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Saturday 5.3.2016. Part 2.

First photo's of Green Hairstreak this year, 3 or 4 now flying about the field .
Russ

Saturday 5.3.2016. Part 3(due to internet probs.)

First photo's of Swallowtail this year, notice this guy/gal has only one antennae.

It started at the top of the trees, then it came lower and eventually landed on the ground, beautiful in flight.

Russ

I missed your latest update, Russ, due to imposing family with "Grandmothers' Day" in France this weekend.
You are excelling yourself with sightings this year.
A nice selection of Green Hairstreak and Swallowtail photos.
About ready to run guided tours in Spain me-thinks.
We are having a few days of nasty weather here in Marseilles, blowing down directly from the UK.
Wednesday 0°C to 7°C - probably the worst day this winter so far.
Probably much better in Spain.

Chris

Cheers Chris for your kind comments, it's still up and down here but with the prevailing wind coming off the land(rather than the sea), the high trees and shrubs form a natural wind break and some spots on the scrub area, south of our camp site can get nice and warm, with 9 varieties flying yesterday(Tuesday,8.3.16.) even with a cold wind blowing.
Russ

Tuesday 8.3.2016. 11.45am Sunny but cool breeze (part 1)

Trip to the scrub south of the our camp site.
Large Whites seen and photo's taken(1st time this year)
also Long-tailed Blues seen in this area for the 1st time.

Russ

Photo's from last report;

Russ

Other b/f's seen on Tuesday 8.3.16.
Swallowtail,
Speckled Wood 8+,
Geranium Bronze,
Small White,
Small Copper(Checking out anything that moved on his patch),
Green H/S,
Wall Brown,
Making 9 varieties(L.White & LTB) seen in such a small area.
Russ

Apologises for dis-jointed report but I'm being constantly "timed out" on a longer report , maybe I need to type quicker
Russ

Thursday 10.3.16. 2pm sunny, cool wind, 15c.
Scrub south of the camp site.

Great excitement a "new" butterfly in SPAIN(winter/spring) for me.
It's a COMMON BLUE, I know,... but it's the first one I've seen at this time of year, since I've been coming to Spain

Russ (pics below)

Common Blue Photo's.

I have neither Common Blue nor Small Copper, Russ, so down in Spain you are way ahead of the South of France.
Lucky you.
Chris

Continued from Thursday 10.3.16.

Whilst crossing the cleared field, I came across a light brown b/f. flying low to the ground(photo's below, I think it's a faded "Lady", what do you think?
It didn't open it's wing at all.
Russ

Photo's of faded "Lady"????

Friday 11.3.16. 12 noon, 16c sunny and warm, little wind.
A visit to the Ribamar area of the Sierra de Irta, nature reserve, north of Alcossebre, we were greeted by 4 or 5 Cleopatra's gliding about, both male and female, beautiful!
The only other b/f's seen were Walls, Small White and a Mallow Skipper.

Russ

Photo's on the following page.

Cleopatra-Male Photo's

Cleopatra-Female photo's

Saturday 12.3.16. Sunny 16c.
Next to our camp site, on the north side, there is a dry river bed and when it rains hard for a couple of days, the river which goes across the coastal road, cutting the camp site off from Alcossebre.
I decided to checkout this river bed out but on this visit I only had on shorts and trainers , so when the bamboo/reeds got to thick I had to turn around after only 100 metres or so, but on my way back I spotted something in the dense undergrowth.
It was a Plain Tiger(1st seen for 18mths) I managed one shot from distance before it disappeared It's a rubbish photo but a record for now.
Russ

Rubbish shot of Plain Tiger(African monarch)

Hi Russ,
Seems like the butterflies are almost queuing up to welcome you !
I agree with the Painted Lady sighting - can't be anything else.
Nice encounter with the Cleopatra. I have seen some in the South of France recently, but no photos yet this year.
As for the Plain Tiger (if that is what it is), I do not foresee meeting one of those myself in the near future.
River beds do seem a good focal point though. I focus on them more and more
Cheers, Chris

Well done with the Plain Tiger. I have never seen one in Spain. Maybe this summer?
I still haven't seen my first butterfly of 2016 yet. The forecast looks good for tomorrow, so here's hoping!