SPAIN EARLY 2017.

[LancsRover]

Thanks Nick for your kind comments, have you got any over sea's trips planned for 2017??
Things have greatly improved since I arrived at Alcossebre and the good weather has greatly helped.
Regards Russ

[LancsRover]

Holly Blue and Panoptes Blue, 11.3.2017. Sierra De Irta.

[LancsRover]

Ribamar, Sierra De Irta, 18.3.2017.
First photo's of Provence Hairstreak, one ovipositing, Holly Blue also ovipositing and a Black-eyed Blue, plus Spanish Festoon(shown earlier)
Russ

[NickMorgan]

Fantastic. I would love to see Panoptes Blues some time. I think I am usually too late in the season to see them.
We are going to Corfu this summer, Russ. Last year I said to my wife that I thought we should go somewhere other than Spain this year. Now, looking back at my pictures of the Sierra Nevada I am regretting saying that!! However, I am sure Corfu will be fantastic.

[LancsRover]

I'm sure you will have a great time in Corfu and don't forget to send us your findings if you can "escape" for a little butterflying.
Russ.

[Tony Moore]

if you can escape for a little butterflying

I know the feeling...

Tony M.

[Chris Jackson]

Well done Russ for the Provence Hairstreak and Panoptes Blue.
I'm hoping to see my 1st Black-eyed Blue soon, if the weather settles down.
Chris

[LancsRover]

Cheers Chris, the Black-eyed Blues seem to be out in force this year, I saw some more in the Desert de les Palmes nature reserve, just outside Benicasim today, plus Scarce Swallowtail. I wasn't really butterflying, as I was with some friends but I will be back there again before I go home in 2 weeks time
Russ

[NickMorgan]

I'm sure you will have a great time in Corfu and don't forget to send us your findings if you can "escape" for a little butterflying.
Russ.

I am intending to escape a few times!!
Would you believe my wife has just booked a villa in southern Spain for our summer holiday 2018!! I will certainly escape again for a day in the Sierra Nevada.

[David M]

if you can escape for a little butterflying

I know the feeling...

Tony M.

LOL!

It's such an innocent pastime that wives and girlfriends should be grateful it's not football, golf committees or the pub!

[LancsRover]

Sounds good news to me Nick, I've never been so far south in Spain as the Sierra Nevada, maybe next year for me too
Russ

[NickMorgan]

Sounds good news to me Nick, I've never been so far south in Spain as the Sierra Nevada, maybe next year for me too
Russ

I can't recommend it highly enough, although you will need to go later in the season when the snow has gone. I think that early to mid June would be perfect.

[LancsRover]

Cheers Nick for the info.

[LancsRover]

Sunday 26.3.2017. Sunny, 20C.
Dry river bed and adjacent fields,
b/f's seen.
Provence Hairstreak 10+,
Speckled Wood,
Wall Brown,
Green Hairstreak,
Plain Tiger( on a mission),
Clouded Yellow
and a Common Blue female or a Brown Argus( both new this year)
Photo's to follow.
Russ.

[LancsRover]

Common Blue female or Brown Argus??
I think Common Blue.

Russ

[bugboy]

Hi Russ, the underside spotting indicates this is an Aricia

[Vince Massimo]

Yes I agree. Definitely a Brown Argus by virtue of the spot patterns on the underside but, in this instance, the upperside is also notable, in that the shape of the abdomen indicates that this is a male. This, in itself, would rule out a female Common Blue.
Check out abdomens and spots here: http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species_similarities.php

Vince

[LancsRover]

Many thanks to Bugboy and Vince, I am a lot wiser now, I'd spent over an hour trying to sort out the difference between these to butterflies, I didn't know about the similarity page, this makes it so much easier and will help me a great deal(I hopefully won't have to "bug" Guy and others like yourself as much)
I didn't know about the additional spot or the closeness of the 2 spots, turning the pages of my books from Common Blue to Brown Argus and back, you don't notice little things like that unless they are pointed out to you, so thanks to both of you for the pointers and who ever put the similarity page together

Russ

Ps Does anyone know which Aricia mine is?

[John Vergo]

Hi Russ
Your Aricia are the cramera (Southern Brown Argus) wich replace the normal A . agesti (Brown Argus) at the Iberian Peninsula
john

[LancsRover]

Thanks very much for that John, I wasn't sure about any overlap towards the north of Spain, I'm about a third of the way down the east coast, just above Benicassim.

Russ