Alps 2-11/6/09

[Paul]

If anyone wants to see my pics from the above holiday, and haven't already come across them, then they are on my Blog in UKB.



Guy & Asha

Iolas Blue

[Inachisio]

Nice site, I hope to see Iolana iolas some day, here in Spain is really a rare species.

[Padfield]

They're super pictures, Paul, they really are. I hadn't noticed the 'blog' (I hate the word 'blog' so much that I don't even like looking at things called 'blogs'!! ).

I can't tell you how pleased I was when that first iolas blue flew in and sat on a flower in front of you!! I felt I'd promised the butterfly, but as we all know, you can't make promises when it comes to these creatures, especially when you take the Alpine weather into account.

Guy

PS - Asha and I have a day off school today so we're jumping on the bus in a few moments and going intermedia hunting (Euphydryas). Look, that's almost in real time - it's not a blog, it's a TWITTER. Aggh!

[Paul]

Wish I was there! Will watch your site to see if successful!! Used the blog, 'cos loads of photos of continental species seem not to everyone's taste.

You needn't have worried, my reading of iolas was such that I did NOT expect to see one at all, let alone get photos... I hope that site never becomes overgrown or succumbs to urban encroachment... looked very vulnerable!! Everyone should be planting Bladder Senna!!!

[Padfield]

I've posted the day's score in the usual place, Paul.

Inachisio (and anyone else), if you are interested, I keep a year list and (almost) daily commentary at: http://www.guypadfield.com/butterflyyear.html, or you can find it linked from my main page at http://www.guypadfield.com/. That's where Paul goes to get the latest news on what's happening in the Alps!! In the commentary I name the butterflies in English, I'm afraid, Inachisio, because it's for general readership and a lot of people are put off by the Latin names. But the Latin names appear in the year list so you can check with that if you're not sure what something is!

Guy

[Inachisio]

Thanks for that info Guy

[Matsukaze]

This article might interest fans of Iolana iolas:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 201430.htm

[Padfield]

Interesting 'geometric' approach. The Swiss population is geometrically interesting too, as it is entirely constrained by the Rhône Valley and so is effectively one great linear population (with a 90° bend at Martigny). Perhaps for that reason, the centres can be further apart - the males in particular are known to fly many kilometres along the valley.

Guy