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Istrian Peninsula 21st May - 28th May 2024
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2024 5:50 pm
by Stevieb
After a thoroughly miserable start to the spring, I was looking forward to getting away with a bit of warmth and perhaps some butterfly lifers with a week in Croatia staying in Medulin
Medulin is a charming seaside town at the tip of Istria, one of the most scenic regions of Croatia. It is a perfect destination for myself and Claire as she could enjoy the beaches and crystal-clear waters whilst I could head into the fields and woods to explore.
The town also has a rich history and culture with ancient Roman villas at Vižules to the old windmills by the sea.
We also took the local bus to Pula, the largest city in the peninsula, where we visited the impressive Roman amphitheatre.
![Pic 2.jpg (112.82 KiB) Viewed 390 times Pula Arena](./files/thumb_19003_25d8b8cddbc3e881ee6174283ca6e99d)
- Pula Arena
![pic 3.jpg (101.69 KiB) Viewed 390 times Pula Arena](./files/thumb_19003_ab2364d4bc5bd95765eb411c879a68fc)
- Pula Arena
![Pic 1.jpg (81.71 KiB) Viewed 390 times Pula Arena](./files/thumb_19003_c0e78ad46549522e517e013d0f4564e7)
- Pula Arena
May 21st
Flying out of Bristol we arrived in Pula just over 2 hrs later. The short flight time was one of the considerations in choosing this destination. Medulin was just a short 20-minute transfer from Pula airport.
We spent the rest of the day settling in and getting used to our surroundings.
First impressions were that Medulin, and the surrounding countryside was how we remember Cyprus forty years ago pre it’s tourism boom. It is unspoilt with a very laid-back vibe.
Re: Istrian Peninsula 21st May - 28th May 2024
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2024 5:53 pm
by Stevieb
May 22nd
Prior to our departure I did the usual research via the net. I came across the excellent website
www.butterfliesofcroatia.com. This proved an excellent resource especially the calendar feature that showed what butterflies to expect in May and where they occur .
I had also used Google Earth and Google Maps to identify any promising areas around our hotel. I had decided not to hire a car and just concentrate on the local environs.
One such area was a promising looking off road cycle track that traversed through open fields and wooded rides. It was a 45-minute walk from the hotel, and in rather warm conditions it was hard going. Once there though the rewards were excellent.
First butterfly lifer was a nice fresh Knapweed Fritillary
Melitaea phoebe in a patch of scrubby field which I duly named fritillary field. It was alive with Knapweed Frits, Clouded Yellow and Common Blues.
![pic 4.jpg (644.2 KiB) Viewed 389 times Knapweed Fritillary Melitaea phoebe](./files/thumb_19003_90239542a048f07ed4801efebef3917c)
- Knapweed Fritillary Melitaea phoebe
![pic 5.jpg (613.12 KiB) Viewed 389 times Knapweed Fritillary Melitaea phoebe](./files/thumb_19003_8cc565ef2fce5610d01053b00ea8e630)
- Knapweed Fritillary Melitaea phoebe
![pic 6.jpg (475.17 KiB) Viewed 389 times Clouded Yellow Colias crocea](./files/thumb_19003_8a7b3ac145d7608578d5247e4f68c3d9)
- Clouded Yellow Colias crocea
Re: Istrian Peninsula 21st May - 28th May 2024
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2024 6:00 pm
by Stevieb
Dragging myself away I continued to follow the cycle track to where it entered woodland. At the start of the woodland ride I came across my second lifer of the day Ilex Hairstreak
Satyrium ilicis
![pic 7.jpg (519.41 KiB) Viewed 389 times Ilex Hairstreak Satyrium ilicis](./files/thumb_19003_74c58dfef5f86180f7b814e39536a087)
- Ilex Hairstreak Satyrium ilicis
Continuing along the track I was always in the company of Southern White Admirals
Limenitis reducta.
![pic 8.jpg (628.23 KiB) Viewed 389 times Southern White Admiral Limenitis reducta](./files/thumb_19003_e6120103ab9cf06221b080c1e79b07a5)
- Southern White Admiral Limenitis reducta
![pic 9.jpg (574.58 KiB) Viewed 389 times Southern White Admiral Limenitis reducta](./files/thumb_19003_3fa2cd0d02c1cad168205dbaed597f62)
- Southern White Admiral Limenitis reducta
Also seen in some of the clearings were Comma, Adonis Blue and Green-underside Blue
Glaucopsyche alexis
![pic 10.JPG (120.64 KiB) Viewed 389 times Green-underside Blue Glaucopsyche alexis](./files/thumb_19003_a8050622d1e4341046bb0b343d38622a)
- Green-underside Blue Glaucopsyche alexis
A constant companion was the many Red-backed Shrikes that lined the route.
