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It was midday before I'd dragged myself away from the roadside verges and checked up on the others to see if they had any idea on what they wanted to do. Fortunately a plan had been hatched to go to the Lombrives Caves and afterwards time permitting do some canoeing. The drive to the caves at Ussat Les Bains didn't take long and nor did it take long to find my next butterfly a Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus). Unfortunately I waited for an eternity for it to land and in the end had to give up as I couldn't keep the others waiting any longer.
Around the ticket booth (converted shed) were some buddleia bushes and checking them out got me my next species sighting, a Great Banded Grayling Brintesia (Kanetsia) circe Despite being high up and shooting into the light I was able to get these record shots. Also there was a Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and another Hummingbird Hawk-moth. The train bus arrived to take us half way up to the cave entrance. At that point I'd just seen a Speckled Wood (Parage aegeria aegeria) and just had enough time to get off a record shot (again) without holding up the others . At the disembarking point we met up with other visitors but they were waiting for the train to take them down. We continued on foot (knackering ) to eventually meet up with our guide at the cave mouth entrance. Our guide was French and spoke in French but made a lot of effort to translate as much as she could to English. At the same time it was good for us to practise our French, especially for my elder daughter as French is one of her year-10 chosen subjects . The Lombrives cave system goes for around 23 miles and is said to be the largest cave system in Europe. For our €56 all in, we only saw around 0.5miles of it but it included the Cathedral cavern which legend has it that the last of the Cathar Christians were slaughtered after taking refuge in to escape persecution from orthodox Christians. Also seen were a species of subterranean mosquito sheltering well inside the system Undoubtedly well worth the visit even though you were not allowed to take any photographs. Afterwards we searched for a canoeing site and managed to hire two two-man canoes for exclusive use on a natural lake on the river Ariege at Sinsat. Great fun in a stunning setting . Species count now standing at 18

Another sunny morning followed and I was up at the crack of dawn exploring the grass verges again. The night had been cold leaving a heavy dew on the grass and on the butterflies I found. They had their wings spread wide open to 'catch the sun'*, so as to dry off and take to the air as soon as possible. I was able to find one Heath Fritillary be-decked in dew droplets with its wings closed for a rare underside shot. (*brilliant Doves track ) To avoid disturbing the butterflies too much, and risk them dropping into the wet grass, I nipped back to the caravan for some breakfast and to find out what my other half had planned for the day. The plan this time was:- "can we go to the beach" . Hmmm ... "the nearest beach is beyond Perpignan about one hundred miles away". "But if it's a beach you want it's a beach you shall have" . While the others got ready I nipped out for a last look at the grass verges. It was 9:00 and all the insects had warmed up and were haring around. The Hummingbird Hawk-moths were back again and I was at last able to get a reasonable picture if somewhat cropped .The Small Heaths in this habitat were seemingly unlike the ones back home. Their behaviour was more like a gatekeepers and they were a little easier to approach.

