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Great Silver-spotted Skipper, Colin. I have only just made acquaintance myself with this species.
Well done for the Meadow Brown - I love those open-wing shots - one of my favourite challenges.
Keep 'em coming.
Chris

This morning in the Parc de la Brague it was cloudy at first but soon became sunny, just in time to see my first Tree Grayling #65 of the year.
I also saw a solitary Wood White,
a few Silver-spotted Skippers,
an Adonis Blue, several Spotted Fritillaries, a few Berger's Clouded Yellows and some Wall Browns and Meadow Browns.
--
Colin

This morning along the Piste de Darbousson I saw my first Purple Hairstreak #66 of the year. In fact there were 10 or 12 of them at ground level in the same location. But they didn't stop flying very often, and never landed with their wings open.
This is a Tree Grayling from yesterday.
Also seen were two male Cleopatras,
one Berger's Clouded Yellow, a few Heath Fritillaries, two Scarce Swallowtails (in the garden), several Spotted Fritillaries, some Wall Browns and a few Adonis Blues.
--
Colin

Hi Colin,
Its interesting to see that there are so many Purple Hairstreaks about. I will keep my eyes open across my way.
I'll be popping up to the Sainte Baume in the Var tomorrow.
Cheers, Chris

Last Saturday I once again saw several Purple Hairstreaks at the start of the Piste du Darbousson. In fact there were two other individuals a couple of inches from these two. But I didn't manage to get a photo of all four .
The day before yesterday at Terme Blanc there were 5 or 6 Two-tailed Pashas dashing furiously around, so that I only managed one photo.
In the vicinity there were 3 or 4 Southern Gatekeepers.
Yesterday in the Vallon du Mardaric there were several Purple Hairstreaks.
Today near the Vallon des Dones I saw many Spotted Fritillaries. Here are three males,
and a female.
There were also several Silver-spotted Skippers.
--
Colin

A few photos taken during the last week or so.

Tree Grayling:
Wall Brown:
Male Common Blue:
Heath Fritillary:
Male Provence Chalkhill Blue (two different individuals):
A male (?) Spotted Fritiliary with very lightly-marked hind wings:
Male Adonis Blue (the same individual):
Male Silver-washed Fritillary:
--
Colin

Even though it was very cloudy this morning, there were quite a few butterflies around including a few male Provence Chalkhill Blues,
a few female Berger's Clouded Yellows,
and two Southern White Admirals on the same plant.
There were also Meadow Browns, one Painted Lady and several Spotted Fritillaries.
--
Colin

Interesting images of SWA, Colin. Looks like they're on some kind of hedera. I don't think I've ever seen them nectaring before.

Hello David,

It's not a Hedera but an Umbelliferae or Apiaceae or whatever they are called these days, probably Peucedanum officinale (Hog's Fennel). But I have seen them on Hedera helix.

Cheers,
Colin

Thanks for the info, Colin.

Do you ever see them nectaring in their first brood?

David,

I often see their first brood nectaring, for example on Thyme, Centranthus ruber (Red valerian) and Euphorbia, as in this photo taken in the merry month of May:
--
Colin

This morning there were two Southern White Admirals on the same plant as yesterday, but on looking closely at the photos they were two different individuals. This is one of them.
There was one Swallowtail, the first I've seen since the beginning of June. It was a long way away, so this photo is heavily cropped.
Many Provence Chalkhill Blues, mostly males.
Many Spotted Fritillaries.
One male Common Blue.
Also one Painted Lady, one Tree Grayling, a few Adonis Blues and some Wall Browns.
--
Colin

Lovely shots Colin, the Swallow Tail reminds me of my holiday in the Broads this June, the Southern White Admiral stands out with it's blue cast more than our's, I think it's more impressive than our's, I wish we could have more Purple Hair Streaks over here, I got my first this year and that was more by accident then any thing ( I nearly stood on it) I love your shots of it Goldie

Thanks, Goldie. I have never seen one of "your" White Admirals, so I would probably prefer it to "mine" .
--
Colin

A few photos from the last few days.

There are still a few Small Heaths around, this one having an unusual second ocellus:
There are many Silver-washed Fritillaries, this one being one of quite a few f. valesina:
Today there were many Southern White Admirals, in general sharing the Hog's Fennel with the Silver-washed Fritillaries though this one preferred Herbe aux cerfs (I haven't found its English name):
Here's a male Silver-washed Fritillary on Hog's Fennel:
And a lovely female Silver-washed Fritillary:
Also seen today were one Swallowtail, lots of Provence Chalkhill Blues, a couple of Adonis Blues, the inevitable Wall Browns, some Spotted Fritillaries, Meadow Browns, one or two Berger's Clouded Yellows, a Silver-spotted Skipper, and, in the garden a Geranium Bronze.
--
Colin

Lovely Butterflies Colin your so lucky to be seeing them still in good condition Goldie

Thanks Goldie. They are not always in good condition, as shown by this Berger's Clouded Yellow seen this morning,
and this Southern White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary f. valesina photographed recently:
--
Colin

CFB wrote: .... They are not always in good condition .... Colin

You're right Colin. At the moment, being the end of season, many individuals I see over my way seem to have chunks missing out of their wings too. Dragonflies are patrolling agressively as well !!
Cheers, Chris

This morning I was delighted and somewhat surprised to see three or four Painted Ladies all together in the Parc de la Brague. Here are two of them, the first being in excellent condition, the second being a bit faded and missing part of one wing.
At the same place there were also Lang's Short-tailed Blues, Wall Browns and a couple of Woodland Graylings, one of which came and tickled my left eyebrow .

Some butterflies photographed recently include Provence Chalkhill Blues,
Lang's Short-tailed Blues,
and Clouded Yellows.
--
Colin

Given that it was the river Brague that burst its banks and contributed to the awful floods in your area the other day, Colin, how much has your part of the region suffered?