NE Greece with Greenwings "False Apollo"
NE Greece with Greenwings "False Apollo"
Just back from a Greenwings "False Apollo" tour. Great tour, guides (Martin Warren was one) and company, but 4 days out of six were either dull, cool and overcast or just raining!
Provided an interesting insight into the country and the agriculture that effects butterfly habitat, in a poor area of Greece. Not least the roaming herds of cows, sheep and goats, guarded by packs of mean and protective herd dogs. (Note to potential visitors: avoid at all costs!). Much of the lowland was intensively farmed or covered with olive plantations, and small groves; most accessible mountain areas were grazed to some degree - the closer to the villages, the more heavily grazed habitats were .
Much of the rest is high mountains (snow on top!) with steep-sided slopes, covered by ancient woodland and criss-crossed with streams, gorges and meadows. This means these areas are the best undisturbed habitats around; and where large numbers of diverse butterflies are found. In a few of these places (which are "secret") the False Apollo (Archon apollinus) breeds in good numbers. We had 1 good day and saw several False Apollo, not all in very good condition and quite difficult to photograph as they bask on the ground, down in the grass, out of any breeze - or at least that is my excuse More to follow....
Provided an interesting insight into the country and the agriculture that effects butterfly habitat, in a poor area of Greece. Not least the roaming herds of cows, sheep and goats, guarded by packs of mean and protective herd dogs. (Note to potential visitors: avoid at all costs!). Much of the lowland was intensively farmed or covered with olive plantations, and small groves; most accessible mountain areas were grazed to some degree - the closer to the villages, the more heavily grazed habitats were .
Much of the rest is high mountains (snow on top!) with steep-sided slopes, covered by ancient woodland and criss-crossed with streams, gorges and meadows. This means these areas are the best undisturbed habitats around; and where large numbers of diverse butterflies are found. In a few of these places (which are "secret") the False Apollo (Archon apollinus) breeds in good numbers. We had 1 good day and saw several False Apollo, not all in very good condition and quite difficult to photograph as they bask on the ground, down in the grass, out of any breeze - or at least that is my excuse More to follow....
"Conservation starts in small places, close to home"
Re: NE Greece with Greenwings "False Apollo"
Shame about the weather, Nick, but this is the only place in Europe to see this iconic species and at least you managed to do just that.
I'll look forward to seeing your continued instalments.
I'll look forward to seeing your continued instalments.
Re: NE Greece with Greenwings "False Apollo"
The False Apollo only looks like the Collins illustration when it is freshly emerged; when we saw the individuals after a few days of rain, most had lost a lot of wing-scales and their forewings were translucent (and often very battered) to some degree.....
Eastern (Zerynthia cerisy)
and Southern ( Z. Polyxena)
Fortunately, there were plenty of festoons to keep us interested:Eastern (Zerynthia cerisy)
and Southern ( Z. Polyxena)
"Conservation starts in small places, close to home"
- Chris Jackson
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Re: NE Greece with Greenwings "False Apollo"
Nice shots Nick. Sorry about the weather.
Thanks for sharing.
Chris
Thanks for sharing.
Chris
Re: NE Greece with Greenwings "False Apollo"
We made the most out of what we got; it was helped by good company, good food and wine, beer and water, pictures and talk of butterflies, seen and to be seen, and cursing the poor weather along the way: the guilty 10 (plus me behind the mobile phone) of the 14 that started dinner.....
A happy bunch at the end of the day.....
...thinking of butterflies.....
A happy bunch at the end of the day.....
...thinking of butterflies.....
"Conservation starts in small places, close to home"
Re: NE Greece with Greenwings "False Apollo"
I absolutely love that final image of polyxena, Nick. I've never seen an image with the undersides so fully on display before. It is indeed a very beautiful insect.
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Re: NE Greece with Greenwings "False Apollo"
Shame about the weather, I’m guessing GR isn’t really geared up for rain. But patience paid off, you’ve got images of several spring species there, many of us on UKB can only dream of.