![pic 11.JPG (412.39 KiB) Viewed 389 times Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio](./files/thumb_19003_1ef21c13b60537ba799b7e0528665d5d)
- Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio
Re: Istrian Peninsula 21st May - 28th May 2024
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2024 6:04 pm
by Stevieb
I didn’t venture too far as I knew I had to walk back to the hotel in the continuing heat, so I retraced my steps back to the fritillary field for a quick last look and then headed back.
May 23rd
Claire came up with a cracking suggestion, why didn’t I take a taxi out to the start of the track this morning. I checked on Uber and booked a cab which was available to pick up from the hotel in 15 minutes. After what seemed about 10 minutes after pick up I found myself standing in the fritillary field. It was certainly worth the 5-euro fare.
The same species as yesterday were still present along with a couple of smart Swallowtails
Papilio machaon
![pic 12.jpg (629.84 KiB) Viewed 389 times Swallowtail Papilio machaon](./files/thumb_19003_fbe5484b6596edfa0e4f8e80bef04eb5)
- Swallowtail Papilio machaon
With the time saved using Uber I had more time to explore further along the woodland rides. Again, Southern White Admirals were the predominant species, but a nice flowering meadow held Glanville Fritillary
Melitaea cinxia, Small Heath and Cleopatra
![pic 13.jpg (574.11 KiB) Viewed 389 times Glanville Fritillary Melitaea cinxia](./files/thumb_19003_27d6ca341516197e33bdfc8df1adc5ba)
- Glanville Fritillary Melitaea cinxia
![pic 14.jpg (274.92 KiB) Viewed 389 times Glanville Fritillary Melitaea cinxia](./files/thumb_19003_2c5ae419a55b09ad6fbf307c3125b63a)
- Glanville Fritillary Melitaea cinxia
![pic 15.jpg (78.39 KiB) Viewed 389 times Southern White Admiral Limenitis reducta](./files/thumb_19003_9ae7a6670677bdf54514a645c21e9fc0)
- Southern White Admiral Limenitis reducta
![pic 16.jpg (472.82 KiB) Viewed 389 times Cleopatra Gonepteryx cleopatra](./files/thumb_19003_d91ae3ce9e2dbf66bbea40261fe08d93)
- Cleopatra Gonepteryx cleopatra
Re: Istrian Peninsula 21st May - 28th May 2024
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2024 6:09 pm
by Stevieb
May 24th
After taking an Uber again I was once more in the fritillary field. New for the list was a Scarce Swallowtail
Iphiclides podalirius joining the Knapweed Frits plus more Clouded Yellows.
![pic 17.jpg (64.72 KiB) Viewed 387 times Scarce Swallowtail Iphiclides podalirius](./files/thumb_19003_d096cf2a605a43c9ed681c14d712dc8a)
- Scarce Swallowtail Iphiclides podalirius
![pic 18.jpg (71.39 KiB) Viewed 387 times Scarce Swallowtail Iphiclides podalirius](./files/thumb_19003_2641d04b64936455ca0f18788a823b8d)
- Scarce Swallowtail Iphiclides podalirius
Along the track clearings there were more Ilex Hairstreaks, Southern White Admirals and another lifer, Southern Grizzled Skipper
Pyrgus malvoides. Also seen was a single Mallow Skipper and various orange Skippers.
![pic 19.jpg (391.08 KiB) Viewed 387 times Ilex Hairstreak Satyrium ilicis](./files/thumb_19003_0be4b5cec2d701170e9498413aaa0c28)
- Ilex Hairstreak Satyrium ilicis
![pic 20.jpg (61.86 KiB) Viewed 387 times Southern Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvoides](./files/thumb_19003_e5962fef8e754a2c5ea4ea6fbc4db661)
- Southern Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvoides
![pic 21.JPG (146.19 KiB) Viewed 387 times Southern Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvoides](./files/thumb_19003_e00ab314b6894c64e0f62229cb20574c)
- Southern Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvoides
After another excellent couple of hours, I called a cab to take me back to the hotel. Whilst waiting at the side of road watching a male Cleopatra nectoring on a geranium bush a nice Blue-spot Hairstreak
Satyrium spini dropped in for only a minute but just enough time to get off a couple of shots. Another lifer for the trip.
