Spanish Pyrenees
Spanish Pyrenees
I am off to the Spanish Pyrenees (Ordessa National Park ) on Monday for 5 days and wonder what I may see. Any ideas?
Ian
Ian
- LancsRover
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Re: Spanish Pyrenees
Hi Ian, You will see fantastic scenery in the Ordessa valley itself, we stopped at Torla over 10 years ago but I was walking and not looking for butterflies, so not much help to you, although we had a couple of nights in Boltana in April( this year on our way home) and we saw a battered Large Tortoiseshall on our campsite, plus Small Copper and a few Clouded Yellows, I think there will still be plenty flying I'm sure.
Sorry I couldn't help anymore.
Russ
Sorry I couldn't help anymore.
Russ
- Chris Jackson
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- Location: Marseilles, France
Re: Spanish Pyrenees
I'm sure you'll see plenty Ian, even at this time of year. Will we be getting a day by day report, or just at the end?
Cheers, Chris
Cheers, Chris
Re: Spanish Pyrenees
Just at the end I am afraid! Iancjackson wrote:I'm sure you'll see plenty Ian, even at this time of year. Will we be getting a day by day report, or just at the end?
Cheers, Chris
Re: Spanish Pyrenees
I am now in Torla with free Wi-Fi so can update you.
My wife and I travelled by hire car from Barcelona stopping just off the A2 for a nap near Lleida and I had a quick look for butterflies on the ragwort. Nothing exciting, just what I would expect with one nice surprise on my birthday. Large white, small white, western dappled white, clouded yellow, Berger's clouded yellow, common blue, silver y moth and painted lady. The surprise was a lovely plain tiger- same family as the monarch. Photos to follow! Ian
My wife and I travelled by hire car from Barcelona stopping just off the A2 for a nap near Lleida and I had a quick look for butterflies on the ragwort. Nothing exciting, just what I would expect with one nice surprise on my birthday. Large white, small white, western dappled white, clouded yellow, Berger's clouded yellow, common blue, silver y moth and painted lady. The surprise was a lovely plain tiger- same family as the monarch. Photos to follow! Ian
- Chris Jackson
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Re: Spanish Pyrenees
Plain Tiger - cool !! Happy birthday Ian.
Chris
Chris
Re: Spanish Pyrenees
Ditto on both counts!cjackson wrote:Plain Tiger - cool !! Happy birthday Ian.
Chris
I'd love to see Plain Tiger in its natural environment.
Re: Spanish Pyrenees
Not much to report today- only wall brown and various large and small whites,plus a fleeting view of a great banded grayling!
The weather forecast was for rain but apart from some short showers it was fine.
The weather forecast was for rain but apart from some short showers it was fine.
- Padfield
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Re: Spanish Pyrenees
I'm following with interest, never having visited at this time of year. Happy birthday for yesterday - what a great present!
If you go back through Barcelona look out for geranium bronzes. They are now natives of that city!
Guy
If you go back through Barcelona look out for geranium bronzes. They are now natives of that city!
Guy
Guy's Butterflies: https://www.guypadfield.com
The Butterflies of Villars-Gryon : https://www.guypadfield.com/villarsgryonbook.html
The Butterflies of Villars-Gryon : https://www.guypadfield.com/villarsgryonbook.html
Re: Spanish Pyrenees
...as are South American parrots!! Plenty of them there near the zoo when I stayed there in 2004.Padfield wrote:
If you go back through Barcelona look out for geranium bronzes. They are now natives of that city!
Re: Spanish Pyrenees
I had a feeling today would be good when I awoke early to find a cloudless sky. My wife and I decided to walk from the campsite at St Nicholas de Bujaruelo (30 minutes from Torla) to the refuge hut at Otal through the Otal valley.The drive to the start of the walk is along a very bumpy road but it was worth the trip for a number of reasons.
1. Many tens of thousands of autumn crocus in flower
2. Lots of butterflies - more details below
3. Stunning views all round of mountains up to 3000 metres
4. Very few people around
5. Great views of raptors.
We had only been walking for about 20 minutes when I spotted bird of prey high up at quite a distance. I had had a quick look in my binoculars when I saw a large butterfly fly across in front of us. My wife immediately knew it was a Camberwell beauty, and we spent the next 25 minutes having a closer look at this pristine condition butterfly which was feeding on the sap from yew berries.It obligingly posed for photos which I am very pleased with.
The bird of prey happened to be a Lammergeyer!
We continued the walk in a sort of euphoric haze.
The other species seen in order of number seen were:
Large white (with heavy black markings)
Clouded yellow
Wall brown
Long-tailed blue
Small white
Brimstone
Red admiral
Adonis blue
Mountain argus?
On the way back from the refuge hut we were treated to a display of six raptors circling on the thermals of which we think three were Lammergeyers!
We are now back at our apartment enjoying a bottle of wine.
1. Many tens of thousands of autumn crocus in flower
2. Lots of butterflies - more details below
3. Stunning views all round of mountains up to 3000 metres
4. Very few people around
5. Great views of raptors.
We had only been walking for about 20 minutes when I spotted bird of prey high up at quite a distance. I had had a quick look in my binoculars when I saw a large butterfly fly across in front of us. My wife immediately knew it was a Camberwell beauty, and we spent the next 25 minutes having a closer look at this pristine condition butterfly which was feeding on the sap from yew berries.It obligingly posed for photos which I am very pleased with.
