Greenwings: Italian Alps 16-23 June 2022
Greenwings: Italian Alps 16-23 June 2022
This was the second tour to the Piedmont Alps; the first being way back in 2019. A new hotel was chosen as a single base and it proved to be a good decision as the group were camped in prime butterfly territory, much of which could be found immediately outside by the track running adjacent to the river.
I had the pleasure to team up with UKB's Pete Eeles and Ben Greenaway, and apart from a soaking from a storm on the final afternoon, the weather was very warm and settled, meaning that lots of fabulous butterflies were seen.
The scenery is particularly nice in this part of the Alps, very green and welcoming. Here's a sample:
I had the pleasure to team up with UKB's Pete Eeles and Ben Greenaway, and apart from a soaking from a storm on the final afternoon, the weather was very warm and settled, meaning that lots of fabulous butterflies were seen.
The scenery is particularly nice in this part of the Alps, very green and welcoming. Here's a sample:
Re: Greenwings: Italian Alps 16-23 June 2022
I love the scenery shots, and can't wait to read the full report (having heard the highlights last week)
Re: Greenwings: Italian Alps 16-23 June 2022
Plenty of highlights, Paul....and the scenery is as good as anywhere in Europe. ![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Re: Greenwings: Italian Alps 16-23 June 2022
The principal aim of this tour is to see the local populations of Scarce Fritillary. This was an early season, and as a result many of the maturna were past their best. There were several presentable ones still on the wing though:
This female posing upside down looked like a Duke of Burgundy at first glance:
This female posing upside down looked like a Duke of Burgundy at first glance:
Re: Greenwings: Italian Alps 16-23 June 2022
The undoubted highlight of this trip was the visit to a quarry on a Sunday afternoon. This is a working quarry but the western edge is a distance away from the busy area, and given it was the sabbath in a catholic country there was nobody around.
We ventured a few metres up the track and saw a Swallowtail flying around the slopes. There was something about it that looked a bit 'different' so I scrambled up the slope and took an image of it as it approached some flowers:
It was immediately clear that this was alexanor, the butterfly we'd hoped to see, and for the next few minutes we all watched as two or three were seen floating around the slopes, although getting near them was impossible.
Then, as we were back by the entrance, one of the guests said there was one behind him and I said I could see two. They both disappeared into the steep gully behind the entrance but did not re-emerge.
I suspected that this could be a male and female and went into the gully to investigate. At that moment, Ben appeared from the higher slope and managed to spot them in cop part-way up the bank:
Suddenly, most of the guests forgot how difficult climbing dusty, prickly slopes was and within a couple of minutes almost everybody in the group had come over to take a look at this rare event:
Both butterflies were pristine, and the blue bands on the female were particularly striking.
I've never had such a spectacular introduction to a new species for me in my life, and I doubt I will ever see such a thing again.
We ventured a few metres up the track and saw a Swallowtail flying around the slopes. There was something about it that looked a bit 'different' so I scrambled up the slope and took an image of it as it approached some flowers:
It was immediately clear that this was alexanor, the butterfly we'd hoped to see, and for the next few minutes we all watched as two or three were seen floating around the slopes, although getting near them was impossible.
Then, as we were back by the entrance, one of the guests said there was one behind him and I said I could see two. They both disappeared into the steep gully behind the entrance but did not re-emerge.
I suspected that this could be a male and female and went into the gully to investigate. At that moment, Ben appeared from the higher slope and managed to spot them in cop part-way up the bank:
Suddenly, most of the guests forgot how difficult climbing dusty, prickly slopes was and within a couple of minutes almost everybody in the group had come over to take a look at this rare event:
Both butterflies were pristine, and the blue bands on the female were particularly striking.
I've never had such a spectacular introduction to a new species for me in my life, and I doubt I will ever see such a thing again.
Re: Greenwings: Italian Alps 16-23 June 2022
What gorgeous butterflies David. Congratulations on finding them and your fantastic photos. That's an encounter that you won't forget in a hurry!
Sarah.
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Re: Greenwings: Italian Alps 16-23 June 2022
Looking forward to see more David ![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Re: Greenwings: Italian Alps 16-23 June 2022
Thanks, Sarah. It was indeed an encounter to trump almost everything else I've ever seen.
