CFB

[CFB]

This morning it was warm and sunny, but quite cloudy now and then as I strolled along the Piste du Collet de l'Espères.

I was delighted to find my first Marbled Skipper of the year. I had to follow it for a few minutes before it decided to settle down, and then I was able to take several photos of it. And ten minutes later when I came back, it was still there.

Further on there were many Adonis Blues and Provence Chalkhill Blues. This one is, I'm pretty sure, a female Adonis Blue:

On my way back to the car, there were several species enjoying Centranthus ruber, including a Swallowtail

and a Green-veined White:

Also seen were Large Whites, Knapweed and Heath Fritillaries, and Pearly Heaths.
--
Colin

[David M]

That Marbled Skipper is positively glowing, Colin. Sadly, I've never seen a 'fresh' specimen but your image makes me determined to do so.

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Colin and David,
Swallowtails are very thin on the ground (or in the air) around Marseilles so far this year, and the Adonis Blue is also proving elusive .
At least the weather is good for the moral at the moment .
Chris

[CFB]

This morning it was sunny, but now (tea time ) it is cloudy with some thunder.

I went along the Piste du Collet de l'Espères again, hoping to see some more Marbled Skippers. I didn't, but I did find my first Marbled Fritillary of the year. It was among the brambles (of course) which prevented me from getting close, and it soon flew off up into the trees.

There were a few Blue-spot Hairstreaks around, but no Ilex Hairstreaks, and I still haven't seen a False Ilex Hairstreak this year.

I found a solitary Spanish Festoon, which turned out to be the same individual that I saw three days ago (see above) at exactly the same place.

And then I encountered a couple of Black-veined Whites indulging in frantic love-making :

Among others also seen: two Scarce Swallowtails; Heath, Spotted, Glanville and Knapweed Fritillaries; Adonis and (many) Provence Chalkhill Blues; Pearly and Small Heaths; a Southern White Admiral.
--
Colin

[Chris Jackson]

I can associate with the Blue-spot at this time Colin, and I know that there are Marbled Fritillary around, but they are lively creatures to photograph.
Chris

[CFB]

I didn't manage to take many photos today as the butterflies were not being particularly helpful .

I did however see my first Large Skippers of the year along the Piste de Peical. There were several of them at two different places. Here is a male:

There were several Knapweed Fritillaries:

And of course, many Provence Chalkhill Blues:

I also saw, amongst others, two Scarce Swallowtails flying together, a Southern White Admiral and some Blue-spot Hairstreaks.
--
Colin

[Lee Hurrell]

Hi Colin,

I would say your male Small Skipper is in fact a Large Skipper.

I'm enjoying your reports!

Best wishes,

Lee

[David M]

I would say your male Small Skipper is in fact a Large Skipper.

Absolutely. 100% male Large Skipper.

[CFB]

Thanks Lee and David for the correction. I'll get them right one of these days.

This Large Skipper was from this morning:

Although it was quite cloudy with some wind, there was a surprising number of butterflies around, in particular Adonis and Provence Chalkhill Blues, Pearly and Small Heaths, and a few Spotted Fritillaries.
--
Colin

[CFB]

This morning was marked by a trio of Heath Fritillaries, two of them mating and the third trying to join in. When I first saw them they were in a windmill formation on a dry stem:

Later on they moved into a different configuration:

Then the intruder decided to call it a day:

And the original couple were finally left alone:

There were many other Heath Fritillaries, including this one, which was more interested in its flower than anything else:

And there was a solitary Scarce Swallowtail:

--
Colin

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Colin,
That photo of the "windmill formation on a dry stem" really deserves a prize - great!!
Chris

[CFB]

Yesterday I went along to la Roche d'Ardy near Roquefort-les-Pins. No new year-sightings, but some photos, starting with this Marbled Skipper:

Nearby I met this gorgeous Black-veined White:

She then went off in search of somewhere to do some ovipositing, and she found the underside of a Hawthorn leaf.

I continued on my way, and when I came back ten minutes later, she had disappeared, but had left fifteen or so ova on the leaf .

Later on I found a mating-couple of Provence Chalkhill Blues:

I also saw two fresh-looking male Cleopatras (no photos ).

Today I went back to the same spot to see how things were progressing. The ova were still there. How long does it take in general for the larvae to hatch?

Amongst butterflies photographed today were this Scarce Swallowtail with bent tails,

a Green-veined White,

and one of several Spotted Fritillaries:

Also seen today were many Provence Chalkhill Blues, with in second place, Pearly Heaths, Adonis Blues and Heath Fritillaries.
--
Colin

[CFB]

This morning, in the Parc de la Brague, I saw for the first time this year a solitary Marbled White,

and a solitary Lulworth Skipper.

There were also several Cleopatras, including this female,

a Scarce Swallowtail, Blue-spot and Ilex Hairstreaks, Heath and Spotted Fritillaries, Adonis Blues and of course many Provence Chalkhill Blues.
--
Colin

[Chris Jackson]

That's good news about the Marbled White, Colin. I'll keep my eyes open across my way although last year they didn't appear until the very end of June (another 3 weeks yet). The Grayling should be out very soon, and I think I have missed out on the Adonis Blue this year.
Chris

[CFB]

Four first-sightings of the year along the Piste du Darbousson this morning . The first was a Small Skipper, which was quite happy being photographed, letting me get quite close:

The second was a male High Brown Fritillary, which seems to like brambles as much as the Marbled Fritillaries do:

The third was a male Silver-washed Fritillary who was accompanied by a female:

The fourth was a Two-tailed Pasha which flew around me at great speed and then disappeared, so no photo .

Others seen included a Red Underwing Skipper, a Southern White Admiral, Marbled Fritillaries and Meadow Browns.
--
Colin

[Roger Gibbons]

For the Pashas, try tempting them with alcohol!

I use rum mashed into a banana to stop it evaporating. Put it on something flat, in an open-ish space, even at a height of about 1-1.5m handy for taking a photo.

They will sniff it out and then circle around checking for predators (a magnificent flying display) and when they are ready they will come down onto the bait. Best to stay absolutely still while they are doing this. After a few minutes they become engrossed and can be approached quite closely.

We had three Pashas on the bait at the same time in our small garden today, followed by a Great Banded Grayling.

Roger

[CFB]

Hello Roger,

Two years ago I tried with some brandy, if I remember correctly, on ripe figs. Without success. But last year they seemed to be attracted by ripe figs on a fig bush (its only six feet high or so, so I can't call it a tree) in the garden. I must try your recipe.

We have a very big Arbutus unedo in the garden, and I regularly look for ova and larvae on it, but with no success.
--
Colin

[David M]

Best to stay absolutely still while they are doing this. After a few minutes they become engrossed and can be approached quite closely.

We had three Pashas on the bait at the same time in our small garden today, followed by a Great Banded Grayling.

Must you torture us like this, Roger?

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Colin,
I don't get High Browns over my way, perhaps its too dry. So your photo is about as close as I'll get to seeing one .
I should get one sighting of a vagrant Silver-washed though.
I'm still waiting for a Grayling (semele) - perhaps this afternoon?.
Cheers, Chris

[Mikhail]

I have just seen your posting of 4 June. Take another look at your Southern Small White. I think you'll agree it's a Green-veined White.

M.