Lee Hurrell

[Lee Hurrell]

I also scrolled back and didn't realise I had not seen the post before it. Fantastic close-up of the Small Tort wing.

Thanks, Ernie

[Old Wolf]

Brilliant Pics Lee. Your close up wing shots are amazing

Well done on saving the Blue Tit. I look around and see so many people who don't give a damn about all the nature around them and It warms my heart to hear stories like this.

[Lee Hurrell]

Brilliant Pics Lee. Your close up wing shots are amazing

Well done on saving the Blue Tit. I look around and see so many people who don't give a damn about all the nature around them and It warms my heart to hear stories like this.

Thanks, Old Wolf, that's very kind of you.

Best wishes,
Lee

[Lee Hurrell]

May Holly Blues

A week later, I was watching Holly Blues in the garden. This female was egg laying.

Holly Blue, female, Epsom, Surrey, 14th May 2016

Holly Blue, female, Epsom, Surrey, 14th May 2016

Holly Blue, male, Epsom, Surrey, 14th May 2016

It looked like someone had crumpled up this male's wings.

Holly Blue, male, Epsom, Surrey, 14th May 2016

[Lee Hurrell]

Los Romanes, Spain, May 2016

Los Romanes is situated in the hills above Malaga, about 25km northeast as the crow flies and overlooks the Vinuela Reservoir (Enbalse de la Vinuela) and the start of the Sierra Tejeda mountains. It's a small, sleepy place, perfect for relaxing. The view alone is worth coming for; this was from my hotel balcony.

Day one

I didn't waste any time in getting out with the camera, anywhere that looked promising, I'd explore. First up was a track off from the road out of the village. Here I found some new species for me: Spanish Marbled White and Southern Gatekeeper.

Spanish Marbled White, Los Romanes, Spain, 22nd May 2016

Southern Gatekeeper, male, Los Romanes, Spain, 22nd May 2016

View from first location

There were also some whites that I knew were not from home, but they wouldn't stop and I couldn't get a clear view. Yet.

Further on, I found another track that led to some allotments and small patches of crops with a flowery meadow beyond. Here, Spanish Festoons, Clouded Yellows and more whites were flying, but not stopping. It was hot by now, and not much was. I did find these beauties though.

Mallow Skipper, Los Romanes, Spain, 22nd May 2016

Mallow Skipper, Los Romanes, Spain, 22nd May 2016

Mallow Skipper, Los Romanes, Spain, 22nd May 2016

Speckled Wood (ssp aegeria), Los Romanes, Spain, 22nd May 2016

Second location

Second location

[Andrew555]

A lovely selection of shots in your recent posts Lee. The Kestrel is a cracker.

[Lee Hurrell]

A lovely selection of shots in your recent posts Lee. The Kestrel is a cracker.

Many thanks, Andrew I was rather happy with that one!

[David M]

Fabulous, Lee. Having just returned from my first butterflying visit to Spain these images are of particular interest to me.

I'm looking forward to seeing more.

[ernie f]

Great Spanish butterflies, Lee - especially the Mallow Skipper.

[Lee Hurrell]

Thanks, David and Ernie

[Lee Hurrell]

Los Romanes, Spain, May 2016

Day 2 - part 1

Turns out the sunrise wasn't too shabby either

This was a busy day on the butterfly front... I wanted to venture into the mountains I could see from my hotel. Which I did - but first stopped at a few other places. First up was another track starting at a picnic site on the road out of the village. Here, more of the as yet unidentified whites were seen only this time I managed to photograph one - a Western Dappled White! Also seen were Spanish Marbled White, Southern Gatekeeper and Wall.

Western Dappled White, Los Romanes, Spain, 23rd May 2016

Western Dappled White, Los Romanes, Spain, 23rd May 2016

Southern Gatekeeper, Los Romanes, Spain, 23rd May 2016

[Lee Hurrell]

Los Romanes, Spain, May 2016

Day 2 - part 2

I then drove on to the pretty village of Alcaucin, which I could see nestled in the hills from my hotel. A couple of Southern Gatekeepers seen here, before I drove on in the direction of the mountains. This view from the A402 between Puente de Salia and Venta Baja prompted me to stop:

The walk up to the ruins was soundtracked by skylarks and there were plenty of butterflies. I saw Spanish Marbled Whites hilltopping at the top and generally being difficult to approach, Large White, Small White, Clouded Yellow, Small Tortoiseshell, Swallowtail, Lulworth Skipper, Meadow Brown, (ssp hispulla), Southern Gatekeeper and a new species for me - Spanish Gatekeeper.