Plenty more to come, John, although aside from maturna I suspect you've seen it all already.
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
Plenty more to come, John, although aside from maturna I suspect you've seen it all already.
Re: Greenwings: Italian Alps 16-23 June 2022
Congratulations on that one David. Alexanor is a superb species, and that's an enviable photograph of a mating pair. I have never seen this species in cop.
Re: Greenwings: Italian Alps 16-23 June 2022
Thanks, Pete. I've never seen any of the Swallowtails in-cop, so this was an extremely fortuitous moment and one I doubt will ever be repeated.
Re: Greenwings: Italian Alps 16-23 June 2022
I know how that feels. I've currently got a bit of a gammy knee but if a Camberwell Beauty was to fly past me I'd still have a good stab at breaking the hundred metre world record!Suddenly, most of the guests forgot how difficult climbing dusty, prickly slopes was and within a couple of minutes almost everybody in the group had come over to take a look at this rare event:
Some addictions are good for the soul!
Re: Greenwings: Italian Alps 16-23 June 2022
Indeed, Paul.
It was almost comical how the bulk of the group, many of them a lot older than me, somehow found reserves of energy to clamber over a steep slope and down an embankment. I guess mating alexanor can have that effect - they should bottle it!
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
It was almost comical how the bulk of the group, many of them a lot older than me, somehow found reserves of energy to clamber over a steep slope and down an embankment. I guess mating alexanor can have that effect - they should bottle it!
Re: Greenwings: Italian Alps 16-23 June 2022
Another noteworthy event was the appearance of Cynthia's Fritillary on the first day when we stopped at Col de la Lombarde. Pete Eeles and a couple of others saw and photographed it although I didn't see it myself.
We returned on the penultimate day and saw another on the Italian side of the col, and this one was a fairly worn individual meaning that it too had been around for several days:
There have been times when we do not see Cynthia's even during the first week in the French Alps (normally last week in June) so for them to be about on 16th June is quite extraordinary and a sign of how early the season is this year.
We returned on the penultimate day and saw another on the Italian side of the col, and this one was a fairly worn individual meaning that it too had been around for several days:
There have been times when we do not see Cynthia's even during the first week in the French Alps (normally last week in June) so for them to be about on 16th June is quite extraordinary and a sign of how early the season is this year.
Re: Greenwings: Italian Alps 16-23 June 2022
One of the other notable features of this trip was the sheer numbers of Apollos. They seem to have had a good year in 2022 as I've seen plenty of them on all my tours since late May, but never before had I notched up close to three figures on virtually every single day.
There were dozens of them floating around, and it only took a one minute walk from the hotel to find them gliding around the river and settling on the thistles.
They are always a joy to see:
There were dozens of them floating around, and it only took a one minute walk from the hotel to find them gliding around the river and settling on the thistles.
They are always a joy to see:
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Re: Greenwings: Italian Alps 16-23 June 2022
Mating Swallowtails of any species seem to be very rare, as they seem to be secretive, so your alexanor image really is a rare event.
In 2009 I saw a mating pair of machaon, also up a steep scree and I managed to get a photo. I have since had several requests to use the image in books and films, which tends to suggest to me that there haven’t been too many to choose from.
I note that the image for the Greenwings Italian Alps tour is of my female alexanor (not that it was taken in Italy) – very prophetic!
Roger
In 2009 I saw a mating pair of machaon, also up a steep scree and I managed to get a photo. I have since had several requests to use the image in books and films, which tends to suggest to me that there haven’t been too many to choose from.
I note that the image for the Greenwings Italian Alps tour is of my female alexanor (not that it was taken in Italy) – very prophetic!
Roger
Re: Greenwings: Italian Alps 16-23 June 2022
Thanks, Roger. Must admit, I've never seen machaon nor podalirius/feisthameli in cop so to see alexanor this way within 20 minutes of coming across it for the first time was remarkable good fortune!
Your image was used because this is one of the three species around which this trip is designed (the others being maturna and alcon).
Pleased to say we recorded all three this time!![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Your image was used because this is one of the three species around which this trip is designed (the others being maturna and alcon).
Pleased to say we recorded all three this time!
