Greenwings: North Greece, 6th - 12th June 2022

[David M]

This tour was based near Lake Kerkini, north of Thessaloniki and took in a range of locations within a 50 mile radius, The weather wasn't particularly helpful - more of that in due course - but the butterflies were outstanding and the scenery just as good:

[David M]

Through the week, over 90 species were seen, although I didn't personally see all of these. The one I regret missing out on was the solitary Common Glider seen, although I was compensated by 15 'lifers', the first of which was Little Tiger Blue, seen on the late afternoon of arrivals day.

This tiny and beautifully marked lycaenid turned up in low numbers at several of the sites we visited:

[John Vergo]

Looking forward to see the rest David

[David M]

Plenty more on the way, John....

[David M]

Near the Macedonian border, we visited a site for Tessellated Skipper. It was raining when we arrived, but amazingly my co-guide, Jon, found this individual roosting on a scabious flower:

When the brighter weather returned, several more were found:

This is a mammoth-sized Skipper, almost the same dimensions as a Speckled Wood:

[Charles Nicol]

i love reading these accounts of foreign butterfly hunts

[David M]

...and I love doing them, Charles.

[David M]

One species that has managed to evade me is Yellow-Banded Skipper, and I had kept an eye out wherever we went on the first four days of the trip without any success.

Then, on Day 5, in cloudy conditions, I got lucky when one of the guests pointed out a strange looking pyrgus. For a few seconds, I assumed it was carthami, until I saw its undersides:

[petesmith]

Looking forward to this one David - Little Tiger Blue and Tessellated Skipper would have been lifers for me also - great stuff!

[David M]

Thanks, Pete. I suppose a new area of Europe is bound to throw up a few one hasn't seen before, but I certainly wasn't expecting so many.

[David M]

Continuing on the theme of Skippers, I came across another not far from where the Yellow-Banded had been spotted.

This one was clearly not Safflower Skipper - it was even bigger and extremely clearly marked with glorious, bold white patches.

I'd been chasing this species in Montes Universales for a few years without any success, so it was nice to finally make the acquaintance of Sandy Grizzled Skipper:

[selbypaul]

Regardless of the mixed weather David, that trip is an excellent one, as I found out in 2019. The Tessellated Skipper being a very special highlight that year too!

Interestingly, Common Glider, Sandy Grizzled Skipper and Yellow Banded Skipper were not seen in 2019, so already you have three species which are still to add to my list! Fantastic sightings.

[David M]

I was surprised at how much we saw given the very ordinary weather conditions throughout the week, Paul. The only major target we missed was Balkan Copper, and we found several we didn't expect which just proves you should persevere regardless of the weather.

[David M]

One species I was eagerly anticipating was Lesser Fiery Copper. However, we blanked on it for three full days until we found this male in a ruderal field:

This female was seen a couple of days later:

[David M]

One species I had been particularly looking forward to seeing was Lattice Brown. This large, exotic Satyrid is only found in SE Europe and is distinctively marked and also exhibits distinctive behaviour, i.e. flying in the shady areas of woodland and hence being difficult to photograph.

Having become increasingly frustrated with the first few I encountered, I wedged myself in a thicket of tree trunks and branches to get this male:

The nearest I got to seeing one in full sunlight was when I spotted this female settled just above head height in light woodland by a roadside:

[David M]

Another SE Europe species was Balkan Grayling, looking a little like ours in the UK only darker and a touch bigger:

[selbypaul]

The weather frustrations of this year have certainly demonstrated that point of continuing to search, regardless!

Lovely photos of the Lattice Brown, absolutely one of my favourite butterflies, precisely because of their skulking behaviour.

[David M]

Correct, Paul. If you don't try you definitely won't find anything, as you and I know well from this year alone!!

Agree about Lattice Brown; it's a fabulous butterfly.

[David M]

Every region seems to have its own default erebia, and in N. Greece it was one I hadn't encountered before.

Woodland Ringlets were common above 1,600m and are nicely marked:

[David M]

On the last day, whilst looking for Large Blues, I spotted a large Grayling. It came down in the cloudy weather and I was able to pot it.

This is Eastern Rock Grayling: