What's flying in Marseilles 2015

[CFB]

I don't think the Mistral reaches as far East as chez toi.

Well strictly speaking it doesn't, but today we do have a very strong vent d'ouest .
--
Colin

[Charles Nicol]

Thanks for the comments, David and Charles.

David, you should pop down South some time during one of the two TTP brood flight periods.
One of my aims this season is a full openwing shot of the TTP, however this will be a tall order as they generally only open up by about 50%.

Yes, Colin, I am doing "le pont" (having an extended public holiday weekend), however today, Friday, a chill Mistral wind has blown up so that's a bit frustrating - Saturday and Sunday should be better. I don't think the Mistral reaches as far East as chez toi.

Cheers, Chris

a bit like this do you mean ?

[David M]

That's enough, Charles.

[Charles Nicol]

That's enough, Charles.

hehehe

actually that is a Corfiot butterfly... not a Frenchie.

[NickMorgan]

I am loving your pictures of butterflies. Normally I would have said French butterflies, but any butterflies are a bonus just now for me. The temperatures are struggling to get above 10 degrees here with strong winds and rain. The next seven days don't look any more promising.
I always grin when I hear Mistral! We moved to the Camargue when I was a kid. The locals warned us about the bitterly cold Mistral. We used to think it was a nice cool breeze!

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Nick, sorry to hear about your weather conditions, "wish you were here" as they say. Our last Mistral wind only lasted one day on this occasion, instead of the traditional "multiple of 3 days".

Colin, Charles and David, pending further TTP photos, see below. Most of these species from the Var make a pleasant change from my routine.


Saturday 16th May - Plan d'Aups, Var, France

Hi folks,
Today I drove north-east out of Marseilles for 50 km or so, to the border between the Bouches du Rhone and the Var, and its amazing how quickly the scenery changes, and the variety of butterfly species.

This spot is a bit "marshy", with a mixture of trees, broom and mediterranean scrub. Probably hellish after heavy rain. There were plenty of butterflies about, some species I never see in Marseilles, and others I usually consider as vagrants if ever they get blown down my way.
Context:

Small Blue:

Marsh Fritillaries in cop:

Adonis Blue:

Black-veined White:

Meadow Fritillary:

Green-underside Blue:

Surprisingly I also saw Green Hairstreak and Orange Tip, because 50 km further South and at sea level, their season already ended 2 weeks ago
I'll be back on my local patch on Sunday with 26°C announced, blue skies and no wind.
Cheers, Chris

[Charles Nicol]

Great pics Chris !

i saw a Holly Blue yesterday

[Chris Jackson]

Great pics Chris !

i saw a Holly Blue yesterday

Seeing the weather reports from the UK (that I can pick up on freesat Sky News), I think you are lucky to see anything, Charles.
Chris

[Chris Jackson]

Sunday 17th May - Marseilles - 26°C sunny and blue skies

On my usual home patch in the Parc des Bruyères, I'm still waiting on Blue-spot Hairstreak and False Ilex Hairstreak which are now due.
Apart from that, here are a Spanish Gatekeeper:

The attachment bathseba14_13 P Bruyères 17 May 2015.JPG is no longer available

and a female Spotted Fritillary, possibly Melitea didyma meridionalis ?:

Cheers, Chris

[Chris Jackson]

Friday 22nd May - South of France

Its been a bit windy down here over the last few days.
When I have managed to get out though, I've noted that the number of Meadow Brown males is increasing

, as is the number of Spanish Gatekeepers

down in the olive grove.

My lunchtime patch at work saw its first Two-tailed Pasha this week

, hilltopping near these pine trees on the escarpment.

I'm looking forward to getting out in the field at lunchtime today.

Cheers, Chris

[Charles Nicol]

very nice Spanish Gatekeeper. lovely open-wing shot of the Pasha

i saw a lot of fighting between Swallowtails and Pashas last August... very entertaining.

[CFB]

Hello Chris,

Wow, Spanish Gatekeepers. These don't come anywhere near me .
--
Colin

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Charles and Colin,

Those Spanish Gatekeepers, along with the Meadow Browns, are the most common species this week.
According to distribution maps, Spanish Gatekeepers do seem thinly spread along the South coast of France. I see them at work in Vitrolles and also see them on the outskirts of Marseilles.

