Re: Rochetaillee, Val d’Isere, Rhone Alpes, France – June 20
Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 7:33 pm
Thursday 16th June
We went into le Bourg-d Oisans this morning and had a longer mooch about and some lunch.
Later, again following Roger’s advice, I headed south into the Parc National des Ecrins on the D530 through Venosc. Finding a likely spot next to La Veneon, I took the track along the river. Here's the views in both directions:
A male Brimstone was nectaring and a few Essex Skippers were darting about. The track led to a bridge over the river and continued the other side, where several White Admirals were on the ground. Further along, a meadow was on the left, full of flowers and orchids and in here 3 High Brown Fritillaries were on Knapweeds, nectaring close to each other. One seemed to have had trouble emerging and another had a curious hole in its wing.
A Chimney Sweeper moth was also here.
Past the meadow the track seemed to lead to a house and to avoid trespassing I turned back but after a short distance disturbed another first for me and the trip – a Large Tortoiseshell! This was clearly a hibernator on its last legs as it was pretty battered.
Walking back toward the car I was being checked out by another High Brown Fritillary who kept landing a few feet in front of me along with a Knapweed Fritillary and another first - a Provencal Short-Tailed Blue.
The colours on this male Mazarine Blue were stunning.
The view from the bridge:
There was then yet another High Brown opposite the car.
Sightings for this site: 8 White Admiral, 1 Large Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma, 5 High Brown Fritillary, 1 Knapweed Fritillary, 2 Marbled Fritillary, 3 Heath Fritillary, 1 False Heath Fritillary, 5 Marbled White, 2 Pearly Heath, 5 Ringlet, 1 Large Wall, 1 Provencal Short-Tailed Blue, 1 male Chapman’s Blue, 1 male Common Blue, 7 Small Blue, 1 male Mazarine Blue, 1 male Brimstone, 1 Small White, 40+ Black Veined White, 5 Large Skipper, 10+ Essex Skipper.
I drove further along the D530 and stopped at le Bourg d’Arud. I took a short walk up a track and found another meadow full of flowers. 2 male Scarce Copper, 10+ Black Veined White, 1 female Small White and a Black Veined moth were found in here.
I debated whether to continue further as the sky was turning cloudier. I decided to head back and made a detour to Ornon (another suggestion from Roger) along some very scary mountain roads and made it back just as the heavens opened. It continued to rain heavily on and off all night.
Species added today:
Large Tortoiseshell
Provencal Short-Tailed Blue
We went into le Bourg-d Oisans this morning and had a longer mooch about and some lunch.
Later, again following Roger’s advice, I headed south into the Parc National des Ecrins on the D530 through Venosc. Finding a likely spot next to La Veneon, I took the track along the river. Here's the views in both directions:
A male Brimstone was nectaring and a few Essex Skippers were darting about. The track led to a bridge over the river and continued the other side, where several White Admirals were on the ground. Further along, a meadow was on the left, full of flowers and orchids and in here 3 High Brown Fritillaries were on Knapweeds, nectaring close to each other. One seemed to have had trouble emerging and another had a curious hole in its wing.
A Chimney Sweeper moth was also here.
Past the meadow the track seemed to lead to a house and to avoid trespassing I turned back but after a short distance disturbed another first for me and the trip – a Large Tortoiseshell! This was clearly a hibernator on its last legs as it was pretty battered.
Walking back toward the car I was being checked out by another High Brown Fritillary who kept landing a few feet in front of me along with a Knapweed Fritillary and another first - a Provencal Short-Tailed Blue.
The colours on this male Mazarine Blue were stunning.
The view from the bridge:
There was then yet another High Brown opposite the car.
Sightings for this site: 8 White Admiral, 1 Large Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma, 5 High Brown Fritillary, 1 Knapweed Fritillary, 2 Marbled Fritillary, 3 Heath Fritillary, 1 False Heath Fritillary, 5 Marbled White, 2 Pearly Heath, 5 Ringlet, 1 Large Wall, 1 Provencal Short-Tailed Blue, 1 male Chapman’s Blue, 1 male Common Blue, 7 Small Blue, 1 male Mazarine Blue, 1 male Brimstone, 1 Small White, 40+ Black Veined White, 5 Large Skipper, 10+ Essex Skipper.
I drove further along the D530 and stopped at le Bourg d’Arud. I took a short walk up a track and found another meadow full of flowers. 2 male Scarce Copper, 10+ Black Veined White, 1 female Small White and a Black Veined moth were found in here.
I debated whether to continue further as the sky was turning cloudier. I decided to head back and made a detour to Ornon (another suggestion from Roger) along some very scary mountain roads and made it back just as the heavens opened. It continued to rain heavily on and off all night.
Species added today:
Large Tortoiseshell
Provencal Short-Tailed Blue