Keep going back at different times of day, Goldie. If they're there, eventually you'll see them necataring. They're easier to find later in the season, too.
Yesterday I went up to a site where a friend says silvery argus,
nicias, is common. It was a perfect day and I saw thousands of blues but no
nicias. I bump into this species occasionally but still have no regular site for it. Here are a few of the other things on the wing:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2016/bluesgroup20jul2016f.jpg)
(mazarine blue surrounded by adoring little blues)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2016/bluesgroup20jul2016d.jpg)
(silver-studded, mazarine and little blues)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2016/glandon20jul2016a.jpg)
(glandon blue)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2016/optilete20jul2016a.jpg)
(cranberry blue)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2016/eumedon20jul2016a.jpg)
(geranium argus)
Today, Chris Jackson of UK Butterflies popped over from Evian-les-Bains, where he's currently on holiday, to see some true upland butterflies. I took him to one of the nearest high spots, where I knew there would be good species. The weather was not so good for much of the walk, and there was not a glimmer of sun while we were at the high point of our walk, but he still got more lifers than you can count on two hands. I held back to let him get the photos first, but got a few myself too.
His first lifer was actually on the drive up the hill. I suggested stopping on a corner where I have once seen purple emperor, just on the offchance - and after 5 mins we got back in the car with emperor photos in the bag! Very bad views, and an insect that had seen better days, but a good start nevertheless:
Several
Erebia were lifers for him. Here he is photographing his first
mnestra:
Other
Erebia seen were
tyndarus,
pandrose,
euryale and either
melampus or
epiphron - I identified it casually as
melampus through the net but when I saw his photo on the camera had doubts. I'll be able to clear that up when I see the photo on the screen.
Fritillaries included lots of shepherd's fritillary,
Boloria pales but no mountain fritillary,
B. napaea.
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2016/pales21jul2016a.jpg)
(shepherd's fritillary, female on left, male on right)
Right at the top, while Chris ate his lunch, and despite the fact it was cool and overcast, I said with a swagger I'd go and find him a Cynthia's fritillary. Sure enough, I found this male with slightly curly wings:
I expect it could fly but it didn't even try to under the conditions. I gently moved it from right beside the path, where dogs and walkers could have hit it, and Chris got some
cynthia shots. A second male appeared later, but disappeared as Chris was approaching for photos. I took a long-distance shot from an angle:
Other fritillaries were Grisons fritillary and the mountain subspecies/form of marsh fritillary,
debilis. This is a female:
Another lifer for Chris was peak white:
This is an idas blue ...
... and this an alpine Heath:
Finally, Chris photographing that
debilis:
Other species seen on the walk included swallowtail, Apollo (from the car as we arrived), mountain clouded yellow, orange tip (much lower down), pearl-bordered fritillary, alpine grayling, mazarine blue, little blue, dingy skipper and Essex skipper.
Guy