virtually N Greece 2
Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2020 2:33 pm
After a comprehensive Greek breakfast of eggs, honey, yoghurt, I set out with temperature already climbing, to explore the western side of Lake Kerkinitis. However, several stops revealed relatively little on the wing, so I decided to head into the hopefully cooler mountains and headed for the village of Ano Poroia, NW of the lake. Followed road until it became a bumpy track above village, and set out on foot. Immediately started seeing butterflies, Scarce Swallowtail, a Hairstreak (probably Ilex), Southern White Admiral, none settling for long, and several Nettle Tree Butterflies of which I managed a brief shot on brambles and then taking salts in a damp area
I was distracted by 3 badgers ambling across the path then saw a spotted fritillary, and figured from underside, it could be a lesser spotted, new to me came to an area of damp earth partially shaded, which was a relief, and was treated to a Cardinal, many blues, Large Tortoiseshell, a Scarce Swallowtail, Clouded Yellow] and a Yellow Underwing Skipper another first for me stopped to observe the view back across the village to Lake Kerkinitis sat under a shady tree for a drink and a stuffed pitta when something reasonably large and brown alighted next to me on a branch; my first Lattice Brown continued up the track seeing much, much more; a Swallowtail posed an Eastern Baton Blue briefly alighted the heat was becoming intense, and the light, the butterflies were mostly supercharged, and then the track fizzled out and I ran out of water, so made my way back down the track. A Camberwell Beauty took off from one side and landed on my cap briefly, then alighted on a nearby flower, but resolutely kept its wings closed made it back to the car and a bottle of very warm cola, having seen in addition, Wood, Large, Small Whites, Mallow, Grizzled, Essex, Lulworth Skippers, Common, Mazarine, Small, Holly Blues, Marbled White (probably Balkan), Marbled, Silver-washed Fritillaries, Green and Ilex Hairstreaks, Coppers, Nymphs...including ubiquitous Painted Ladies by the hundred
driving along the lakeside I encountered the local shepherd and stopping by a marshy area, saw spoonbills and the demise of Jeremy Fisher I was exhausted by hill-walking in the heat, but delighted by what I had seen, and confident that as I got my eye in I would start to differentiate other species new to me, I looked at the map and decided where to go next...
continued up the track and it became an assault on the senses, butterflies of every type on every side, so for a minute or two I just enjoyed the spectacle, before starting to select things that looked less familiar, though living In Gtr Manchester that is almost everything....I was distracted by 3 badgers ambling across the path then saw a spotted fritillary, and figured from underside, it could be a lesser spotted, new to me came to an area of damp earth partially shaded, which was a relief, and was treated to a Cardinal, many blues, Large Tortoiseshell, a Scarce Swallowtail, Clouded Yellow] and a Yellow Underwing Skipper another first for me stopped to observe the view back across the village to Lake Kerkinitis sat under a shady tree for a drink and a stuffed pitta when something reasonably large and brown alighted next to me on a branch; my first Lattice Brown continued up the track seeing much, much more; a Swallowtail posed an Eastern Baton Blue briefly alighted the heat was becoming intense, and the light, the butterflies were mostly supercharged, and then the track fizzled out and I ran out of water, so made my way back down the track. A Camberwell Beauty took off from one side and landed on my cap briefly, then alighted on a nearby flower, but resolutely kept its wings closed made it back to the car and a bottle of very warm cola, having seen in addition, Wood, Large, Small Whites, Mallow, Grizzled, Essex, Lulworth Skippers, Common, Mazarine, Small, Holly Blues, Marbled White (probably Balkan), Marbled, Silver-washed Fritillaries, Green and Ilex Hairstreaks, Coppers, Nymphs...including ubiquitous Painted Ladies by the hundred
driving along the lakeside I encountered the local shepherd and stopping by a marshy area, saw spoonbills and the demise of Jeremy Fisher I was exhausted by hill-walking in the heat, but delighted by what I had seen, and confident that as I got my eye in I would start to differentiate other species new to me, I looked at the map and decided where to go next...