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This was seen recently in Cantabria. Is it a heath fritillary?

Have to say it looks more like a Provençal to me, Ian, though I'll defer to Roger/Guy when they take a look.

Agreed. I'd be amazed if it was anything else.

Roger

Just because my name was mentioned I'll add that I agree! The underside hindwing appears unusually heavily marked but I think it's taken into the light so the upperside markings might be adding to the picture. For everything else, it's spot on deione.

Guy

Thanks everyone. Here is a caterpillar for ID to keep you on your toes. Thanks again. (Photo taken on camera and then photographed from the rear screen on my phone.)
I think it is a lime hawkmoth.

Dead moth found on the road today. Any ID would be appreciated. Thanks.

Chapman's ringlet seen today.

Ian Pratt wrote:Dead moth found on the road today. Any ID would be appreciated. Thanks.

Looks like a male Oak Eggar to me, Ian.

Thanks David.

Ian Pratt wrote:Chapman's ringlet seen today.

I'm going to be a real buzzkill and suggest your picture shows cassioides. I do hope you've got some palarica too ... But if not, keep looking!

Guy

Thanks Guy. Is the attached photo short-tailed blue or provencal short-tailed blue?

I presume the lack of the third eye spot on the forewing is diagnostic to differentiate between the ringlets?

Ian Pratt wrote:I presume the lack of the third eye spot on the forewing is diagnostic to differentiate between the ringlets?

Yes, though its presence would not be enough to confirm Chapman's ringlet. Closer to Chapman's is Piedmont ringlet, which has much the same distribution of spots and flies in the same region. Chapman's is particularly large. In Piedmont ringlet, the spots on the hindwing are pushed against the outer edge of the orange band much more obviously than in Chapman's.

Your blue is a short-tailed blue.

Guy

Do common brassy ringlet, Piedmont and Chapman's fly together as I saw some larger ringlets at a distance which may have been something different?

Yes, you can find lots of different ringlets in the same place. When you get your eye in you quickly learn to home in on the one(s) you want but keep open minded about everything to start with.

Guy

Many thanks. Really helpful as usual.

Not a butterfly but seen with the common/ western brassy ringlet at 2000 metres on the borders of Asturias and Cantabria. Someone has suggested a twite, but the bill is not yellow and it is not usually seen here. There seems to be a bit of a crest on the bird. Sorry about the intruding blade of grass.Any thoughts will be appreciated.

Padfield wrote:

Ian Pratt wrote:Chapman's ringlet seen today.

I'm going to be a real buzzkill and suggest your picture shows cassioides. I do hope you've got some palarica too ... But if not, keep looking!

Guy

What is the difference between cassioides and arvernensis ?