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OK, I was determined to try to identify all of the butterflies I saw in the Sierra Nevada myself, but I have to admit defeat! I think I have all those in my personal diary correct, but there seem to be so many butterflies that are so similar and conflicting information in books and on the internet on identifying features!
I think this could be a Carline Skipper. My Sierra Nevada book lists this as Pyrgus cirsii, but Tolman has it as Pyrgus carlinae cirsii. I wouldn't be surprised if it is something completely different! I started off thinking it was a Southern Grizzled and then a Large Grizzled!! Meadow Browns: I just can't make my mind up with these - Meadow Brown, Dusky Meadow Brown or Oriental Meadow Brown? And then two views of another individual: I am erring towards an Essex Skipper for this one. Although the antennae aren't very helpful in my pictures the Sierra Nevada book gives the sex brand as an identification feature. Straight and fine for the Essex, thicker and curved for the Small Skipper. I had decided that I had only been seeing Silver-studded Blues, rather than Idas Blues. The Sierra Nevada book says that white veins are visible on the underside of the forewing. I could see no sign of this on any of those I saw until this picture of the last one I saw. And finally, an Argus. We have the choice of the Southern Brown Argus, Mountain Argus and Spanish Argus in the Sierra Nevada. Given the lack of orange on the upper side of the forewing I have gone for the Spanish Argus, but I would be happy to be corrected if I am wrong! Thanks very much for any help or suggestions.

I have been enjoying your report from the Sierra Nevada. It brings back memories of my visit to the area in July 1990. A few comments on your latest posting: Had you considered Safflower Skipper for the Pyrgus? Guy will know better, I'm sure. From the quite strongly undulate hindwing margins I think you have Oriental Meadow Brown there. I agree your Spanish Argus. Idas and Silver-studded blues do look very alike in the Sierra Nevada, with equally broad black borders to the males. however the males are easily separable on the basis of the underside colour. Silver-studdeds in that area are almost white on the undersides while Idas are grey. I'd be very surprised if you had not seen Idas. I attach a photo of an aggregation of Idas. I hope you're not having your breakfast.

M

Thanks very much for your help Mikhail.
Yes, the Safflower Skipper. My Sierra Nevada book shows less in the way of light markings on the hind wing than on the Carline Skipper, which had swayed my decision, but the book also shows the lower two white spots as being joined in the Carline, but separated in the Safflower Skipper, so I think you are right.
The Markings on the underside of the Meadow Brown had swayed me towards Oriental, but the upper side looked more like Tolman's (or Lewington's) illustration of the Dusky Meadow Brown. Also the photographs of the Dusky in the Sierra Nevada book match better!! However, now you mention the undulations of the underwings, Oriental does seem like the better option.
I love your picture of the Idas Blues. I dream of seeing a group of butterflies like that! Interesting what you say about the difference between Silver Studded and Idas. I did notice that some of them were grey with a white postdiscal area, but others seemed to be light all over their underside. I thought this was down to how old or worn they were, but maybe it is the difference between the two species.
Here are the ones I managed to get pictures of:
About 2,600 metres About 2,200 metres And at about 1,800 metres And here is a better picture Small/Essex Skipper Thank you again for your help. It is amazing how I miss identifying features that seem so obvious once they have been pointed out to me!

Nick

The first of the blues looks like Silver-studded to me. It is difficult to be definite about the others, because the undersides are in shadow, but I'm fairly confident that number three is Idas and numbers four and five look good too. I pass on the female, though. I think your golden skipper is Essex. I fancy I can just make out the androconial mark, and the antennae seem to be rounded at the tip. See the detail drawings of the antennae in Thomas and Lewington (Essex and Small Skippers) and you may see what I mean.

M.

Brilliant. Thank you so much Mikhail. Your identifications for the blues makes sense in as much as the first two were on high scree slopes and the last four were in more sheltered scrubby areas, so maybe that fits in with them being different species!
Someone at work has the Thomas and Lewington book. I hadn't thought of looking at that, but I'll have a look at the Essex Skipper page today.
Thanks again for your help.