Lee Hurrell

[David M]

Lovely to see those Lorquin’s Blues, Lee. They look like some kind of hybrid between Osiris & Mazarine.

[Lee Hurrell]

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?

It was a lovely place indeed, Wurzel. (I did go back ). Lorquin's are Small Blue size.

Lovely to see those Lorquin’s Blues, Lee. They look like some kind of hybrid between Osiris & Mazarine.

Thanks, David. They do, don't they!

Best wishes,
Lee

[Lee Hurrell]

Los Romanes, Spain, May 2016

Day 3 - Part 1

Today, I ventured south to the coast. After stopping at Nerja and seeing the sea, I drove back towards Los Romanes on smaller roads, stopping at the hilltop village of Frigiliana and heading towards Competa.

The first place I stopped at was a track that led from the road, past some olive groves, up to some houses.

Here, I saw Bath White, Large White, Small White, Clouded Yellow, Meadow Brown, Spanish Marbled White, Southern Gatekeeper, Wall and Lulworth Skipper.

Lulworth Skipper, near Competa, Spain, 24th May 2016

Lulworth Skipper, near Competa, Spain, 24th May 2016

Small White, near Competa, Spain, 24th May 2016

Bath White, near Competa, Spain, 24th May 2016

Bath White, near Competa, Spain, 24th May 2016

[Wurzel]

Cracking shots of the Bath White Lee - that's a species I'd love to see but I can never get away early enough in the year It does seem strange seeing a Lulworth in Spain and not on the Isle of Purbeck

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[ernie f]

Lee - I've never seen a Bath White, Great side-on shot.

[Lee Hurrell]

Thanks, Wurzel and Ernie!

[Lee Hurrell]

Los Romanes, Spain, May 2016

Day 3 - Part 2

I stopped again further along the same road and saw some similar species to before: Common Blue, Southern Brown Argus, Spanish Festoon, Southern Gatekeeper, Spanish Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood and Lulworth Skipper.

Back in Los Romanes, I went back to the patch where I had first seen the Festoons on day one. Here I found Geranium Bronze, Spanish Festoon (still refusing a photograph ), Small White, a mystery blue and a camouflaged Mallow Skipper.

Mallow Skipper, Los Romanes, Spain, 24th May 2016

[Maximus]

Lovely shots in your Spanish posts, Lee I agree with Wurzel on the Bath White shots that's one on my must see list!

Mike

[David M]

Excellent continuation, Lee. I'm quite surprised at how green it is in May. I had thought this area would be parched from the beginning of April onwards to be honest.

[Lee Hurrell]

Thank you both, Mike and David

[Padfield]

Great pictures, Lee. I missed out on a Spanish trip this year and am especially enjoying catching up through your posts.

Your first common blue in particular looks a very good candidate for P. celina, which certainly flies there. Common blues probably fly there too - they are not particularly closely related and can overlap. In my experience, first brood celina is the same size as common blue but has noticeably darker margins, and broader, especially towards the apex. But as I've never killed one to check, my experience could be wrong anyway.

Guy

[Wurzel]

Alright there Lee - great shot of the Mallow Skipper - that was a species that I was hoping to get in France but didn't see one single one of the little blighters

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Andrew555]

Yup, I really like that Bath White as well. Great stuff Lee.

[Old Wolf]

Hello Lee, I am catching up on diaries

That looks like a great trip you had. Great shots of the beautiful landscape and of the butterflies too of course, especially the blue badger small copper.

[Lee Hurrell]

Great pictures, Lee. I missed out on a Spanish trip this year and am especially enjoying catching up through your posts.

Your first common blue in particular looks a very good candidate for P. celina, which certainly flies there. Common blues probably fly there too - they are not particularly closely related and can overlap. In my experience, first brood celina is the same size as common blue but has noticeably darker margins, and broader, especially towards the apex. But as I've never killed one to check, my experience could be wrong anyway.

Alright there Lee - great shot of the Mallow Skipper - that was a species that I was hoping to get in France but didn't see one single one of the little blighters

Yup, I really like that Bath White as well. Great stuff Lee.

Hello Lee, I am catching up on diaries

That looks like a great trip you had. Great shots of the beautiful landscape and of the butterflies too of course, especially the blue badger small copper.

Thank you all Guy, thank you. I suspect I have a few P. celina, from my Spanish photos; I will have to go back through and check.

