European Butterflies "Top ten of 2019" amid Coronavirus

petesmith · Post by **petesmith** » Fri Mar 20, 2020 7:13 pm

In the grand scheme of things, and with current concerns about Coronavirus, I know that the cancellation of butterfly expeditions to Europe are way down the list of priorities right now. There are much more important concerns on everyone's minds.

I also know that many of my fellow European Butterfly enthusiasts will be experiencing the same sense of deep disappointment as myself at the prospect of long-anticipated and well-planned trips abroad looking more and more likely to not go ahead this summer.

To try and stave off the inevitable sense of depression, I thought it might be nice if people could maybe post a selection of their favourite European photo's from last year to keep our spirits up. So if anyone fancies posting their "Top ten European butterfly photo's of 2019", feel free to follow here. Any ten photo's, for any reason - they don't have to be your best shots; maybe it was a species that you saw for the first time, or maybe just a particularly special moment. Share the occasion with us and let's keep our spirits up.

Take care everyone and stay safe.

I shall set the ball rolling...

1. Purple-edged Copper

Not a new species by any means, but just a lovely example, photographed in the Picos de Europa.

2. Scarce Copper ssp miegii

The first time I had seen this local from of Scarce Copper, another Picos de Europa shot - quite different from the ones I am accustomed to in the French Alps!

3. Camberwell Beauty

An iconic species, and my first ever encounter - long overdue, and a quite wonderful experience, in Provence.

4. Cinquefoil Skipper

Lovely fresh specimen, another life-tick during a tremendous week in the Montes Universales. (Thanks David!)

5. Northern Wall Brown

Not a lifer, but the first time that I managed to get a photograph of this species. (Thanks Roger!)

6. Zapater's Ringlet

A fabulous species, and great rarity value.

7. Twin-spot Fritillary

These were just freshly emerged, another life tick and a wonderful encounter back in Provence. (Thanks Chris!)

8. Dusky Large Blue

Fantastic to walk amongst dozens of these on a remote hillside in the Picos de Europa.

9. Spanish Purple Hairstreak

Again, not a life tick, but again, my first reasonable photo of this lovely hairstreak.

10. Southern Hermit

And finally, my favourite European Butterfly shot of 2019. Seriously rare, seriously gorgeous, and one happy bunny here having captured this image after a fair bit of chasing around after it!

Medard · Post by **Medard** » Sat Mar 21, 2020 9:46 am

Oh what a good suggestion Pete, here are ten from last year,as you say it is a great disappoints not to be able to search for Iolas Blue (Iolana iolas)
I am a few months from eighty so if the dreaded Corvid virus doesn't get me infirmity will surly restrict my visits to France, by the way a friend gave me this advice to "Self oscillate" I have been shaking with laughter ever since.

petesmith · Post by **petesmith** » Sat Mar 21, 2020 1:21 pm

Nice selection there Jim! Thanks for joining in.
The sheen on that Brassy Ringlet is fabulous, and I just love the Adonis Blue shot.

Regarding self-oscillating - hilarious! I feel a dizzy spell coming on just thinking about it...

David M · Post by **David M** » Sat Mar 21, 2020 5:41 pm

Tremendous images, guys. Yes, it's thoroughly depressing right now and will get worse before it gets better. Until a reliable vaccine is found I don't think unrestricted travel will return at all.

For we ardent overseas butterfly aficionados, 58 domestic species just isn't enough!

Still, right now I'd rather be in the UK than in France, Spain or Italy.

I'm sure I will have time to add my own 2019 'Top Ten' quite soon.

petesmith · Post by **petesmith** » Sat Mar 21, 2020 6:43 pm

David M wrote: ↑Sat Mar 21, 2020 5:41 pm I'm sure I will have time to add my own 2019 'Top Ten' quite soon.

I look forward to your top ten with eager anticipation David!

David M · Post by **David M** » Sat Mar 21, 2020 9:35 pm

petesmith wrote: ↑Sat Mar 21, 2020 6:43 pm...I look forward to your top ten with eager anticipation David!

Think you know most of them, Pete.

I shall whittle them down tomorrow!

cecropia117 · Post by **cecropia117** » Sun Mar 22, 2020 1:57 pm

Pete

Here are my favorite trip from our Picos trip. What a week!

Can't wait for our next trip, whenever that is.

David M · Post by **David M** » Sun Mar 22, 2020 8:44 pm

Love your selection, cecropia, especially the Chapman's Ringlet.

I'll start mine tomorrow (plenty of competition which makes it difficult to choose a top ten).

Nigel Kiteley · Post by **Nigel Kiteley** » Sun Mar 22, 2020 9:51 pm

Some fantastic images posted in this thread, great idea Pete. I particularly like your Purple Edged Copper image as well as Jim's Adonis Blue and Brassy Ringlet and carcopia117's puddling Gavarnie Blues.

Together with my partner Kasia (ukb member acheronita) I spent ten days in Spain at the end of June and two weeks in Poland at the end of July. These are my favourite ten images, five from each trip.

