i forgot to mention that i saw a lovely green lizard on my Preixan walk. At first i thought it was a snake, but then i saw that it had legs... which it used to run away before i could take a pic
i think it was probably http://www.planetepassion.eu/LIZARDS-IN ... rance.html
Last night ( Friday ) i went to the Feria in Carcassonne... a great excuse to drink and be merry... i needed little encouragement. There was a late bus back to Alet. Tonight there is the normal 1909 bus which does not allow much time for merrymaking, but one must do one's best n'est_ce pas...
On the way to the internet café i came across a free booze-up sponsored by Ricard, the apéritif makers, as you can see from the pics...
Aude 2014
- Charles Nicol
- Posts: 1618
- Joined: Mon May 14, 2007 12:57 pm
- Location: Cambridge
Re: Aude 2014
today went for final trip to Pomas. as i passed a fig tree near the railway line i noticed a Pasha flying around. It settled on a nice juicy fig and tucked in, allowing me to take plenty of pics & a video qv.
there were plenty of butterflies around, although the smaller fritillaries and the skippers are few and far between now.
at the Pomas end of the track i disturbed a large butterfly in the vegetation... it was a Purple Emperor; it weaved a circle round me thrice then disappeared...
tomorrow i am leaving the campsite after 6 weeks... i shall spend the night at an hotel near the airport ready to depart on Mercredi.
i am not planning any more expeditions, but will keep my eyes open... those papillons can surprise you when you least expect it
Charles
there were plenty of butterflies around, although the smaller fritillaries and the skippers are few and far between now.
at the Pomas end of the track i disturbed a large butterfly in the vegetation... it was a Purple Emperor; it weaved a circle round me thrice then disappeared...
tomorrow i am leaving the campsite after 6 weeks... i shall spend the night at an hotel near the airport ready to depart on Mercredi.
i am not planning any more expeditions, but will keep my eyes open... those papillons can surprise you when you least expect it
Charles
Last edited by Charles Nicol on Fri Sep 05, 2014 11:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
- Charles Nicol
- Posts: 1618
- Joined: Mon May 14, 2007 12:57 pm
- Location: Cambridge
Re: Aude 2014
left the campsite this morning. had a quick look behind the swimming pool to see if there was any 6-legged action. a lively Pasha was eating some faecal matter for breakfast & i took some pics & videos.
will probably go for a walk into town along the river this evening after checking in to the airport hotel. It was on this walk that i spotted a huge butterfly last year... maybe history will repeat itself
will probably go for a walk into town along the river this evening after checking in to the airport hotel. It was on this walk that i spotted a huge butterfly last year... maybe history will repeat itself
- Charles Nicol
- Posts: 1618
- Joined: Mon May 14, 2007 12:57 pm
- Location: Cambridge
Re: Aude 2014
Well it is all over for another year
I hope you have enjoyed the pics at https://www.flickr.com/groups/2666925@N20/
i thought you might be interested in this butterfly article in the local paper:
the highlights of the trip for me were
i) the incredible Peacock Moth caterpillar... like something Salvador Dali might have dreamt up after hitting the pastis too hard...
ii) the lekking hill above Pomas... great encounters with battling Swallowtails and Two Tailed Pashas
iii) the Pasha in the fig tree
also new species for me... Lulworth Skipper and Provençal Short Tailed Blue... many thanks to the helpful folk who helped with the IDs !
My weight decreased by 18 lbs over the trip... now i have to keep it down
If you are looking for a pleasant inexpensive campsite in the Aude then i recommend Le Camping Val d'Aleth ( open all year )
Charles
I hope you have enjoyed the pics at https://www.flickr.com/groups/2666925@N20/
i thought you might be interested in this butterfly article in the local paper:
the highlights of the trip for me were
i) the incredible Peacock Moth caterpillar... like something Salvador Dali might have dreamt up after hitting the pastis too hard...
ii) the lekking hill above Pomas... great encounters with battling Swallowtails and Two Tailed Pashas
iii) the Pasha in the fig tree
also new species for me... Lulworth Skipper and Provençal Short Tailed Blue... many thanks to the helpful folk who helped with the IDs !
My weight decreased by 18 lbs over the trip... now i have to keep it down
If you are looking for a pleasant inexpensive campsite in the Aude then i recommend Le Camping Val d'Aleth ( open all year )
Charles
Re: Aude 2014
Aah, poor you, Charles.
Glad you had another successful visit though.
Thanks for all the information you've provided.
Glad you had another successful visit though.
Thanks for all the information you've provided.
- Chris Jackson
- Posts: 1929
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2013 6:35 am
- Location: Marseilles, France
Re: Aude 2014
I've enjoyed following your gourmet butterflying holiday Charles. I'm sure I've put on weight just looking at the restaurant photos.
Cheers, Chris
Cheers, Chris
- Charles Nicol
- Posts: 1618
- Joined: Mon May 14, 2007 12:57 pm
- Location: Cambridge
Re: Aude 2014
hehehe one day i must get around to trying a proper bouillabaisse...cjackson wrote:I've enjoyed following your gourmet butterflying holiday Charles. I'm sure I've put on weight just looking at the restaurant photos.
Cheers, Chris
good luck with the Purple Hairstreaks
CN
- Charles Nicol
- Posts: 1618
- Joined: Mon May 14, 2007 12:57 pm
- Location: Cambridge
Re: Aude 2014
glad you enjoyed my embedded reports from the front line of the Midi !!David M wrote:Aah, poor you, Charles.
Glad you had another successful visit though.
Thanks for all the information you've provided.
i certainly appreciated the help and encouragement from you guys
all the best
Charles