www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Hi all
I am off to the Algarve in a couple of weeks staying near Faro, has anyone any experience of this area or any knowledge of what butterflies i may find. Thanks in advance,, steve

Top tip - get that book called Butterflies of Europe by Tristan de Francis thingy- it's about £20 or so. It will serve any holiday. I also take the collins book along with a net. You'll need a net (and a jar) as it's impossible to identify some of the species just by site as in the UK.

Danny

Thanks Danny,
I have a couple of books that should do the job, i did not even consider a net to catch them, i will look around to see if i can get one when i get there, or perhaps buy a telescopic one to fit in the suitcase, or just take a net and tape it to a stick or suchlike when i get there.
I will think of something,thanks ,,,,Steve

My first trip whereby I considered butterflying was about 5 years ago. As the partner and baby messed about on the beach I went off in shorts armed with a net and a small European book which I've heard referred to as "The Beazley" book. Thing is whilst this little tome is a gem I didn't quite belive how difficult it would be to distinguish between the species. The blues are a nightmare, like the difference between aChapman's Blue and a Common Blue is literally ther absence of 1 spot on the underside of the lower wings, and the spot is underneath the top wing!!!! I also recall that I could figure out if I'd seen a grubby Purple Shot Copper or a weird Small Copper. That's why I suggest the Tristan DeLa Francis book as It irons out all the problems of identification. The skippers are a bit of a headache too though I recall the maps in the book help with that.

Danny

Hi Danny,
I am very new to "butterflying" so i dont think i will get to hung up on identifying the difficult, but i will give it a go, i am just looking forward to seeing new species.
i will let you know how i get on when i return.

p.s
when i say new i mean very new, i have not seen any fritillllary`s yet or hairstreaks, marbled white, purple emperor, white admiral and the only skipper being the small so this year is going to be great for me wandering around britain looking for these species, roll on the summer....Steve

Hi Steve,

If you can, why not take some photos and then share them with us when you get back. We can then help you ID what you saw!

Cheers,

- Pete

Hi Pete,
I take my camera with me wherever i go these days as you never know what you will stumble upon, so if the butterflys are there i should get some pics and i will share them when i return.