Today at lunchtime I spotted my first False Ilex Hairstreak of the year,

on the plateau of Vitrolles.

This species has probably been around since last Sunday, but I've been in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong weather .

Also at lunchtime, down in the olive grove I saw a Red-underwing Skipper and a Green-veined White:

I'm looking out now for the Blue-spot Hairstreak and the Dusky Heath.
Cheers, Chris

[Roger Gibbons]

Spanish Gatekeepers may slowly be working westwards their way to you, Colin – maybe in a couple of years. I’ve just seen the first one in mid-Var at a location where I’ve never seen one before (David M will know this steep location). They are quite common in western Var as you might expect, especially around Semaphore (Route des Crêtes) on the coast. I also saw Western Marbled White at the same spot and I’m fairly sure I saw one a couple of days ago at the lake just south of me (David M and LOTSW II will know the spot).

The season is progressing much as expected, after a slow start. My species count is 81 at the moment. Most were seen in Var on my local patch, but that number includes a few upland species from the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence such as Eastern Wood White.

The internet connection here is so slow that if I try to post a photo, it takes so long that the connection drops.

Roger

[CFB]

Spanish Gatekeepers may slowly be working westwards their way to you, Colin

Roger, I guess you meant eastward . I'll be keeping my fingers crossed.
--
Colin

[Chris Jackson]

(...., yes, eastward)

Hi Roger and Colin,
I've had some unexpected sightings this year (within the limits of my short experience in this domain).
I'm thinking particularly of the Provence Chalk-hill Blue.
Last year I saw one individual near my workplace in Vitrolles (a vagrant ?).
This year I have seen dozens (males and females), and today, the cherry on the cake, was I saw 2 in my local Parc des Bruyères next to Marseilles - never seen before, by me, at least. A newcomer to my local species list.
Chris

[Charles Nicol]

Hi Charles and Colin,

Those Spanish Gatekeepers, along with the Meadow Browns, are the most common species this week.
According to distribution maps, Spanish Gatekeepers do seem thinly spread along the South coast of France. I see them at work in Vitrolles and also see them on the outskirts of Marseilles.

Today at lunchtime I spotted my first False Ilex Hairstreak of the year,

esculi11_13 Vitrolles scrub 22 May 2015 (4).JPG

on the plateau of Vitrolles.

context Vitrolles scrub 22 May 2015.JPG

This species has probably been around since last Sunday, but I've been in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong weather .

Also at lunchtime, down in the olive grove I saw a Red-underwing Skipper and a Green-veined White:

sertorius12 Vitrolles friche 22 May 2015.JPG

napi8_13 Vitrolles Olive grove 22 May 2015 (1).JPG

I'm looking out now for the Blue-spot Hairstreak and the Dusky Heath.
Cheers, Chris

Lovely hairstreak pic Chris. What is that brightly coloured flower ?

[Chris Jackson]

... Lovely hairstreak pic Chris. What is that brightly coloured flower ?

That pink flower, Charles, is a Rock Rose. In French it is called "Ciste blanc" although it is not white. Confusing ?
Chris

[Chris Jackson]

South of France, Saturday 23rd May

Bonjour,
1st sightings this year in my local Parc des Bruyères, next to Marseilles:
Blue-spot Hairstreak:

Dusky Heath:

(I know, Colin, I'll swap you a Dusky for a Pearly )
Context: A carpet of yellow Curry Plant which blooms just in time for the arrival of the Blue-spot Hairstreak and the False Ilex Hairstreak:

Seen also - a female Spotted Frit:

From nearby Gemenos, an open-wing shot of a male Meadow Brown :

Cheers, Chris

[Charles Nicol]

... Lovely hairstreak pic Chris. What is that brightly coloured flower ?

That pink flower, Charles, is a Rock Rose. In French it is called "Ciste blanc" although it is not white. Confusing ?
Chris

ahhh merci Christophe ! would that then be a Cistus ?

your Blue Spot Hairstreak is formidable