Spanish Gatekeeper, near Venta Baja, Spain, 23rd May 2016

Spanish Gatekeeper, near Venta Baja, Spain, 23rd May 2016

Small White, near Venta Baja, Spain, 23rd May 2016

Spanish Marbled White, near Venta Baja, Spain, 23rd May 2016

Lulworth Skipper, near Venta Baja, Spain, 23rd May 2016

[Wurzel]

Cracking stuff Lee - what with Essex's report and now yours I think I need to persuade Mrs Wurzel that's it's viva Espana next year

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Lee Hurrell]

Thanks, Wurzel Good luck...

[Lee Hurrell]

Los Romanes, Spain, May 2016

Day 2 - Part 3

I carried on along the A402, in the direction of Ventas de Zafarraya. After half an hour or so, I got to the pass in the mountains I could see from my hotel. It was spectacular.

The view south from Ventas de Zafarraya

The view south from Ventas de Zafarraya

I started along the path shown in the first photo above. This led around the slope and to a short tunnel through the hillside. Either side of the tunnel, I found another new species for me: Lorquin's Blue, Cupido lorquinii. This species is closely related to the Small Blue and Osiris Blue and restricted to the south of Iberia and North Africa.

Lorquin's Blue, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 23rd May 2016

Lorquin's Blue, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 23rd May 2016

Also flying here were a few familiar species.

Small Copper, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 23rd May 2016

Small Copper, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 23rd May 2016

Meadow Brown, male, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 23rd May 2016

Seen here but not photographed were: Southern Gatekeeper (I had these and their Spanish cousins sussed by now), Wall, Clouded Yellow, Common Blue and Painted Lady.

Looking back toward the tunnel

The view south from Ventas de Zafarraya

By now I was hot and so retraced my steps back to the car. I drove on into the town (not much going on) and found a bar (very local, full of truckers) for a beer. Refreshed, I walked toward the opposite side of the pass to the tunnel side and found this very promising looking area...

Ventas de Zafarraya

[Wurzel]

A cracking find in the Lorquin's Lee and some stunning scenery

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Fabulous, Lee. So green and verdant which isn't what one normally expects in Spain.

Those views are almost as mouth-watering as the butterflies.

I'm certainly going to devote some more time to Spain over the next few years.

[Lee Hurrell]

Thank you both, Wurzel and David.

As much as I love France, I would also like to explore certain areas of Spain. If I remember correctly, it had been a wet spring that year and it was quite green where I was. I was also of course fairly early in the season and at times, at altitude, which does make a difference.

Best wishes,
Lee

[Lee Hurrell]

Los Romanes, Spain, May 2016

Day 2 - Part 4

I spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the landscape shown in the last photo above. There were many more butterflies here, with more nectar sources.

There were more Lorquin's Blue here, looking fresher than their family along the pass.

Lorquin's Blue, male, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 23rd May 2016

Lorquin's Blue, male, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 23rd May 2016

Lorquin's Blue, male, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 23rd May 2016

Lorquin's Blue, male, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 23rd May 2016

While Common Blues offered a familiar sight.

Polyommatus celina, male, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 23rd May 2016

Common Blue, male, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 23rd May 2016

Common Blue, male, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 23rd May 2016

Common Blue, male, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 23rd May 2016

Common Blue, mating pair, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 23rd May 2016

This Southern Marbled Skipper was just beautiful.

Southern Marbled Skipper, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 23rd May 2016

Small Coppers were also present, including this exquisite caeruleopunctata

Small Copper, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 23rd May 2016

Small Copper, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 23rd May 2016

I followed this Fritillary for quite some distance before it finally stopped on a rocky outcrop, revealing it to be a Knapweed Fritillary. Getting close was tricky!

Knapweed Fritillary, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 23rd May 2016

Other species seen, were: Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Spanish Festoon, Clouded Yellow, Large White, Small White, Large Wall and Meadow Brown.

As time ticked on it was time to head back to Los Romanes. I had a feeling I would be back here though!

[Wurzel]

This looks like a great spot indeed Lee, looking forward to the next report already...I see you mention Festoon hmmmm How big are the Lorquin's - Small Blue size or Common Blue?

Have a goodun

Wurzel