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Re: NE Greece with Greenwings "False Apollo"
Hi, Nick,
I didn't see your piece until after I had posted mine. You have probably also read Mel's article for the 'Comma'. Three different takes, but all agreed that the weather was crap and the company excellent . Tough you missing female apollinus, I didn't manage a male. Another time...
Tony M.
I didn't see your piece until after I had posted mine. You have probably also read Mel's article for the 'Comma'. Three different takes, but all agreed that the weather was crap and the company excellent . Tough you missing female apollinus, I didn't manage a male. Another time...
Tony M.
Re: NE Greece with Greenwings "False Apollo"
Yes, Tony. Good to hear from you; hoped your photos were OK?Tony Moore wrote:Hi, Nick,
I didn't see your piece until after I had posted mine. You have probably also read Mel's article for the 'Comma'. Three different takes, but all agreed that the weather was crap and the company excellent . Tough you missing female apollinus, I didn't manage a male. Another time...
Tony M.
Another time, indeed. It whet your appetite for what it would be like, if only the sun came out!
Have fun
One of the 2 Fritillaries we saw...
Weaver's (or Violet) Fritillary (Clossiana dia)
"Conservation starts in small places, close to home"
Re: NE Greece with Greenwings "False Apollo"
We were lucky(?), that it had been wet and cool and they were out at the first sign of sun. The wild muscari were a favourite nectar source for a lot of these early butterflies. I was " down-in-the-dirt" to get to their levelDavid M wrote:I absolutely love that final image of polyxena, Nick. I've never seen an image with the undersides so fully on display before. It is indeed a very beautiful insect.
This one was found, roosting, deep down in the grass on the first,cool and damp, day and wrangled on to this spurge:
"Conservation starts in small places, close to home"
Re: NE Greece with Greenwings "False Apollo"
Here are the guilty....
I'm not really trying to hide.....
I'm not really trying to hide.....
"Conservation starts in small places, close to home"
Re: NE Greece with Greenwings "False Apollo"
I recognise seven of the group, Nick. Good company for sure, especially with the venerable Martin Warren as host.
- Tony Moore
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Re: NE Greece with Greenwings "False Apollo"
David M wrote: ...the venerable Martin Warren as host.
Venerable?? I'm not sure how well he would take that description. He's a mere stripling alongside the true geriatrics of the company .
The Ancient Butterflier.
Re: NE Greece with Greenwings "False Apollo"
LOL! I had a guy with me on last summer's Spain trip who will be 90 this year!! I reckon he must take the award!Tony Moore wrote:David M wrote: ...the venerable Martin Warren as host.
Venerable?? I'm not sure how well he would take that description. He's a mere stripling alongside the true geriatrics of the company .
The Ancient Butterflier.
- Tony Moore
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- Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:37 pm
Re: NE Greece with Greenwings "False Apollo"
Give in...
T. M.
T. M.
- Roger Gibbons
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Re: NE Greece with Greenwings "False Apollo"
And I believe you also have Bernard Watts there in the group, perhaps the most knowledgeable person on European butterflies, and the author of a comprehensive master work on European species, including all subspecies and variants.
Roger
Roger
Re: NE Greece with Greenwings "False Apollo"
Indeed. Were Bernard 20 years younger he'd be the best guide in Europe!Roger Gibbons wrote:And I believe you also have Bernard Watts there in the group, perhaps the most knowledgeable person on European butterflies, and the author of a comprehensive master work on European species, including all subspecies and variants.
Re: NE Greece with Greenwings "False Apollo"
Yes, Bernard was good value; he wanted some good shots of European False Apollo for his tome. Ah, well, next year!Roger Gibbons wrote:And I believe you also have Bernard Watts there in the group, perhaps the most knowledgeable person on European butterflies, and the author of a comprehensive master work on European species, including all subspecies and variants.
Roger
Bernard in action..... The group made the holiday; with such poor weather we had to entertain ourselves, often at the expense of our guides
Just ask Martin about PBF......
"Conservation starts in small places, close to home"
Re: NE Greece with Greenwings "False Apollo"
You've got me wondering now, Nick. I shall ask MW in June when I have the pleasure of his company.NickHull wrote:..Just ask Martin about PBF......