Padfield

[Padfield]

Here's that video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lD4rSnUSSY[/video]

It's handheld, with my Canon compact.

Guy

[Padfield]

Just testing to see if I can upload pics from my iPhone.


(before)


(after)

It works!

So I can post some scenic pics from the Pyrenees when I arrive tomorrow!

Guy

[Paul Wetton]

Right then Guy now you have the boring task of iPhone piccies sorted, more importantly what's the beer like.

[ChrisC]

interesting video guy, at 37 seconds is it my imagination or does she retract her abdomen or drop the angle of the wings to protect her honour?

Chris

[Padfield]

She's definitely not up for it, but I think the effect you mean is just me moving the camera away slowly, Chris.

Here's my home for the time being!



A new one to add to the list of perils facing butterfly-hunters...



But I found a different way to reach my destination.



Full species report (without pictures until I get back), here:http://www.guypadfield.com/butterflyyear.html

Guy

PS - it's fizzy lager, Paul, not real beer!

[Paul Wetton]

Hope the weather warms up a bit for you.

Don't suppose the beer will improve though.

[Padfield]

The Pyrenees have been languishing under persistent, cold, clammy cloud and when I went to bed last night I hadn't seen the sun since Wednesday, at 4.00pm. So today I got up at 5.00am and caught the bus south out of the mountains. Exploring on foot, I found vibrant colonies of furry blue and Spanish chalkhill blue and a site with all three species of gatekeeper (Spanish gatekeeper was a bit past it). I think I had two different species of anomalous blue, but that will have to wait until I get back to my tent, where my book is, because female furry blue might be putting me off. Definitely at least one species of anomalous blue. Also Iberian marbled white, rock grayling, maybe woodland grayling, false grayling and much more. If the weather in the Pyrenees persists, I will be back!

Guy

[Pete Eeles]

The difference between a Lepidopterist, and a great Lepidopterist, is the latter get out and collect observations whatever the weather! You're definitely in the latter category

Look forward to hearing more, after you've dried off

Cheers,

- Pete

[Padfield]

Thanks, Pete!

I was right - I have both Ripart's anomalous blue and Agenjo's anomalous blue on film, as well as female furries!

The rest of my species list is again on my site: http://www.guypadfield.com/butterflyyear.html

It was miserable weather again all day in the Val d'Aran, so I made the right decision!

Guy

[Reverdin]

Not bad compensation for the bad weather Guy... can't wait to see your photos

[Padfield]

This is my 10th trip to the Val d'Aran and the first that has been sabotaged by the weather like this. It rained all last night and is still raining this morning. I'll be on that 5.00am bus to the lowlands (Aragon) tomorrow too!

In fact, I'm keen to go back there because I didn't discover the larger colony of Ripart's until the afternoon and it proved imposible to get good photos of the male upperside. This is quite beautiful, with a huge, golden androconial patch visible at the right angle, contrasting with the dark wingtips. The butterflies are very touchy and my camera is incapable of focusing on ripartii male upperside, it seems, and I failed. If I go there first thing in the morning it should be easier.

I hadn't seen Spanish chalkhill blue since I was 19 and living in Gibraltar. I saw it in Spain, but the Spanish authorities had closed the borders; though my work permit let me through, they confiscated my camera and binoculars so I returned with no pictures.

Guy

[Paul Wetton]

Hello Guy

Sounds like you're making the most of it despite the inclement weather conditions. I'm very jealous now I'm sat here at work reading you're latest sightings.

Last night I downloaded some video footage and began sorting Helen's photos out. Needless to say there are several video clips and photos I'm going to ask you for help with but I'll wait until you get home. I think Helen may have even photographed one species I didn't see but I'll await your opinion.

Hope the weather picks up and you have a great time. looking forward to your next report.

[Padfield]

I look forward to seeing your video Paul. I took some myself today - closeup of a cicada singing.

