For once, I would say butterfly numbers in Switzerland were lower on average than I have been seeing in the UK - a greater range of species, but fewer in total. Might just have been the specific places we went, but the locals were all complaining about unsettled weather.
On a walk from the monastery at Einsiedeln to Rothenturm I stopped to relieve myself only to find the tree I had chosen was being frequented by half a dozen large tortoiseshells, several of which were greatly attracted by moisture that was seeping from the bark. Sadly, none came down for a photo.
At Klewenalp the Apollos were showing well. This is one of my favourite places, and I always try to visit when in Switzerland. Apollos are cumbersome fliers - when they flap their wings they make a noise like clockwork toys, as their wings contact one another. I think this explains the frequently-seen loss of scales. They are, however, consummate gliders, and at Klewenalp there is a path that cuts across a scree slope with a wide range of vegetation which the apollos frequent in numbers, and it is a delight to watch them glide past. There are also good numbers to be seen on the path from the convent at Maria-Rickenbach up to the Klewenalp. I was surprised to observe egg laying on all sort of plants - I had understood the larvae feed on stonecrop and houseleek.
Drinking a beer on the balcony of the restaurant at the upper cable car station we also had the pleasure of looking down onto purple emperors sunning themselves on trees and chasing one another into the sky.
One another day after looking round Solothurn we headed out into the coutryside hoping to see a white stork. Near Altreu the countryside is farmed sympathetically for storks and other migratory birds, which means fields of clover and lucerne which were very attractive to clouded yellows. Females wishing to deflect the unwanted attentions of eager males were opening their wings and arching up their bodies, and they kept their wings open for a few seconds after the males had gone, giving a chance for an elusive open-wing shot.
We shouldn't have been worried about seeing storks - there were many occupied nests to be seen on roofs in the village, and dozens of birds in the surrounding fields.
Simon
