![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2017/walbumeggs6oct2017a.jpg)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2017/walbumeggs6oct2017b.jpg)
And a single, less accessible one:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2017/walbumegg6oct2017a.jpg)
Today it was beautifully sunny all day AND I was free! So first Minnie and I went to check the cardinal site, just in case any were still around. We saw none - nor were there any Buddleia in flower, so it wasn't surprising. The only butterflies on the wing were southern small whites, Queen of Spain fritillaries, walls and a few blues - common and Adonis. So I declare the cardinal season officially over!
Then we moved further east along the valley, where much more was flying. Not that much, I must say - it is not one of those autumns that feel like summer - but enough for a good day's butterflying. Here are some piccies:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2017/didyma7oct2017d.jpg)
(spotted fritillary - still a few around)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2017/bellargus7oct2017b.jpg)
(Adonis is the commonest blue)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2017/bellargus7oct2017d.jpg)
(another Adonis - many butterflies of all species had half-eaten hindwings - this is fattening up season for the black redstarts and others!)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2017/semele7oct2017a.jpg)
(this grayling frequently rested with his wings open)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2017/semele7oct2017b.jpg)
(grayling again)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2017/statilinus7oct2017a.jpg)
(tree graylings were the commonest butterfly)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2017/megera7oct2017a.jpg)
(wall)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2017/onopordi7oct2017a.jpg)
(rosy grizzled skipper)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2017/malvoides7oct2017a.jpg)
(probably southern grizzled skipper, but I didn't see the underside)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2017/dorylas7oct2017a.jpg)
(end-of-season turquoise blue)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2017/dorylas7oct2017b.jpg)
(the same butterfly)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2017/thersites7oct2017a.jpg)
(Chapman's blue)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2017/lathonia7oct2017a.jpg)
(Queen of Spain)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2017/goldeneagle7oct2017a.jpg)
(a very distant golden eagle, taken on full zoom and then cropped enormously!)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2017/heron7oct2017a.jpg)
(heron - perhaps not a bird you associate with the Alps but common here)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2017/heron7oct2017b.jpg)
(heron)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2017/minnie7oct2017a.jpg)
(dog)
Guy