![pic 22.jpg (115.35 KiB) Viewed 387 times Blue-spot Hairstreak Satyrium spini](./files/thumb_19003_fbc71625210daa247ab7efb24120102e)
- Blue-spot Hairstreak Satyrium spini
![pic 23.JPG (405.16 KiB) Viewed 387 times Blue-spot Hairstreak Satyrium spini](./files/thumb_19003_89d1ad2324aac6b9be139f9380db75ff)
- Blue-spot Hairstreak Satyrium spini
Re: Istrian Peninsula 21st May - 28th May 2024
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2024 6:13 pm
by Stevieb
Re: Istrian Peninsula 21st May - 28th May 2024
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2024 6:15 pm
by Stevieb
May 26th
All the usual species today with nothing new seen so my time was spent trying to separate Small Whites
Pieris rapae from Southern Small Whites
Pieris mannii. Not an easy task! Thanks to the UK Butterfliers for your input. I believe these to be
mannii
![pic 29.JPG (210.48 KiB) Viewed 387 times Southern Small White Pieris mannii](./files/thumb_19003_0e61ef97786ce3e78417568e400f260e)
- Southern Small White Pieris mannii
![pic 30.JPG (243.13 KiB) Viewed 387 times Southern Small White Pieris mannii](./files/thumb_19003_432c1f212c1a0dff292ab28992ca9dfe)
- Southern Small White Pieris mannii
![pic 31.JPG (269.1 KiB) Viewed 387 times Southern Small White Pieris mannii](./files/thumb_19003_d74bea0ffc1f5f302bc21382ed9f0c8e)
- Southern Small White Pieris mannii
![pic 32.JPG (250.32 KiB) Viewed 387 times Southern Small White Pieris mannii](./files/thumb_19003_0b9bf0a5dc55cf01049bf32f1e4683cc)
- Southern Small White Pieris mannii
![pic 33.JPG (146.93 KiB) Viewed 387 times Southern Small White Pieris mannii](./files/thumb_19003_934cc6b5476170f1cf398fa3de6c1bea)
- Southern Small White Pieris mannii
Re: Istrian Peninsula 21st May - 28th May 2024
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2024 6:21 pm
by Stevieb
A lovely fresh Green-underside Blue was nice to see too
![pic 34.jpg (441.57 KiB) Viewed 387 times Green-underside Blue Glaucopsyche alexis](./files/thumb_19003_bb28c69f968ebcacbe166b74b4bbccd6)
- Green-underside Blue Glaucopsyche alexis
May 27th
My last day out. Plenty of the regular species still about including a few newly immerged Marbled Whites, the first I’d seen during the week. I spent a while watching a Southern White Admiral ovipositing on honeysuckle before returning down the track where I was happy to find my final lifer of the holiday, Sloe Hairstreak
Satyrium acaciae plus three Ilex Hairstreaks. A fitting end to what had been a very enjoyable week.
![pic 35.jpg (501.5 KiB) Viewed 387 times Sloe Hairstreak Satyrium acaciae](./files/thumb_19003_2bbee21c5ee6b3e2a1cab47973921385)
- Sloe Hairstreak Satyrium acaciae
![pic 36.jpg (61.63 KiB) Viewed 387 times Sloe Hairstreak Satyrium acaciae](./files/thumb_19003_f7b34a85b062d620b92869b054dd6796)
- Sloe Hairstreak Satyrium acaciae
![pic 37.jpg (486.73 KiB) Viewed 387 times Southern White Admiral Limenitis reducta ovipositing](./files/thumb_19003_72c78e85e6d8d36d6bca27dc976b69c3)
- Southern White Admiral Limenitis reducta ovipositing
![443824025_7530418333717906_6282676455932786868_n.jpg (368.86 KiB) Viewed 242 times Southern White Admiral Limenitis reducta eggs](./files/thumb_19003_a8ab2d946627dbf9b1b363475fd52c18)
- Southern White Admiral Limenitis reducta eggs
Re: Istrian Peninsula 21st May - 28th May 2024
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2024 6:25 pm
by Stevieb
Re: Istrian Peninsula 21st May - 28th May 2024
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2024 6:29 pm
by Padfield
Great start, Stevie. I look forward to seeing more of your Croatian discoveries.
Guy
EDIT - between my starting to write that and clicking 'submit' you added a whole pile more! So it was a great continuation too! G
Re: Istrian Peninsula 21st May - 28th May 2024
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2024 6:37 pm
by Stevieb
Padfield wrote: ↑Fri Jun 14, 2024 6:29 pm
Great start, Stevie. I look forward to seeing more of your Croatian discoveries.