From Spain:

1. Apollo.

2. Dusky Heath.

3. Iberian Marbled White.

4.Purple Sot Copper.

5. Pearly Heath.

From Poland:

6. Dryad.

7. Large Copper.

8. Scarce Large Blue.

9. Map.

10. Violet Copper.

Of the ten species two were lifers for me and both from Poland (the Dryad and Violet Copper). As we entered a large grassland area on the outskirts of Krakow we encountered dozens of Dryads, which looked like huge Meadow Browns in flight. The male Violet Copper was also found at this site as well as another lifer for me in the form of Alcon Blue

The trips also gave us some interesting non butterfly creatures too.

1. Nemoptera bipennis.

A member of the Spoon wing family we found quite a few of these amazing creatures floating around a meadow near Miraflores de la Sierra in Spain.

2. Libelloides coccajus.

A member of the Owlfly family, very common in the meadows close to Miraflores.

3. Wasp Spider.

We stayed at Kasia's sisters house south of Krakow and were very fortunate to have a lot of these on the edge of the meadow opposite.

We have a trip to the French Alps planned for the beginning of July so fingers crossed for that.

petesmith · Post by **petesmith** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 12:28 pm

Absolutely stunning images Nigel, as always. I am particularly envious of your Scarce Large Blue - a species I have yet to see. Fingers crossed for July...

David M · Post by **David M** » Tue Mar 24, 2020 9:54 pm

petesmith wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 12:28 pm Absolutely stunning images Nigel, as always. I am particularly envious of your Scarce Large Blue - a species I have yet to see. Fingers crossed for July...

Indeed, and thanks for sharing, Nigel. You have a few species I'd be grateful to see at all, let along photograph anywhere near that level of quality.

The Dryad image is particularly noteworthy...a species that I have yet to see.

David M · Post by **David M** » Wed Mar 25, 2020 6:07 pm

It's tricky for me to select a top ten, but very easy to pick number 1 from 2019.

That was undoubtedly the sheer great fortune of witnessing something few ever see - mating Alpine Blues:

petesmith · Post by **petesmith** » Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:01 pm

David M wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2020 6:07 pm It's tricky for me to select a top ten, but very easy to pick number 1 from 2019.

That was undoubtedly the sheer great fortune of witnessing something few ever see - mating Alpine Blues:

04Alpinepairfem(1).jpg

04Alpinepairuns(1).jpg

A rare sight indeed David, fantastic, and I fully understand why this would be your number 1 experience! But you don't get let off the hook that easily...I think we still need to see the other 9 of your top ten of 2019. I have a feeling zapateri is an inevitable inclusion, along with a few other Montes Universales specialities...

David M · Post by **David M** » Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:37 pm

Okay, okay, Pete.

I'll try to do the other nine as soon as I can (it'll alleviate the stress of working from home).

Nigel Kiteley · Post by **Nigel Kiteley** » Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:53 pm

Firstly thank you Pete and David for your kind words.

Pete, we were very lucky to have both Scarce Large Blue and Dusky Large Blue residing in a small meadow opposite Kasia's sisters house. To my horror the farmer actually cut about 60% of the meadow whilst we were there. Fortunately there were still sufficient Great Burnet plants in the remaining part to support both species.

David, I would give my right arm just to photograph an Alpine Blue, let alone a copulating pair. You have many many species under your belt that I would love to photograph. Looking forward to seeing your other nine photos.

Stevieb · Post by **Stevieb** » Wed Mar 25, 2020 8:14 pm

So many to choose from but here are five from Cyprus and five from Kos. Great memories of some excellent butterflies

: The Hermit Cyprus 11 May

: Cyprus Graying Cyprus 9 May

: Cyprus Meadow Brown Cyprus 9 May

: Paphos Blue Cyprus 11 May

: Bath White Cyprus 13 May

: Southern Comma Kos 25 June

: Swallowtail Kos 27 June

: Large Wall Kos 28 June

: Scarce Swallowtail Kos 30 June

: Lesser Fiery Copper Kos 29 June

David M · Post by **David M** » Thu Mar 26, 2020 8:42 am

Excellent, Stevie.

I really envy your open-winged Hermit at the top. I keep following them when I'm in Spain as I know they DO occasionally present like this but thus far I've been unsuccessful.

Stevieb · Post by **Stevieb** » Thu Mar 26, 2020 9:00 am

Thank you David. I was really lucky with the Hermit. As is always the case, right place, right time.

petesmith · Post by **petesmith** » Thu Mar 26, 2020 9:20 am

Great stuff Stevie! I am particularly envious of your Lesser Fiery Copper, and the Paphos Blue. That open-winged Hermit shot is rather special!

jasonsargerson · Post by **jasonsargerson** » Thu Mar 26, 2020 11:56 am

There are some interesting styles of photography illustrated here.

My top ten have been selected from photographs all taken using the close up camera technique - no zoom.

The butterflies are usually very sharp, but the background is out of focus.

I count these as special photographs, because the majority of photos I take are on the zoom from distance.

The photographs were all taken in Switzerland from 2017 to 2019 - some have appeared in my personal diary before.