Last week I was lucky enough to spend a few days in the Alps, when visiting family. Having never visited the area before, I did not know what to expect, all I can say is that the legends are true about the diversity of this area, I walked out of the door into a small meadow where I easily saw 20 species in a short morning walk - just incredible. This, coupled with the stunning scenery made for quite an experience, in a few hours of butterflying in two different spots I saw 33 species, including several new and exciting ones.
First highlight was a vibrant little colony of Purple - Edged Copper, I also managed to find a few Scarce, a butterfly that I have always wanted to see, but unfortunately, these were on a family walk and I had to rush off to catch up with 'the peleton' so no photos.
Black - Veined Whites were relatively common at the same spot.
Another nice White was this Wood White.
I also came across this lovely dusky female Large Blue, a real contrast to the brighter butterflies I had been watching at Collard not days before.
This was not the only blue I saw, others were Small, Silver - Studded, Adonis, Mazarine and Geranium Argus.
I was surprised by the paucity of browns, with only single figures of Meadow Brown in the verdant grassland, and less than 20 Small Heath and Marbled White. I was pleased however to see my first ever Large Heaths in a boggy meadow (no photos like the Scarce Copper), and this Large Wall Brown (you guessed it) on a wall.
Skippers were around also, I clocked up Small, Large, Dingy a few flighty, unidentified pyrgus types and my first ever Chequered by a stream at about 2000m - lovely. Nearby this Lesser Marbled Fritillary posed nicely...
I saw several other Fritillaries: Queen of Spain, Dark Green, Titania's (tbc), Weaver's, Pearl - Bordered (my first, next to the Chequered Skipper), Glanville (another first), False Heath (tbc) and Grison's (tbc) - not bad for a few hours wandering around in suitable looking spots!
Other species on the trip were Orange Tip (2 males sparring next to a Dark Green Fritillary - a bizarre sight!), Large White, Purple Emperor (seen during the wedding, getting curious about the eaves of the registry office), Comma and Almond - Eyed Ringlet (tbc).
These, along with some interesting Orchids (still flowering at altitude), stunning displays of wildflowers and amazing vistas, not something I'll forget.
Some more photos to follow if I can get my tenuous IDs confirmed
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)