Switzerland 2011

[Gruditch]

I'll let the Marmot to do an in depth report of our trip to Switzerland. A big thanks must go to Guy, a top bloke, amazingly fit, extremely intelligent, ( but with tones of common sense, a rare combination ), generous, principled, and really good company. Here are a few of images from the trip.

Queen of Spain Frit

Alpine Heath

Provincial Frit

Small Apollo

And my favourite landscape from the trip

Regards Gruditch

[Padfield]

I'm also a Time Lord, Gary! I'm glad you returned safely to 2011.

That heath is one of those interesting half-way creatures, with a lot of Darwin's heath and a little alpine heath. The status of these two is very unclear to me.

That small Apollo picture is wonderful! I'm very impressed. And the landscape captures the atmosphere perfectly.

Guy

[JKT]

2012?

Edit: It seems Guy is always faster.

The P. phoebe is indeed gorgeous. That's one species I've always wanted to see, but haven't.

[Susie]

Beautiful pics, Gary.

I can't deny I am slightly disappointed though, I thought this thread was going to be about organising a trip there for next year.

[Paul Wetton]

Hi Gary and Guy

Great to meet up with you both in that wonderful landscape. Lovely pics Gary.

Good to hear the UKButs team arrived home safely. I made it back after an epic 20 hour drive mostly in pouring rain with only two major detours due to extremely poor French road signs and my inability to map read and drive in the conditions.

Gary a good description of the wonderful Mr. Padfield who must have a Mountain Goat as one of his parents with his ability to run up and down the steepest slopes, although I remember you were pretty agile up there too.

Looking forward to more photos and a trip report. I have over 10 hours of raw video to process and three memory cards of Helen's photos to go through to keep me amused.

Guy, must thank you hugely for all your help and superb company for several days. We had a great laugh and some stimulating conversation. Hope to meet up again sometime when there are some different butterflies on the wing, maybe in spring as you suggested.

Best wishes to all and hope to see some more great photos of your trip Gary.

[Gwenhwyfar]

It was nice to meet everyone and thanks to guy for giving up his time to show us around.
Here are a few pics from the trip, but would like to know id's for the top 2 Fritillaries.

Knapweed Fritillary?

Yellow-spotted Ringlet

Mallow Skipper

[Gruditch]

2012?

I must be the time lord, changed it now.

, although I remember you were pretty agile up there too

Nice to meet you & Helen too, I did enjoy the climbing, but I'm not too proud to admit that my legs where wasted by the last day.

Here are a few more scape's from that wonderful country. I miss the mountains already.

Regards Gruditch

[Lee Hurrell]

Hi Lisa,

I would tentatively suggest Lesser Marbled and False Heath for the first two.

[ I miss the mountains already.

I know what you mean...

Lovely pictures though, looking forward to the rest.

Cheers

Lee

[Pete Eeles]

Hi Lisa,

I would tentatively suggest Lesser Marbled and False Heath for the first two.

I agree and I think Knapweed Frit is correct too.

There aren't enough adjectives on the planet to describe Padders! A unique human being for all the right reasons

Fantasic pics Gary & Lisa! And great to meet your good self and Helen too, Paul! We must catch up in Blighty sometime. I have a shedload of pics to process (1369 to be precise!) - a couple are below.

Cheers,

- Pete

Scarce Large Blue female

Idas Blue in the setting sun

[Gwenhwyfar]

Many thanks lee Cracking shot of the idas Blue Pete.

Just a few more pics from the trip.

Pete and Guy in action!

Purpled-edged Copper

Spotted Fritillary Larva

[Padfield]

I'm looking forward to seeing more as you process them all! There's certainly some lovely pictures in this thread.

Thank you for all the exaggeratedly kind words. I'm so embarrassed I'm leaving the country tomorrow morning, to spend one night in Barcelona and then on up to my second favourite mountain region, the Val d'Aran. They call it 'La pequeña Suiza', which means, 'Little Switzerland', and with good reason. It's a very similar area, and with very similar butterflies, but it's become something of a pilgrimage for me and I go most years.

Anyway, if I don't respond quickly to posts, that's the reason - I'll be living under canvas for a week or so.

Guy

[Paul Wetton]

Hi Pete

Would definitely enjoy meeting up sometime in Blighty. I guess one of the organised trips would be good so I'll keep my eye on what's happening.
Looking forward to some more of your photos on this thread. I've got several thousand of Helen's to process.

Guy
Have a great trip to Val d'Aran and let us know how it goes.

[NickB]

Fabulous stuff! I recognise some of those places, Gary; are they not just stunning?

All that has been said about Guy is true:
If there is a new X-Man for the next film, it should be Guy as ...... Mountain Goat Man

[NickB]

It was nice to meet everyone and thanks to guy for giving up his time to show us around.
Here are a few pics from the trip, but would like to know id's for the top 2 Fritillaries.

Hi
Glad you had fun! I am so deeply envious because I know what it is like up there

First frit - and I am pushing my luck before Guy comments, I know...
...Looks like a Lesser Marbled / Marbled Fritillary....an underside would confirm which; I lean to Lesser
Second one looks like False Heath - we saw many very dark False Heaths.....

But don't take my word on it...
Edit: I should read the other posts first, shouldn't I ?

[Gwenhwyfar]

Edit: I should read the other posts first, shouldn't I ?

Never mind! it was nice to hear from you anyway.