context as well.
SPECIES No. 138 : Lesser Purple Emperor, male, form clytie

ilia5_83 male form clytie Gorges du Caramy 06Aug16 (5).JPG

Cheers, Chris

well done Chris !! i shall persevere... this après midi i shall walk through the remaining poplars to look for the Emperors