Our route to Perpignan took us through Foix south on the N20 then we headed east on the D117. As I drove through promising looking butterfly countryside I scanned in vain for a stopping point but I had to go beyond Lavelanet before I could pull in for my 'pee stop'. While the others waited in the car I started to explore a small area of grassy scrub in what looked like a miniature quarry. And there was my next species, a Clouded Yellow Colias crocea. Unfortunately this butterfly would rarely land and when it did it was impossible to approach close enough for the macro lens. I soon resorted to snapping away whilst it was in flight in the hope of getting a record shot and this I managed to achieve . Whilst pursuing the Cloudie I came across a Blue butterfly which proved a bit easier to picture. It looked like a male Common Blue Polyomatus icarus but the underside orange lunules were bright and bold (as on a female) and the spotting was surrounded by clearly defined circles. I got excited at the prospect of it being a Chapman's Blue Agrodiaetus thersites but after examination of the picture back home I found it to be just a Common Blue albeit a very boldly marked one. The underside forewing basal cell spot is absent in Chapman's but can clearly be seen in this example.After photographing icarus I soon spotted another butterfly and this time it did turn out to be a British non-native and a lifer for me, a Lang's Short-tailed Blue Leptotes pirithous . Small size and cryptic colouration in a sun-lit grassy habitat made it difficult to follow but I was able to get a couple of reasonable shots.Thinking that was it and reckoning that it was time to get back to the others I spotted yet another Blue. This time it a male Adonis ... my little stop had turned out fruitful . When I got back to the car I decided to own up as to why I'd been gone so long . I need not have worried as they knew anyway and didn't mind a jot. My brownie points had been ramping up nicely. Wouldn't be long before I'd be calling them in And so we continued along the winding and climbing roads over t'hills and down dale on our quest for the faraway beach beyond Perpignan. Only two more stops were made. The first was to savour the view from the hills above Quillan. Once through Quillan we came on to the imposing Gorges de la Pierre-Lys, where the road, following the river L'Aude, became twisted and narrowed even further, and having been hewn through the rock there were huge mountain overhangs ... I've never seen anything like it .
Eventually the road took on more normal proportions and we came to a little village called Maury our second and last stop. A drink and some Escargot for lunch at the Cafe La Placette and we were eventually (you cannot pay your bill quickly in France ) on our way. In the car park I got my first decent pic of a Long-tailed Blue. We continued on our journey, drove through the city of Perpignan and eventually got to our nirvana:- a long golden sandy beach at Canet de Rousillon. At that point while the girls had a dip in the sea, I took the opportunity for forty winks (for an hour ... later on I joined them). Three hours later and we're off the beach but the girls wanted to do some shopping. An hour later and we were back on the road (encountering our only traffic jam of the whole holiday getting out of Canet ) for the long 100 mile drive home the last hour of which in the dark. With only two full days of the holiday left, time was running out for me to have my fun.

Species count now standing at 22

I'm glad you got some lifers, Phil. Its very rewarding when you've travelled such a long way. Sorry about the family getting in the way of you enjoying yourself, I know how you feel, it'll get better as the kids get older
May I suggest a holiday club that includes activities for the kids (Kids Club), and leaves the parents free to join in the adult activities (Hiking, visits, etc.), or do their own thing (butterflying ).
Check out "VVF villages", "Belambra", "VTF vacances".

Cheers, Chris

Thanks Chris
If anythng it's the other way around, the kids getting less interested as they've got older. Still it's no real problem. I emphasize it on my postings simply to provide a litle of the give and take cat and mouse ducking and diving aspects of these situations which I'm sure other members who have kids recognise all too well . Besides, as I started my family quite late in life It will be some time before they become fully independent after which I should have the option of taking holidays where and when I want. At the moment this situation suffices and I can fit in my hobby around it all .

Cracking stuff Philzoid - I'm very jealous of your GBG and LTB's Family holiday/butterflying from my limited experience generally means family first, butterflying fitted in and around wherever possible so you're doing alright for species so far Looking forward to the next installment.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Glad you got to see Great Banded Grayling, Phil.

This is one of my favourite butterflies - huge, unmistakeable and mischievously fond of human company!

Wurzel wrote:generally means family first, butterflying fitted in and around wherever possible

Indeed it does Still, to continue with the cliche's, be prepared for more 'wheeling and dealing' in the next installments.

BTW, can anyone tell me what the number of pictures per post limit is? (have looked around the website but cannot find this info). I think it’s 30 but I’m not sure . May have to split part 4 up.

David M wrote:This is one of my favourite butterflies - huge, unmistakeable and mischievously fond of human company!

I agree with you on the first two counts David . However this one wasn’t prepared to put itself out to pay me a visit, not while it was into a good nectar source in the upper reaches of a buddleia bush .

Is their behaviour similar to our semele? I've had them land on me but always on the back of my legs where I cannot get a camera on them. Mischievious alright

Philzoid wrote:BTW, can anyone tell me what the number of pictures per post limit is?

To my knowledge, Phil, it's 20.

Perhaps you should try to post 21 to put that theory to the test?

Thanks David. Have put it to the test and got away with 30