The bird of prey happened to be a Lammergeyer!
We continued the walk in a sort of euphoric haze.
The other species seen in order of number seen were:
Large white (with heavy black markings)
Clouded yellow
Wall brown
Long-tailed blue
Small white
Brimstone
Red admiral
Adonis blue
Mountain argus?
On the way back from the refuge hut we were treated to a display of six raptors circling on the thermals of which we think three were Lammergeyers!
We are now back at our apartment enjoying a bottle of wine.
Last edited by Ian Pratt on Mon Oct 06, 2014 9:30 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Spanish Pyrenees
Today the weather was stunning again!
We decided to go to the spa complex above the ski resort of Panticosa for a short walk in the mountains.
On the way at Biescas we found Geranium bronzes on the lavender in the main square.
Then by the reservoir at Bubal we saw many large whites, wall browns, clouded yellows including a white helice clouded yellow, and one great banded grayling. There was also an unidentified blue which I am working on.
On the walk I saw a red admiral amongst others which I have already mentioned. My wife spotted a new butterfly, a brassy ringlet which I am working on.
Not a bad day all considered.
The white clouded yellow was probably a mountain clouded yellow.
Ian
We decided to go to the spa complex above the ski resort of Panticosa for a short walk in the mountains.
On the way at Biescas we found Geranium bronzes on the lavender in the main square.
Then by the reservoir at Bubal we saw many large whites, wall browns, clouded yellows including a white helice clouded yellow, and one great banded grayling. There was also an unidentified blue which I am working on.
On the walk I saw a red admiral amongst others which I have already mentioned. My wife spotted a new butterfly, a brassy ringlet which I am working on.
Not a bad day all considered.
The white clouded yellow was probably a mountain clouded yellow.
Ian
Last edited by Ian Pratt on Mon Oct 06, 2014 9:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Spanish Pyrenees
I have checked the ringlet from Tristan Lafranchis's excellent book " Butterflies of Europe" and it is either a western or Pyrenees brassy ringlet.
The blue looks like a mountain argus, but I am sure the experts will quickly identify them with the photos. Sorry I cannot upload the photos now. Perhaps when I get to Zaragoza tomorrow where my son Daniel lives I will be able to post some photos!
The blue looks like a mountain argus, but I am sure the experts will quickly identify them with the photos. Sorry I cannot upload the photos now. Perhaps when I get to Zaragoza tomorrow where my son Daniel lives I will be able to post some photos!
Re: Spanish Pyrenees
Today we went to the Ordesa canyon for a longish walk. I can highly recommend a visit to the Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park. The scenery is stunning and the flora and fauna amazing. I can recommend Casa Lordan in Torla for accommodation- see http://www.casalordan.com
As we were mostly walking through deciduous forest the butterflies were few and far between but we did see a wall brown and a European speckled wood, with one small white.
Also we saw three isards- Pyrenean chamois!
The advantage of woodland walks is the bird life and we had good views of nuthatches, a crested tit, a dipper, a willow tit and raven.None of these is easily seen in the UK.
Tomorrow we leave the Pyrenees for Zaragoza so probably fewer butterflies to be seen although the weather forecast is very good.
As we were mostly walking through deciduous forest the butterflies were few and far between but we did see a wall brown and a European speckled wood, with one small white.
Also we saw three isards- Pyrenean chamois!
The advantage of woodland walks is the bird life and we had good views of nuthatches, a crested tit, a dipper, a willow tit and raven.None of these is easily seen in the UK.
Tomorrow we leave the Pyrenees for Zaragoza so probably fewer butterflies to be seen although the weather forecast is very good.
Last edited by Ian Pratt on Mon Oct 06, 2014 9:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
- Charles Nicol
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Re: Spanish Pyrenees
Can't wait to see your Camberwell Beauty photos !!
Charles
Charles
Re: Spanish Pyrenees
Today we left Torla for Zaragoza. The weather is still stunning- between 25 and 32 degrees C!
On the way we stopped for lunch at a picnic site and saw the first Cleopatra, some large whites and the ubiquitous wall browns. Also, there was an unidentified blue plus an amazingly well- camouflaged bush cricket/grasshopper with purple wings when it flew.
The real Spain is so different from the Costas which many UK folk think is all there is of Spain. I recommend a visit soon!
On the way we stopped for lunch at a picnic site and saw the first Cleopatra, some large whites and the ubiquitous wall browns. Also, there was an unidentified blue plus an amazingly well- camouflaged bush cricket/grasshopper with purple wings when it flew.
The real Spain is so different from the Costas which many UK folk think is all there is of Spain. I recommend a visit soon!
Re: Spanish Pyrenees
I have downloaded a few photos using Picasa and theses are attached for comments. They are exactly as they have come off the camera just cropped.
- Attachments
Last edited by Ian Pratt on Sun Oct 05, 2014 6:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- CFB
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Re: Spanish Pyrenees
Ian, isn't that a Bath White?
Nice pictures.
--
Colin
Nice pictures.
--
Colin
- Neil Hulme
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Re: Spanish Pyrenees
Hi Ian,
Lovely Camberwell Beauty images. Very nice!
BWs, Neil
Lovely Camberwell Beauty images. Very nice!
BWs, Neil
Re: Spanish Pyrenees
Thanks Colin you are correct. Thanks for noticing the deliberate mistake!!!CFB wrote:Ian, isn't that a Bath White?
Nice pictures.
--
Colin