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Re: Greenwings: Italian Alps 16-23 June 2022
Hesperiidae
A good selection of these seen, although I rarely bother photographing them. This resplendent Safflower Skipper made me reach for my camera though:
1. Dingy Skipper
2. Mallow Skipper
3. Marbled Skipper
4. Tufted Marbled Skipper
5. Red Underwing Skipper
6. Safflower Skipper
7. Southern Grizzled Skipper
8. Olive Skipper
9. Alpine Grizzled Skipper
10. Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper
11. Large Grizzled Skipper
12. Essex Skipper
13. Small Skipper
14. Large Skipper
A good selection of these seen, although I rarely bother photographing them. This resplendent Safflower Skipper made me reach for my camera though:
1. Dingy Skipper
2. Mallow Skipper
3. Marbled Skipper
4. Tufted Marbled Skipper
5. Red Underwing Skipper
6. Safflower Skipper
7. Southern Grizzled Skipper
8. Olive Skipper
9. Alpine Grizzled Skipper
10. Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper
11. Large Grizzled Skipper
12. Essex Skipper
13. Small Skipper
14. Large Skipper
Re: Greenwings: Italian Alps 16-23 June 2022
Lycaenidae - Coppers
Did well with these. All five cropped up and Scarce Copper was certainly not scarce:
Purple Edged Coppers were just as plentiful:
Purple Shot Coppers were fewer in number but just as spectacular:
Both Small and Sooty Coppers were around in smallish numbers.
15. Small Copper
16. Scarce Copper
17. Sooty Copper
18. Purple Shot Copper
19. Purple Edged Copper
Did well with these. All five cropped up and Scarce Copper was certainly not scarce:
Purple Edged Coppers were just as plentiful:
Purple Shot Coppers were fewer in number but just as spectacular:
Both Small and Sooty Coppers were around in smallish numbers.
15. Small Copper
16. Scarce Copper
17. Sooty Copper
18. Purple Shot Copper
19. Purple Edged Copper
Re: Greenwings: Italian Alps 16-23 June 2022
Lycaenidae - Blues
We managed to find Alcon Blue at a new site this year, although I believe the early season put paid to the chances of seeing Reverdin's Blue, which was recorded here in 2019.
Some of this group included...
Mountain Argus:
Turquoise Blue:
Escher's Blue:
Silvery Argus:
20. Lang's Short Tailed Blue
21. Small Blue
22. Short-Tailed Blue
23. Provençal Short-Tailed Blue
24. Holly Blue
25. Green Underside Blue
26. Large Blue
27. Alcon Blue
28. Silver Studded Blue
29. Idas Blue
30. Geranium Argus
31. Brown Argus
32. Mountain Argus
33. Mazarine Blue
34. Escher's Blue
35. Turquoise Blue
36. Amanda's Blue
37. Chapman's Blue
38. Common Blue
39. Adonis Blue
40. Damon Blue
41. Chalkhill Blue
42. Silvery Argus
We managed to find Alcon Blue at a new site this year, although I believe the early season put paid to the chances of seeing Reverdin's Blue, which was recorded here in 2019.
Some of this group included...
Mountain Argus:
Turquoise Blue:
Escher's Blue:
Silvery Argus:
20. Lang's Short Tailed Blue
21. Small Blue
22. Short-Tailed Blue
23. Provençal Short-Tailed Blue
24. Holly Blue
25. Green Underside Blue
26. Large Blue
27. Alcon Blue
28. Silver Studded Blue
29. Idas Blue
30. Geranium Argus
31. Brown Argus
32. Mountain Argus
33. Mazarine Blue
34. Escher's Blue
35. Turquoise Blue
36. Amanda's Blue
37. Chapman's Blue
38. Common Blue
39. Adonis Blue
40. Damon Blue
41. Chalkhill Blue
42. Silvery Argus
Re: Greenwings: Italian Alps 16-23 June 2022
Lycaenidae - Hairstreaks
Very poor is all I can say, with more Green Hairstreaks about than any other in this group.
43. Green Hairstreak
44. Blue Spot Hairstreak
45. Ilex Hairstreak
46. Sloe Hairstreak
Very poor is all I can say, with more Green Hairstreaks about than any other in this group.
43. Green Hairstreak
44. Blue Spot Hairstreak
45. Ilex Hairstreak
46. Sloe Hairstreak