Seen in Northern Spain

[Ian Pratt]

This was seen recently in Cantabria. Is it a heath fritillary?

[David M]

Have to say it looks more like a Provençal to me, Ian, though I'll defer to Roger/Guy when they take a look.

[Roger Gibbons]

Agreed. I'd be amazed if it was anything else.

Roger

[Padfield]

Just because my name was mentioned I'll add that I agree! The underside hindwing appears unusually heavily marked but I think it's taken into the light so the upperside markings might be adding to the picture. For everything else, it's spot on deione.

Guy

[Ian Pratt]

Thanks everyone. Here is a caterpillar for ID to keep you on your toes. Thanks again. (Photo taken on camera and then photographed from the rear screen on my phone.)
I think it is a lime hawkmoth.

[Ian Pratt]

Dead moth found on the road today. Any ID would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Ian Pratt]

Chapman's ringlet seen today.

[David M]

Dead moth found on the road today. Any ID would be appreciated. Thanks.

Looks like a male Oak Eggar to me, Ian.

[Ian Pratt]

Thanks David.

[Padfield]

Chapman's ringlet seen today.

I'm going to be a real buzzkill and suggest your picture shows cassioides. I do hope you've got some palarica too ... But if not, keep looking!

Guy

[Ian Pratt]

Thanks Guy. Is the attached photo short-tailed blue or provencal short-tailed blue?

[Ian Pratt]

I presume the lack of the third eye spot on the forewing is diagnostic to differentiate between the ringlets?

[Padfield]

I presume the lack of the third eye spot on the forewing is diagnostic to differentiate between the ringlets?

Yes, though its presence would not be enough to confirm Chapman's ringlet. Closer to Chapman's is Piedmont ringlet, which has much the same distribution of spots and flies in the same region. Chapman's is particularly large. In Piedmont ringlet, the spots on the hindwing are pushed against the outer edge of the orange band much more obviously than in Chapman's.

Your blue is a short-tailed blue.

Guy

[Ian Pratt]

Do common brassy ringlet, Piedmont and Chapman's fly together as I saw some larger ringlets at a distance which may have been something different?

[Padfield]

Yes, you can find lots of different ringlets in the same place. When you get your eye in you quickly learn to home in on the one(s) you want but keep open minded about everything to start with.

Guy

[Ian Pratt]

Many thanks. Really helpful as usual.

[Ian Pratt]

Not a butterfly but seen with the common/ western brassy ringlet at 2000 metres on the borders of Asturias and Cantabria. Someone has suggested a twite, but the bill is not yellow and it is not usually seen here. There seems to be a bit of a crest on the bird. Sorry about the intruding blade of grass.Any thoughts will be appreciated.

[Ian Pratt]

Chapman's ringlet seen today.

I'm going to be a real buzzkill and suggest your picture shows cassioides. I do hope you've got some palarica too ... But if not, keep looking!

Guy

What is the difference between cassioides and arvernensis ?