Re: European Butterflies - A personal diary
Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2023 11:12 am
It was an early start on Day 8, and it dawned misty and with the first rain of the week. There was no time for butterflying anyway, so it didn’t matter. A 140 minute drive back to Santander airport awaited, and it passed quickly.
Santander airport is tiny, and it was a joy to speed through check-in and security. A quick flight back to Stansted, unusually clear roads in the UK, and I was back home in Sheffield for 5pm!
My summary of the Picos de Europa in one word – superb. Over the last 8 years I’ve visited 20 parts of Europe in 8 different countries. There are other places where you can perhaps see some rarer species, or perhaps in higher numbers of individual butterflies. But in terms of range of habitat type and diversity of species, the Picos is probably equal best, together with parts of the Spanish Pyrenees. Pau’s excellent local knowledge and guiding helped of course.
As a consequence, I’ll be returning next year. There is unfinished business with Woodland Brown and Mountain Dappled White. I also think that, in a perfect year, 130 species in 8 days might be possible. Not that rushing around for species numbers should be a target. But it would be interesting to potentially achieve.
Santander airport is tiny, and it was a joy to speed through check-in and security. A quick flight back to Stansted, unusually clear roads in the UK, and I was back home in Sheffield for 5pm!
My summary of the Picos de Europa in one word – superb. Over the last 8 years I’ve visited 20 parts of Europe in 8 different countries. There are other places where you can perhaps see some rarer species, or perhaps in higher numbers of individual butterflies. But in terms of range of habitat type and diversity of species, the Picos is probably equal best, together with parts of the Spanish Pyrenees. Pau’s excellent local knowledge and guiding helped of course.
As a consequence, I’ll be returning next year. There is unfinished business with Woodland Brown and Mountain Dappled White. I also think that, in a perfect year, 130 species in 8 days might be possible. Not that rushing around for species numbers should be a target. But it would be interesting to potentially achieve.