Guy
EDIT - between my starting to write that and clicking 'submit' you added a whole pile more! So it was a great continuation too! G
Sorry Guy
Last one, promise
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Re: Istrian Peninsula 21st May - 28th May 2024
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2024 6:42 pm
by Stevieb
Other wildlife seen around the hotel
![pic 48.JPG (4.82 MiB) Viewed 372 times Balkan Whip Snake Hierophis gemonensis](./files/thumb_19003_22f84af70c7783be8bb58ee08accef4d)
- Balkan Whip Snake Hierophis gemonensis
![pic 49.JPG (1.77 MiB) Viewed 372 times Balkan Whip Snake Hierophis gemonensis](./files/thumb_19003_33be786d92adb7239aa04801ab369ccb)
- Balkan Whip Snake Hierophis gemonensis
![pic 50.JPG (1.6 MiB) Viewed 372 times Italian Wall Lizard Podarcis siculus](./files/thumb_19003_978ed99e984671c374f9a5230e899d2e)
- Italian Wall Lizard Podarcis siculus
![pic 51.JPG (2.87 MiB) Viewed 372 times European Hare Lepus europaeus](./files/thumb_19003_c7e1b962da4464affbcdc8dc8eb1bfde)
- European Hare Lepus europaeus
![pic 52.JPG (823.54 KiB) Viewed 372 times Green Rose Chafer Cetonia aurata](./files/thumb_19003_12f7960f04ea22f74990b43ee5901f92)
- Green Rose Chafer Cetonia aurata
Butterfly species seen:
Mallow Skipper
Carcharodus alceae
Southern Grizzled Skipper
Pyrgus malvoides Lifer
Essex Skipper
Thymelicus lineola
Small Skipper
Thymelicus sylvestris
Lulworth Skipper
Thymelicus acteon
Large Skipper
Ochlodes sylvanus
Scarce Swallowtail
Iphiclides podalirius
Swallowtail
Papilio machaon
Large White
Pieris brassicae
Southern Small White
Pieris mannii Lifer
Small White
Pieris rapae
Clouded Yellow
Colias crocea
Brimstone
Gonepteryx rhamni
Cleopatra
Gonepteryx cleopatra
Small Copper
Lycaena phlaeas
Green Hairstreak
Callophrys rubi
Blue-spot Hairstreak
Satyrium spini Lifer
Ilex Hairstreak
Satyrium ilicis Lifer
Sloe Hairstreak
Satyrium acaciae Lifer
Holly Blue
Celastrina argiolus
Green-underside Blue
Glaucopsyche alexis
Brown Argus
Plebeius agestis
Common Blue
Polyommatus icarus
Adonis Blue
Polyommatus bellargus
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
Comma
Polygonia album
Glanville Fritillary
Melitaea cinxia
Knapweed Fritillary
Melitaea phoebe Lifer
Southern White Admiral
Limenitis reducta
Speckled Wood
Pararge aegeria
Small Heath
Coenonympha pamphilus
Meadow Brown
Maniola jurtino
Marbled White
Melanargia galathea
Re: Istrian Peninsula 21st May - 28th May 2024
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2024 9:12 pm
by essexbuzzard
That’s a really nice report, Stevie, with a good blend of wildlife, culture and relaxation.
Glad you had such a nice time. Thanks for sharing.
Re: Istrian Peninsula 21st May - 28th May 2024
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2024 9:52 pm
by Charles Nicol
A great read Stevie ! i especially liked the Turtle Dove pic
Charles
Re: Istrian Peninsula 21st May - 28th May 2024
Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:47 am
by Stevieb
essexbuzzard wrote: ↑Fri Jun 14, 2024 9:12 pm
That’s a really nice report, Stevie, with a good blend of wildlife, culture and relaxation.
Glad you had such a nice time. Thanks for sharing.
Charles Nicol wrote: ↑Fri Jun 14, 2024 9:52 pm
A great read Stevie ! i especially liked the Turtle Dove pic
Charles
Thank you both. Glad you enjoyed it
Kind regards
Steve
Re: Istrian Peninsula 21st May - 28th May 2024
Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2024 5:07 am
by David M
Good stuff, Steve. Always nice to pick up
mannii and that latter Green Underside Blue is a beauty!
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
Re: Istrian Peninsula 21st May - 28th May 2024
Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2024 10:09 am
by Stevieb
David M wrote: ↑Sun Jun 16, 2024 5:07 am
Good stuff, Steve. Always nice to pick up
mannii and that latter Green Underside Blue is a beauty!
Thank you David
Re: Istrian Peninsula 21st May - 28th May 2024
Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2024 8:47 am
by petesmith
Great stuff Steve - a nice selection of central southern European wildlife and culture there!
Re: Istrian Peninsula 21st May - 28th May 2024
Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2024 1:28 pm
by Stevieb
petesmith wrote: ↑Mon Jun 17, 2024 8:47 am
Great stuff Steve - a nice selection of central southern European wildlife and culture there!
Thank you Pete