The next butterfly to catch my attention required a break-out from “my patch” or a break-in via the dreaded Barbed-wire fence
![Mad :x](./images/smilies/icon_mad.gif)
. The butterfly looked like a Wall Brown patrolling an area of rocks on a steep slope and I just had to get nearer. The barbed wire fence was negotiated, I crept as close as I could and loosing off a few shots.
The butterfly was indeed a Wall or more accurately a Large Wall
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
. I was in my element, fully absorbed in my quest to see and photograph butterflies when I was awoken by the sound of loud tapping then the opening of a window on the nearby farmhouse. The occupant said something which I presumed to be the German equivalent of “Oi get orf moi laaand”
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
I gestured apologetically and moved off
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)
. Captain Haddock not welcome
![Neutral :|](./images/smilies/icon_neutral.gif)
….. but no harm done ... no shotguns or German Shepard's
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
and an underside Lasiommata maera for my collection
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
.
Back in “my patch” which was a hive of activity with butterflies; bees and hoverflies, I got another underside …… and another Yellow-spotted Ringlet
Then yet another species, and possibly the tattiest Painted Lady you’ll ever see.
![I 2018.07.27 IMG_5985 Small Tortoiseshell, Hochgrat.jpg (757.5 KiB) Viewed 1622 times Lots of Small Tortoiseshell up Hochgrat but not seen at lower levels](./files/thumb_10062_66da548ac5b43cb3122dbbdb09fa1bc1)
- Lots of Small Tortoiseshell up Hochgrat but not seen at lower levels
It wasn’t just Butterflies that caught my attention. This gaudy but attractive moth is
Hypercallia citrinalis ![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
. It has not been seen in the UK since 1975 in Kent (presumed extinct) but can be found in Burren area of County Clare in Ireland.
The next butterfly was a Pyrgus Skipper. The photograph quality is disappointing (as with many of my pictures) but after reading up I think this one may be
Pyrgus cacaliae, Dusky Grizzled Skipper. Perhaps Guy or anyone else can help with this one?
![K 2018.07.27 IMG_5996 Pyrgus cacaliae, Dusky Grizzled Skipper, Hochgrat.jpg (1.26 MiB) Viewed 1622 times Couldn't get an underside shot on this one unfortunately.](./files/thumb_10062_f49868088030de3ec1960a2acd64fc0e)
- Couldn't get an underside shot on this one unfortunately.
Mindful that I’d been gone for some time I decided it was time to make my way back to the others and passed a small group of “Braunvieh” Alpine brown cattle who were not bothered by the tourists or the flies it seems
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
.
![L 2018.07.27 IMG_7315 Alpine 'Braunvieh' or 'Brown cattle' (with flies), Hochgrat.jpg (891.7 KiB) Viewed 1622 times Brown cattle of Alpine regions.](./files/thumb_10062_80e520f48e00ec820b4d92bc18df9605)
- Brown cattle of Alpine regions.
As I approached the cable-car station and café I took-in another Yellow-spotted Ringlet. Meanwhile, my eldest at the café took-in a shot of me butterflying (bottom left) which captures the scene perfectly
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
![N 2018.07.27 IMG_7323 Me butterflying, by Fran from cable-car station cafe, Hochgrat.jpg (1.05 MiB) Viewed 1622 times Roof belongs to that occupied farmhouse](./files/thumb_10062_abd5ba8eedbce7395f5cb407e61ca506)
- Roof belongs to that occupied farmhouse
Also seen on the approach were flocks of black Alpine Choughs wheeling around on the mountain up-draughts, their calls rather like that of song-birds rather than crows
![Surprised :o](./images/smilies/icon_surprised.gif)
. They congregated and huddled up on the café roof looming over the café goers like Hitchcock’s “The Birds” or the evil crows in Noggin the Nog: the Postgate & Firmin kids classic which some of the older readers like me may remember
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
. Like Pigeons and Gulls these birds have learned the ‘easy option’ of scrounging table scraps … but you won’t find them at lower levels.
After some liquid refreshment and with normal order resumed at cards (me losing) I was ready for some more exploring. No-one else wanted to move so I was off on my own again, this time exploring the back of the Bergstation Hochgratbahn. In another grassy area were some more butterflies; a Chimney Sweeper moth and some Alpine Choughs probing in the ground in a more natural setting. Amongst the butterflies was a Peacock, yet another species first time seen on this trip.
....and another Mountain Clouded Yellow
The others were getting bored so it was time to go
![Neutral :|](./images/smilies/icon_neutral.gif)
. Back at the car-park which sits adjacent to the WeiBach river, I insisted that I do just a teensy weensy bit more exploring
![Idea :idea:](./images/smilies/icon_idea.gif)
. A footbridge crossed the river and on the other side was a track which ran into woodland. At the margins of the woodland were some large thistle-like flowers and these were attracting Brimstone
![S 2018.07.27 IMG_6107 Gonepteryx rhamni, Brimsttone by weiBach river, nr. Hochgratbahn cable-car station.jpg (954.75 KiB) Viewed 1622 times this picture of a Brimstone is one of my favourites](./files/thumb_10062_fd5b3186532542b3b8aecf409fb3f7bc)
- this picture of a Brimstone is one of my favourites
Then, in a clump of trees about 15ft away another butterfly caught my eye …. White Admiral
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
? No a roosting Purple Emperor
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
! Unfortunately, due to the distance I had to use the Panasonic zoom to get this record shot. Like my
Apatura ilia in France this was an unexpected sighting. Both species were in very similar habitat, shrubby wood margins by a river. The ilia had been more accommodating though
![Neutral :|](./images/smilies/icon_neutral.gif)
.
The Emperor wasn’t the end of it though. Yet another species put in an appearance: a Wood White
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
.
And finally, a Sooty Copper to finish (taken in Steibis on the way back to our apartment).
My species count had now been ramped up to the following:-
Meadow Brown; Small Heath; Gatekeeper; Common Blue; Small White; Mazarine Blue (L); Green-veined White; Swallowtail; Silver-washed Fritillary; Marbled White; Small Skipper; Sooty Copper; Silver-spotted Skipper; Essex Skipper; Map; Ringlet; Comma; Niobe fritillary (L); High Brown Fritillary (L); Holly Blue; Mountain Clouded Yellow (L); Small tortoiseshell; Red Admiral; Large Wall Brown (L); Yellow-spotted Ringlet (L); Dusky Grizzled Skipper (L); Painted Lady; Peacock; Brimstone; Purple Emperor and Wood White
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
.
= 31 species of which 7 are lifers. (Dusky Skipper subject to review)
Though there is more holiday to come this represents the peak of my holiday’s butterflying unfortunately
![Neutral :|](./images/smilies/icon_neutral.gif)
.