www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

As you know, David, I like to keep busy. Trouble is, the housework never gets done!

GIBRALTAR!

Just back from a cracking little trip to Gibraltar (GBZ).

We visited in 2014, and it was great to go back to the rock again. Good, sunny weather, plenty of wildlife, including a nice selection of early spring butterflies to kick-start the season, made it a holiday to remember!

An early flight saw us in Gibraltar by 1pm. After landing-on the road!- we dropped our bags at the hotel, and got straight on the cable car to the Upper rock, where we were soon surrounded by Barbary macaques! After numerous photos, we spent the afternoon enjoying the excellent views and visibility, and walking the lanes and footpaths seeking the flowers and butterflies.

The day belonged to the Spanish Festoons, easily the most abundant butterfly seen. What a great pleasure to see these lovely insects again. Cleopatras were also fairly common and, like Brimstones in England, rarely landing! A few Provence ( or Moroccan) Orange Tips were seen,as were a few Large Whites. Red Admirals were at the top, and the last butterfly of the day was a male Wall.

Swallows were migrating through. A kestrel was on the rock, and in the evening, swifts were abundant over the town, where dinner was taken. A super start to the trip!

That's from one extreme to the other isn't Essex - Snow in Wales and then basking in the sunny Med Cracking shots the Festoons look stunning and the Provence OT looks like an OT that's had an accident with a yellow paint pot - brill!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Wow! When I remarked that you get about, Mark, I wasn't expecting this.

I'll look forward to seeing details of your sightings.

The next day, we spent most of our time in the Alameda botanic gardens, leaving for lunch and returning mid afternoon. The gardens are full of plants we expect to grow in our homes, or as summer bedding plants. A fascinating mix of bird of paradise, cactus and bourganvillias.

However, the main reason for visiting was that the last time we came, we saw several Monarchs sweeping around. There was a bit more cloud today, and things took a bit longer to get going. We did find some Large White caterpillars on nasturtium,though. Then, around 11.30, the first Monarch glided past and landed on bamboo. Great,they were still here! Monarch 's have been seen in southern Spain for a while now and, in 1998, some were seen in the gardens. That year, food plant was planted, and they bred that autumn, and re-appeared the following spring. Now,they have a complex series of overlapping generations in the gardens. It amazes me that a species known for its migrations in USA , here never flies more than a few hundred yards in its life!

Later, a Monarch was hovering around a plant, landing on leaves then instantly taking off. Very distinctive female behaviour. She was looking for egg laying sites. Eventually, she found a spot, landed and curled her abdomen in. We kept our distance, but also saw several caterpillars on this plant.

Several more adults were seen during the day and, late afternoon, we were talking to another couple who were also looking at them, when two were seen together. A brief chase followed, before they descended to mate nearby. After joining,they flew up into the trees,one being carried by the other, to continue in peace.

Almost the full lifecycle in one day Essex That final shot would look good in the Species forum

Have a goodun

Wurzel

After the excitement of seeing images posted of both Small Tortoiseshells and Red Admirals in cop, I suppose it’s entirely fitting that someone has added photos of Monarchs doing likewise.

Like you, I’m bemused at how sedentary this species is in those parts of western Europe where it has put roots down. Still, I suppose we only have to look at our own Swallowtails to understand that butterflies behave differently dependent on where they reside, to the point where their physical characteristics begin to change.

Maybe the overwhelming majority of Monarchs have a natural dislike of crossing water, and those swept across the Atlantic do so because they have no option having been blown off course by freak weather conditions?

I agree, David. Where conditions favour sedentary populations, even in the same species, the thorax muscles probably weaken as the body changes shape, through the generations.

Thanks for your comments as well, Wurzel.

essexbuzzard wrote:I agree, David. Where conditions favour sedentary populations, even in the same species, the thorax muscles probably weaken as the body changes shape, through the generations.

Thanks for your comments as well, Wurzel.

I believe this has been proven in Swallowtails, Britannicus flight muscles are apparently less well developed and weaker than continental animals.

Next day, in brilliant sunshine, we had a full day on the upper rock. With plenty of time,today we walked past the 'beware vertigo ' warning signs, and up the steep Mediterranean Steps. Not that many butterflies here in terms of numbers,but Swallowtail and Painted Lady were notable, and Spanish Festoon and Provence Orangetip were seen.

The rest of the day was spent again enjoying the views, and wandering the many paths and lanes, enjoying the wildlife and, where possible, taking photos.Even a Cleopatra stoped long enough for a picture! By the great siege tunnels,which we enjoyed, the Barbary macaques posing, to the pleasure of the many visitors. Lots more Spanish Festoons were seen and, by the evening, the Provence Orangetips were beginning to settle, firstly on flowers and later for roosting-almost always on the caterpillar foodplant, buckler mustard. Searches on these flowers also turned up several eggs. Orange, and exactly the same as eggs of our Orangetips.

You've done well to capture the Provence Orange Tips so well, Mark. For me, this is a most infuriating species, that seldom stops and when it does generally alights for no more than a few seconds!

That's right,Bugboy. Everything the Monarchs need is in the gardens. This is probably the case too with many British species that have isolated populations. Adonis blues, Heath fritillary for example. Even within Britain, species such as Small pearl-border fritillary have sedentary,isolated colonies in the east, but free, wide ranging populations in the west, in Cornwall for example.

They are not easy, Dave! They behave exactly the same as our Orangetips, and they are not always easy either! Early or late in the day were most successful for me though,in cloud, they may settle at other times. But this was a sunny day, not that I was complaining!

Oh those Provence Orange-tips are gorgeous. Isn't it clever how all these species evolve into their own niche. cardamines background colour white to match the spring flora they prefer and euphenoides yellow to match its preferance

Oh and those Festoons are to die for...

And here is a Swallowtail from GBZ,

Great photos, Essex, especially the Provence Orange Tips. Honorary British Butterflies the lot of them!

Dave

GBZ LAST DAY


The levanter was blowing over the rock today while, bringing mist and low cloud when, across the plains of andalucia, there was brilliant sunshine. We had a walk around to town, picked up one or two souvenirs to take home, and picked up some lunch to eat up on the rock. Having had several days here this time, and having seen so much already, we could relax a little, and it did not matter is the weather wasn't perfect. After a morning in the town, we walked up, past the castle, and up to the upper rock, where we ate our light lunch-well away from the Barbary macaques!

Hi Dave, yes, they are definitely British-we could do with a few more species!