Easter holidays now allow me some time to start catching up again!

Best wishes,
Lee

[Lee Hurrell]

Los Romanes, Spain, May 2016 - Day 4

I visited Malaga during the day today but was back in time for the late afternoon. Just along from the hotel was a steep road down to the main road, over which, held this view:

It just begged to be explored. Further down, this was the habitat I found:

There were huge areas of grass, thistles, flowers and some dry river beds. A new species for the trip was the African Grass Blue:

African Grass Blue, Los Romanes, Spain, 25th May 2016

African Grass Blue, Los Romanes, Spain, 25th May 2016

Common Blues and Polyommatus celina were both present:

Polyommatus celina, Los Romanes, Spain, 25th May 2016

Common Blue, male, Los Romanes, Spain, 25th May 2016

Common Blue (I think), female, Los Romanes, Spain, 25th May 2016

There were also several Southern Brown Argus:

Southern Brown Argus, male, Los Romanes, Spain, 25th May 2016

Southern Brown Argus, male, Los Romanes, Spain, 25th May 2016

I was watching a male Mallow Skipper when a female must have flown past; she was soon joined by the male. There was a whole lot of shaking going on, but I didn't see if his moves paid off.

Mallow Skipper, male, Los Romanes, Spain, 25th May 2016

Mallow Skipper, female (left) and male (right), Los Romanes, Spain, 25th May 2016

Mallow Skipper, female (left) and male (right), Los Romanes, Spain, 25th May 2016

Southern Gatekeepers can be very difficult to photograph!

Southern Gatekeeper, male, Los Romanes, Spain, 25th May 2016

I very nearly trod on this bird's nest. I assume it's a Skylark, but I could be wrong.

Unknown bird's nest, Los Romanes, Spain, 25th May 2016

As the evening was drawing to a close, I was spotting whites going to roost on the thistles, on which they stood out nicely.

Green-striped White, Los Romanes, Spain, 25th May 2016

Bath White, Los Romanes, Spain, 25th May 2016

Seen today were: Bath White, Green-striped White, Large White, Small White, Clouded Yellow, Wall, Meadow Brown, Southern Gatekeeper, Common Blue, Polyommatus celina, African Grass Blue, Lulworth Skipper and Mallow Skipper.

I got back to the hotel for in time for the sunset and a cold beer.

[Wurzel]

Great stuff Lee - some of that habitat looks delectable I wouldn't know where to have started looking Cracking shots of the Whites Will those Brown Argus be Southern BAs?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Lee Hurrell]

Los Romanes, Spain, May 2016 - Day 5 (part 1)

I went out in the car for the day again today. First stop was the hillside meadow near Ventas de Zafarraya. Once again, it didn't disappoint.

There were some beautifully fresh Small Coppers.

Small Copper, male, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 26th May 2016

Small Copper, female, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 26th May 2016

Common Blues and Polyommatus celina were also both present.

Polyommatus celina, male, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 26th May 2016

Common Blue, male, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 26th May 2016

As were some beautiful Southern Brown Argus.

Southern Brown Argus, male, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 26th May 2016

Southern Brown Argus, male, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 26th May 2016

Southern Brown Argus, male, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 26th May 2016

Southern Brown Argus, male, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 26th May 2016

Southern Brown Argus, male, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 26th May 2016

I was able to get a lot closer to a Knapweed Fritillary too!

Knapweed Fritillary, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 26th May 2016

Knapweed Fritillary, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 26th May 2016

Knapweed Fritillary, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 26th May 2016

Knapweed Fritillary, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 26th May 2016

Knapweed Fritillary, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 26th May 2016

Lastly for part one, a Small White.

Small White, male, Ventas de Zafarraya, Spain, 26th May 2016

Seen here were: Knapweed Fritillary, Wall, Spanish Festoon, Large White, Small White, Clouded Yellow (including a helice female), Small Copper, Brown Argus, Adonis Blue, Common Blue and Polyommatus celina.

[Lee Hurrell]

Great stuff Lee - some of that habitat looks delectable I wouldn't know where to have started looking Cracking shots of the Whites Will those Brown Argus be Southern BAs?

Thanks, Wurzel
You're quite right - as with celina, I will need to go back and amend! All of my Spanish Brown Argus will be Southern.

[Wurzel]

No worries Lee I tried the same trick with your Small White but it had that annoying little vein

Have a goodun

Wurzel