First Impressions
Our destination was one hour south of Kalamata airport, on the western edge of the Taygetos range of mountains. We arrived late afternoon after a single stop at a dusty roadside pull-in. By the end of this, and having walked around the town I had already counted 12 species... Ilex Hairstreak and Southern White Admiral at the roadside, then Cleopatra, Clouded Yellow, Small Skipper, Geranium Bronze ( yes it has definitely reached Greece!), Small White, Brimstone, Scarce and Machaon Swallowtail, Holly Blue, and Long Tailed Blue after arrival. These were just wandering through the town, unfortunately the LTBs were at the tops of exuberantly tall type of Broome bushes and would not behave to have any photos.
Settling in with a meal and a few beers took up the evening as the butterflies settled down.
Day one.
Having settled in, the morning broke cloudlessly, and warm. My intention was to find some good walking through promising territory into the mountains, the foot hills of which were only about one mile inland. The roads were narrow, twisty and therefore very slow, so it took a while to reach the small hamlet of Kastania, characterfully old with narrow lanes and old churches.
We took a steep uphill walk past small and rustic cultivated plots with flowery verges and intermittent dappled shade. A short way into the walk we were greeted by a Southern White Admiral in all it's indigo glory, which floated up and down the road before graciously allowing it's photo to be taken.
A Southern Comma likewise provided tantalizing views, but was too interested in cruising to allow the luxury of a photo.
Walking on, even Small Whites and Meadow Browns were worthy of study, in case they turned out to be more exotic Greek cousins..... Small White, maybe Southern, but Meadow Brown just that, even if a bit more flambuoyant than our own.
- hopefully Southern Small
A little further on and another first encounter, Orbed Red Underwing Skipper, photos taken but unworthy of posting, in favour of better ones later in the holiday. Lulworth Skipper were not uncommon among the Small Skippers which although examined wherever possible never proved to be the Essex variety.
Towards the apex of our first sojourn was another first.. Southern Grayling, again larger and brighter than our own variety. Common Blues and Brown Arguses seemed to be the sole Lycaenids on offer, always checked where possible for more exoticness, always with hopes being dashed. Still, beautiful creatures in their own right. To correct myself, Hairstreaks were frequent small dark visitors, Ilex most common, a few Sloe, and a Green Hairstreak. Finally, a last new species for me on this walk, the sort of expected Oriental Marbled Skipper... rather nice !!
After feeling like we hardly dented the Taygetos, we re-traced our steps slowly to the car and returned to town for lunch. Hot, hot, hot, hot....... the weather, not the lunch. The Supermarket flower bed.... something of an oxymoron for good old Yorkshire, was attractive to an Eastern Bath White, which loved the flowers, not something I had expected to "pick up" at the shop !! The locals I believe were somewhat alarmed at the sight of me taking it's photo.... who cares, I won't see them again !.
We drove south in the afternoon, trying to get a feel for distances and travel times... it soon and sadly became apparent a day trip to Chelmos was unrealistic.
We ended up at another beach, at Neo Itilo, not very picturesque, with half built abandoned looking concrete buildings, somewhat similar to other coastal towns we visited. The up-side was the abundant wasteground, which of course attracts butterflies. Eastern Bath Whites and Swallowtails wandered around the thistles, and Skippers including Mallow Skipper buzzed around.
Daylist - to include arrival afternoon. New Species to me in bold.
Swallowtail
Scarce Swallowtail
Small White
Southern Small White (?)
Eastern Bath White
Clouded Yellow
Cleopatra
Brimstone
Orange Tip
Ilex Hairstreak
Sloe Hairstreak
Green Hairstreak
Geranium Bronze
Brown Argus
Long-tailed Blue
Lang's Short-tailed Blue
Common Blue
Holly Blue
Nettle Tree Butterfly
Southern White Admiral
Southern Comma
Glanville Fritillary
Meadow Brown
Wall
Large Wall
Southern Grayling
Small Heath
Mallow Skipper
Small Skipper
Lulworth Skipper
Orbed Red Underwing Skipper
Oriental Marbled Skipper
Initially settled below, and totally unmistakable, it spooked and left majestically over the trees 
