Hi FISHiEE,
I'm just back from a week in southern Spain. I'd certainly echo your comment regards plenty of flower-filled meadows with zero butterflies to be seen. We popped in to Castro Marim on the Portuguese side of the Guadiana (ie at the eastern end of the Algarve just before the Spanish border) where we had good numbers of Iberian Marbled Whites, a few Swallowtails and Small Whites. But that was all, despite MASSES of habitat. To be fair though, it was our first destination of the holiday and we were more interested in the birds - so we probably missed quite a few more.
My entire trip list at the end of the week was just 20 species. Small and Large Whites were often common. Western Dappled Whites and Clouded Yellows were often noted along roadside verges. In the mountains we had Spanish Festoons and Cleopatras in small numbers. Small Heath and Speckled Wood were common at a few sites. We had several Green-striped Whites, Swallowtails, Painted Ladies and Small Coppers in the lowlands. Other odds and sods were the odd Red Admiral, Green Hairstreak, Nettle Tree Butterfly, Brown Argus, Holly Blue, Black-eyed Blue, Green-underside Blue and a Wall. Total. I kind of expected more, we certainly spent a whole lot of time in the field!
As you say, it doesn't seem much but it's not a bad list when you read it back. Can't help but feel that Guy would have easily managed 50 species, on foot, and probably within the hour!!
Gibster.