Thunderstorms forecast for the Val d'Aran, so I set off again for Aragón on the 5.00am bus. It was well worth getting up for. I photographed those androconia, though on agenjoi, not ripartii, and am quietly confident I have both Forster's furry blue and furry blue. Explanation, with pictures, on my return. Spanish chalkhill blue, Provence chb, chalkhill blue and Adonis blue all flying together! Other new or confirmed species for the trip - all with photographs - were striped grayling, rock grayling, tree grayling, false grayling and dusky heath. All three gatekeepers were common today, with one single bramble sporting them all! I think that quite by accident I've stumbled upon a butterfly paradise!

I haven't written up my website page yet, as I'm sitting in a bar waiting for the bus back to wetness, humidity and moisture...

Guy

[Pete Eeles]

I admire your persistence I also think you should move your tent to Aragon

Keep up the good work, sir

Cheers,

- Pete

[Padfield]

There are plenty of hostales and a campsite in my randomly chosen village. I will certainly build in a dedicated stay there on my next trip. I didn't find either hermit but am sure at least one flies there.

A good discovery.

Thousands of pictures to process on my returm!!

Guy

[David M]

How could the weather be so cruel to a man of your distinction?

What's worse is that it's been glorious for the last few days in Britain.

Hope you get back okay, Guy, and will look forward to seeing your pics.

[Lee Hurrell]

I haven't written up my website page yet, as I'm sitting in a bar waiting for the bus back to wetness, humidity and moisture...

Guy, If you were to de-camp and move tent to where you have been on the bus, you would:

1) Not have to get up at silly o'clock
2) Be drier, and
3) Still be surrounded by butterflies!

Just a thought...

EDIT - I see that's what Pete was suggesting

Lee

[Padfield]

It sounds very sensible, Lee, but I have work to do in the Val if only the weather permits! I want more photos of foulquieri, which I think hasn't been recorded here before, but which I found on Wednesday, and I was hoping for good pictures of lefevrei and sthennyo, both of which I have photographed here in previous years. Then there's constans - one of my favourite ringlets... In short, I came for endemic Pyrenean stuff and have been holding out for it! I gave myself 10 days so I could look for pyrenaicus, but I've written that one off now.

If the weather stays bad tomorrow I'll leave on Thursday morning and bivvy somewhere in Aragón before flying back from Barcelona on Friday.

I have to say that northern Spain at this time of year is quite fantastic. Having never before seen any anomalous blues I've now become almost blasé to them and even photographed an anomalous anomalous blue today (completely spotless - impossible to identify with certainty but probably agenjoi by colour and size). There are so many endemic species in Spain it's an adventure at every turn.

Guy

[Paul Wetton]

The mountain goat has hit the low altitude pastures and still finds some amazing stuff. I too cannot wait until your photos are available plus your video.

I hope the weather improves for your sake and for everyone else who is awaiting the next days sightings with baited breath. That's a bit selfish but we all want you to stay out there as long as possible and keep us all enthralled with your sightings.

I've downloaded my 10.5 hours of video so will start checking for any I can't ID ready to get you thinking when you return home. I'm sure there will be plenty.

Enjoy the rest of your hols.

[Padfield]

Again, thanks for the encouragement, Paul!

I'm sticking it out in the mountains until tomorrow night, I've decided. Today I went up to 1500m, to a constans site, and waited. I arrived in the cold and wet and it continued raining while I was there, but the sun appeared for brief intervals and when it did all the butterflies suddenly flew. Within 5 seconds of the first ray of warmth, two constans took to the wing. They are ideally coloured for warming up quickly. Here is an iPhone shot of one:



This is technically the same species as manto ringlet (yellow-spotted ringlet) but a totally black form endemic to the Pyrenees.

The first blue to fly was this turquoise blue, also taken with iPhone, showing all the signs of having roosted in the rain for a week, which doubtless it has!



As well as these two, about thirty species came up out of the wet foliage and spent a couple of hours preparing for the next long sleep, mostly by taking nectar. I was able to get lovely shots of Pyrenean brassy ringlet nectaring, and many others were quite tame too - presumably because they need energy to hang around doing nothing productive for a week!

I looked for Pyrgus but found none. Tomorrow will be devoted to them, if the clouds let through any warmth at all...

Guy